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Autonomous Systems and Cyberspace: Opportunities for the Armed Forces

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Modelling and Simulation for Autonomous Systems (MESAS 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 13207))

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Abstract

The development of autonomous systems represents an opportunity for states to enhance their military power and change their status in the system of international relations, probably with the presumptions of the new Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). Characteristics like flexible deployment, efficiency, adaptability, rapid upgradability, and/or the capacity to absorb losses that crewed systems cannot constitute potential game-changing technology in terms of military capabilities. The usage of the autonomous systems may vary from support functions (such as intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, or transportation) to coercive ones (autonomous weapon systems) in different operational domains. However, all types share a common characteristic – their interconnection with information technologies and cyberspace. Features like the complex structure, absence of specific borders, and diminished role of distance clearly distinguish this domain from land, sea, air, and even space and change the logic of how the security is provided there. Autonomous cyber systems (ACS) that operate in and through this domain represent unique military systems even among autonomous systems themselves. This paper aims to examine the interconnection between ACS and cyberspace and identify opportunities for a state’s military power represented by armed forces. This relation addresses not only the dependency of the ACS on cyberspace and cybersecurity but also possibilities to enhance the cyber capabilities of the state to promote its national interests. The paper will focus on opportunities of the relation between ACS and cyberspace for capabilities of the NATO member states’ armed forces. The Main Capability Areas (MCA) analytical framework will be used to analyze these aspects. Orientation on Prepare; Project; Engage; Sustain; Consult, Command and Control; Protect; Inform areas will identify opportunities to develop the full spectrum of potential capabilities and highlight main aspects of the transformation of the armed forces.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cyber and Information Warfare Command, Czech Armed Forces, Kounicova 65, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Jakub Fučík

  2. Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies, University of Defence, Tučkova 23, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Libor Frank & Richard Stojar

Authors
  1. Jakub Fučík
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  2. Libor Frank
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  3. Richard Stojar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jakub Fučík .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NATO M&S COE, Rome, Italy

    Jan Mazal

  2. University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Adriano Fagiolini

  3. Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Vasik

  4. NATO M&S COE, Rome, Italy

    Michele Turi

  5. Savona Campus, University of Genoa, Savona, Italy

    Agostino Bruzzone

  6. Bundeswehr University Munich, Neubiberg, München, Germany

    Stefan Pickl

  7. University of Defence, Brno, Czech Republic

    Vlastimil Neumann

  8. University of Defence, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Stodola

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Fučík, J., Frank, L., Stojar, R. (2022). Autonomous Systems and Cyberspace: Opportunities for the Armed Forces. In: Mazal, J., et al. Modelling and Simulation for Autonomous Systems. MESAS 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13207. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98260-7_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98260-7_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-98259-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-98260-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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