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The Guardian
October 26th, 2026 at 7:09 PM

‘Autonomy, not flesh’: RAF chief outlines AI drone-powered future

Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth says technological advances will reduce need for human involvement in warfare A future Royal Air Force will rely on “autonomy not flesh”, its chief said on Monday as he described plans in which Typhoon fighters are accompanied by four AI-enabled drones capable of patrolling hundreds of miles in the distance. The technological shift would revolutionise warfare, limit the role of military personnel “towards the outside” and ease the pressure on recruitment, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth said in a speech in London. Continue reading...

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Canonical link: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/26/royal-air-force-harv-smyth-ai-drone-future