Artificial Intelligence | The Runway

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how modern forces generate decision advantage, integrate capabilities and strengthen credible deterrence. As Defence evolves toward a more integrated and technology-enabled force, AI enhances situational awareness, accelerates analysis and supports more effective joint operations across all domains. In a Professional Military Education (PME) context, AI is both a capability and a leadership responsibility. Building AI literacy across all ranks strengthens Defence’s intellectual edge, supports innovation and prepares personnel to lead confidently. This topic explores the practical and ethical dimensions of AI, ensuring PME remains aligned to the demands of a rapidly changing strategic environment.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence Is Facing a Crisis of Control—and the Industry Knows It

Artificial intelligence is rapidly integrating into warfare. However, escalating proliferation risks and weak governance signal a growing loss of control, leaving coordinated AI industry action as the only near-term path to prevent catastrophic global consequences.

RAN Drone Racing Team pilot at Airshows Downunder Drone Racing Tournament

Artificial Intelligence

Fast, Fluent, Flawed: AI All at Sea

AI can produce fast, convincing outputs; yet hidden flaws, bias, and overconfidence risk misleading decisions. Careful oversight and informed use are essential to avoid costly errors. Responsible use requires training, awareness, and clear boundaries.

MC-55A Interim Operating Facility

Artificial Intelligence

Data Centres Are Australia’s Chance to Shape AI’s Future

Data centres underpin the growth of artificial intelligence technologies. Australia could influence AI development through smart policy and infrastructure choices, which could strengthen economic growth, improve resilience, and position the country as a trusted partner.

SWARMS Sea Robotics unmanned vehicles

Artificial Intelligence

Ukraine Shows AI Changing How Coalitions Fight

AI is reshaping how partners coordinate and share information—improving speed and precision while exposing gaps in integration, trust, and data management across complex, multi-team environments. Shared data improves coordination between dispersed teams and systems.

HMAS Adelaide sails into a rain cloud

Artificial Intelligence

When War Reaches the Cloud, AI Becomes a Target

As conflict extends into digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence systems become vulnerable targets—raising risks to services, trust, and decision-making that societies increasingly rely on every day. Adversaries may manipulate training data to influence outcomes.

Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Artificial Intelligence

Meet the startups trying to build military-specific AI

General-purpose AI models do not meet battlefield requirements, driving the Pentagon to support defence-specific AI solutions that operate at the tactical edge. This ensures sovereignty, and integration reliably into C2 and autonomous military operations.

Digital representation of the F-35A Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter

Artificial Intelligence

US 6th-gen F-47 fighter’s adaptive engine progress draws global attention

The U.S. sixth-generation F-47 fighter, under the NGAD program, will integrate adaptive propulsion, AI-enabled targeting, and extended range, signalling the next evolution of air dominance and shaping future global fighter development..

Artificial Intelligence

AI Is Being Misunderstood as a Breakthrough in Planning. It’s Not.

AI speeds up planning but risks hiding the hard choices. Its true value is exposing where judgment, prioritization, and accepted risk are required; reminding commanders that coherence isn’t decision, and humans should impose meaningful priority.

Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk’s SpaceX joins classified Pentagon contest to build voice-controlled drone swarms

SpaceX and xAI have joined a classified Pentagon contest to develop voice-controlled autonomous drone swarms, reflecting accelerating military adoption of AI and deeper Silicon Valley–defence integration to enable rapid, coordinated multi-drone battlefield operations.

Artificial Intelligence

Soldiers to get new AI capable radios, headsets and tablets with futuristic sensor data

The UK MoD has awarded up to £86 million for AI-capable Dismounted Data Systems that rapidly reduce the time soldiers receive reconnaissance and intelligence data; boosting lethality, reducing friendly fire incidents, and strengthening battlefield decision-making.