THE FUTURE OF MILITARY SUSTAINMENT: HUMANS, MACHINES, AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

Group 1: Emerging Paradigms in Military Operations - The integration of advanced machines and autonomous systems is expected to reshape future warfare, enhancing mobility and resilience in complex operational environments[4] - Human-Machine Teaming (HMT) and Human-Autonomous Teaming (HAT) paradigms are crucial for improving logistics and medical support in military operations[5] - These paradigms promise faster, more reliable, and accurate solutions for critical support functions despite technological limitations and operational integration challenges[5] Group 2: Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Logistics is a key component of sustaining military operations, encompassing supply, transportation, battlefield maintenance, and general engineering support[16] - AI and machine learning systems are revolutionizing military supply chain management by optimizing inventory management and predicting supply chain disruptions[17] - Autonomous systems, such as the UK's ALMRS project and the US Army's GEARS project, are increasingly being integrated into military supply chains to enhance efficiency and reduce risks[18] Group 3: Medical Support and Evacuation - Military health service support is critical for sustaining operations, necessitating the integration of autonomous hardware and AI software to address challenges in large-scale conflicts[23] - AI-driven systems are being developed for triage and casualty evacuation, improving the efficiency of medical resource allocation and patient transport[25][27] - The use of drones for medical logistics is growing, with potential applications in rapidly evacuating casualties from high-risk areas[27][28] Group 4: Challenges in European Military Sustainment - Europe faces conceptual challenges in integrating HMT and HAT for future sustained operations, requiring a clear distinction between logistics and military mobility[30] - There is a need for a unified framework among European allies to develop and integrate AI systems in sustainment operations, addressing the growing asymmetry in military capabilities with adversaries like Russia and China[32]