Another one of the series of panel discussions organised by the Centre for Security and Military Strategic Studies of the University of Defence (CBVSS) was held on May 16th in the Auditorium of the University of Defence, this time on the topic of Autonomous Systems in Armed Conflicts.

The event was opened by the head of the Department of Military Robotics of the University of Defence, col. doc. Ing. Jan Mazal, Ph.D. who focused on the issue of accelerating technological development and the phenomenon of military robotization in the context of the future operational environment. Subsequently, major. Ing. Michal Peterek, Chief of the Training Department of the 53rd Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare Regiment explained to the audience the classification of unmanned vehicles and the advantages of each type for the performance of various tasks. Col. Ing. Vlastimil Vasicek, MSc., Chief of the Operations Department of the Territorial Forces Command, then discussed the phenomenon of loitering munition and presented the various advantages of this weapon system. The series of presentations was concluded by the research fellow of the Defence Analyses Department of the CBVSS, Mgr. et Mgr. Vladimír Bízik, who touched on the issue of ethical and legal related to the use of autonomous systems by armed forces. In a subsequent discussion with the audience, the panelists then touched on topics such as the implementation of these assets in the armed forces and the development of possible countermeasures. The moderator of the event was a research fellow of the Defence Analyses Department of the CBVSS, Mgr. Jaroslav Galba.

The panel discussion was prepared by the Defence Analyses Department of the CBVSS. The Department’s task is to produce expert materials and analyses and organise seminars and workshops to offer an information and debate platform for interested experts.