Article

2023-07-05 Afghanistan

Getting AI procurement right: The Cautionary Tale of the DoD Counter-IED FIGHT

[Modern War Institute] During Iraq and Afghanistan wars, American service members grappled with not merely an elusive adversary but also a terrifyingly rudimentary yet lethal innovation—the improvised explosive device (IED). Accounting for a staggering 48 percent (2,640) of known cause-of-death operations for US soldiers, these makeshift weapons underscored a bitter paradox of modern warfare: technological preeminence does not necessarily confer battlefield supremacy.

For decades
[see WarGames, 1983]
, the US Department of Defense has committed prodigious resources to preserve a technological advantage in military engagements, an undertaking that has catalyzed groundbreaking innovation yet has also been mired in instances of profligate expenditure and, distressingly, adoption of inferior technological solutions. This long-standing approach is now set to be applied to artificial intelligence. As the AI revolution introduces a new dimension of complexity to warfare, senior policymakers are captivated by the potential to integrate this transformative technology into the DoD operational ecosystem seamlessly.

Yet, the US military’s experience with the IED—a weapon as cost-effective as it was devastating—should serve as a cautionary tale. As the world ventures into AI integration, DoD must remain cognizant of the lessons gleaned from the post-9/11 wars and the inefficacious efforts of the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). It is insufficient to simply procure the most advanced technology; understanding its intricate workings, fostering transparency in its acquisition, and nurturing synergies between the government and defense contractors are essential to circumventing past pitfalls. As we stand on the brink of the AI epoch, the DoD approach must be one of both eager anticipation and judicious caution.

Fiscal Mismanagement and Strategic Missteps in the Counter-IED Effort

Posted by Besoeker 2023-07-05 03:49|| || Front Page|| [23 views ] Top

#1 Lawmakers rattled by AI-launched nukes, demand ‘human control’ in defense policy bill

"States should design and engineer military AI capabilities so that they possess the ability to detect and avoid unintended consequences and the ability to disengage or deactivate deployed systems that demonstrate unintended behavior"

Posted by Skidmark 2023-07-05 03:58|| 2023-07-05 03:58|| Front Page Top

#2 "Inefficacious efforts" indeed.

When attempting to stop the bleeding at the pointy end of the spear, POM impacts and cost are seldom a factor. I can assure you, the JIEDDO efforts were laudable. Lives were saved.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-07-05 03:59|| 2023-07-05 03:59|| Front Page Top

#3 You mean DCGS-A or Palantir weren't effective?

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-07-05 06:24|| 2023-07-05 06:24|| Front Page Top

#4 Palantir was or is a good tool that the soldiers and Marine analysts loved. DCGS-A is a costly proprietary nocturnal emission, which the analysts hated.

JIEDDO and it's sub-elements were never on board with DCGS-A. They did train and encourage the use of Palantir.

If the author (MAJ Dockery) was referring to DCGS-A, he's right on the money.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-07-05 06:38|| 2023-07-05 06:38|| Front Page Top

#5 There were three cases where training simulation software almost brought us to nuclear war: October 1962, November 1979 and September 1983. Conversely, the Allied force lost three cruisers in the course of about two hours at Savo Island because the group commander secured use of radar at nighttime because they weren’t sure whether Japanese forces could detect it.

Posted by Super Hose 2023-07-05 12:24|| 2023-07-05 12:24|| Front Page Top

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