Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a growing role in modern warfare, with experts saying recent conflicts and strikes have seen unprecedented use of AI technologies to analyse intelligence and help identify military targets.
Analysts believe AI tools may have assisted in selecting targets during thousands of recent airstrikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran, although the exact details of their use remain unclear.
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Military powers worldwide are investing heavily in AI-driven technologies to enhance operational capabilities. According to Laure de Roucy-Rochegonde of the French think tank French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), artificial intelligence can improve nearly every military function, including reconnaissance, logistics, cyber operations and electronic warfare.
One of the most significant roles of AI is accelerating the so-called “kill chain” — the process between identifying a target and launching a strike. The United States military has deployed the Maven Smart System developed by Palantir Technologies, which uses advanced algorithms to detect and prioritise potential targets.
Recent reports suggest the system has also integrated capabilities from the Claude model developed by Anthropic to improve detection and simulation functions.
AI can process massive amounts of data from satellites, radar systems, drones and real-time video feeds. Experts say this ability allows military analysts to identify patterns and threats far more quickly than traditional methods.
However, the use of AI in warfare has raised serious ethical and legal questions. Critics warn that increased reliance on automated systems could make it harder to determine responsibility when mistakes occur.
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During the conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces reportedly used an AI system known as Lavender to help identify suspected militant targets. Experts such as Peter Asaro from the International Committee for Robot Arms Control say the key concern remains the level of human oversight involved.
Despite these concerns, analysts believe AI’s role in military planning and operations will continue to expand as armed forces integrate new technologies into defence strategies.