Ukraine advances AI-guided strike missiles, expanding autonomous weaponry

Brave1, Ukraine's government-supported innovation hub, said that multiple domestic companies are creating strike missiles equipped with artificial intelligence, a first for the country's arsenal. AI has previously been used at scale in drones for navigation and targeting, but missiles require faster processing and greater accuracy, prompting a shift in development focus. More than 200 Ukrainian firms are involved in producing AI-based parts for missiles, drones, radars and other defence technologies.

Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently emphasized the goal of fielding inexpensive, AI-driven strike missiles as part of Kyiv's push for long-range capabilities against Russian targets. The exact applications of AI within the missiles and the stage of development remain unclear, and Brave1 stressed that human operators will still play a role. This effort reflects Ukraine's broader strategy to increase autonomy in warfare while retaining human control over critical decisions.