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Small AI models let drones autonomously identify and attack battlefield targets

First reported Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:12:58 GMT · Last updated

Archived story. Not updated since 2026-09-19 13:23 UTC. Newsei is updated manually, so events may have moved on — check the original reporting below.
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Small AI models let drones autonomously identify and attack battlefield targets
Ars Technica · published 2026-09-17 22:12 UTC
Small AI models let drones autonomously identify and attack battlefield targets
Lead image via Ars Technica

As European militaries adapt to the use of AI and drones in modern warfare, a NATO-backed startup is helping to deploy AI-driven target detection and selection that can run on small drones for surveillance and attack missions. The company, Scaleout Systems, was originally founded by researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden in 2018, and initially focused on training and deploying machine learning models directly on the hardware available in commercial trucks and other vehicles. But once Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the company pivoted toward defense applications. “With the war in Ukraine and a shifting world, we realized that this technology can be very important to operationalize edge data and sensor data for machine learning to make sure that NATO allies have found that strategic advantage,” Andreas Hellander, cofounder and CEO of Scaleout Systems, told Ars. Read full article Comments ]]>

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  • Ars Technica
    Small AI models let drones autonomously identify and attack battlefield targets

    As European militaries adapt to the use of AI and drones in modern warfare, a NATO-backed startup is helping to deploy AI-driven target detection and selection that can run on small drones for surveillance and attack missions. The company, Scaleout Systems, was originally founded by researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden in 2018, and initially focused on training and deploying machine learning models directly on the hardware available in commercial trucks and other vehicles. But once Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the company pivoted toward defense applications. “With the war in Ukraine and a shifting world, we realized that this technology can be very important to operationalize edge data and sensor data for machine learning to make sure that NATO allies have found that strategic advantage,” Andreas Hellander, cofounder and CEO of Scaleout Systems, told Ars. Read full article Comments ]]>

    Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:12:58 GMT

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  1. 2026-09-17 22:12Ars Technica — Small AI models let drones autonomously identify and attack battlefield targets

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