Towards Robot Armies? On the Strategic Implications of Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Zachary Kallenborn

No esv6b_v1, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: Global militaries are increasingly fielding unmanned ground vehicles, but significant technical challenges continue to hinder widespread adoption. No study appears to have focused on the implications of UGVs for the strategic level of war for the United States military. This article first uses open-source research and qualitative reasoning to explore the key advantages and limitations with UGVs, then explores several areas where UGVs could have effects on the strategic level of war: supporting a new way of war, massed defense and deterrence, allied support, and low-commitment engagement and escalation. Overall, the article offers insights into how UGVs may impact military and security affairs beyond their narrow tactical use in combat.

Date: 2026-06-30
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:esv6b_v1

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/esv6b_v1

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