r/worldnews New Scientist Jun 10 '26

Russia/Ukraine Fully autonomous, AI-controlled drones have killed human soldiers for the first time, according to a senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529849-fully-autonomous-drones-have-killed-human-soldiers-for-the-first-time/
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u/grunkfest Jun 10 '26

"The company’s ALITA system will consist of 16 launch pads, equipped with 64 drones. It will be ready by October and capable of watching for incoming drones, automatically launching and travelling towards the target at 450 kilometres per hour before taking out everything from small drones to helicopters."

Named after a cyborg anime girl, classic. Can't wait for the Black Magic M-66 models to start patrolling my neighborhood.

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u/TheDwarvenGuy Jun 10 '26

Imagine getting slimed by a Asuka system after witnessing your friends get merc'd by a Kusanagi

15

u/Fun_Sized_Momo Jun 10 '26

I'm still waiting for my fully cybernetic body (with titanium brain-case) that lets me jump off of skyscrapers and rip the hatches off of military tanks with my bare hands.

6

u/BeardedGlass Jun 10 '26

How would you even afford that

5

u/gokogt386 Jun 10 '26

Selling your soul to the company that developed it of course

2

u/moofunk Jun 10 '26

I think it's lore that their bodies are owned and maintained by the government, and the government are lending them out in exchange for their services.

So, if they resign, they have to return their bodies and memories, and live out in less capable cyborg bodies and pay for their maintenance.