Defense Flash: A war robot's AI supply run

The cutting edge of warfare, strategy, and military tech

Welcome back to Defense Flash — Business Insider's must-read roundup of our biggest stories in military and defense innovation, strategy, and tech.

The war in Ukraine continues to breed drone and robotics innovations. Business Insider spoke with a Ukrainian soldier who was rescued by a large six-rotor drone built for combat casualty evacuations after he was injured by a blast. We also talked to the pilot, who says he had to fly it "like a ninja" through battlefield obstacles and threats to get the man to safety.

On the ground, a Ukrainian logistics robot completed an almost entirely autonomous 12-mile supply run. The unit said that artificial intelligence allowed it to handle 93% of the mission on its own.

Some innovations, however, come with drawbacks. For instance, defense companies are developing fiber-optic drones with greater reach, but the added spool weight is limiting payload capacity. One maker told Business Insider they're not sure if it's worth it.

Meanwhile, global militaries continue to draw lessons from the war. The US Army commander overseeing Multi-Domain Command Europe said his troops are building AI systems to help prepare for massive missile and drone strikes so that they're ready to face "Ukraine's worst day."

There have also been continued dust-ups surrounding SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and the problems surrounding Starlink and Starshield use in Ukraine, which have been eye-opening for Ukraine as it thinks about its defense needs.

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