Will Ground Robots replace Infantry Soldiers and Marines

[Sixgun McGurk]

I suppose that there is a lifecycle for weapons. Soldiers try to figure out how to kill some war machine with whatever they have right now, then after the war some genius looks it over at leisure and spends years coming up with easy ways to win. The unwary victim sits in his stupor and pays the price when his most fearsome weapons of the last war turn into pushovers. The defences of the Maginot Line come to mind. The men that built it never imagined parachutists when planning and the men who broke it had a problem with known parameters to solve. That's why we'd better watch out and keep in mind that our systems are always being closely examined by enemies.

 

[Zachowon]

I suppose that there is a lifecycle for weapons. Soldiers try to figure out how to kill some war machine with whatever they have right now, then after the war some genius looks it over at leisure and spends years coming up with easy ways to win. The unwary victim sits in his stupor and pays the price when his most fearsome weapons of the last war turn into pushovers. The defences of the Maginot Line come to mind. The men that built it never imagined parachutists when planning and the men who broke it had a problem with known parameters to solve. That's why we'd better watch out and keep in mind that our systems are always being closely examined by enemies.

The line would have worked had the Mountain pass not been underdefended and the French had different doctrine

 

[Marnuplee]

before ground robot can replace human infantry, they need to be able to differentiate which one is the enemy or ally and cheap enough to produce.

 

[PsihoKekec]

The line would have worked had the Mountain pass not been underdefended

The line was outflanked to the North, there are no mountain passes there. And if you are referring to the Ardennes, it has nothing to do with Belgians overlooking some road, their regional forces fought delaying actions as planned on all routes of advance, the problem is that the main line of resistance collapsed too soon. And Maginot line did play a considerable role in setting up the events as it's construction and upkeep, sucked the funds the rest of army needed, while lulling the politicians, who held the control of the budget, into false sense of security. The fact that best troops were assigned to Maginot Line instead of mobile units made the situation worse.

 

[Zachowon]

The line was outflanked to the North, there are no mountain passes there. And if you are referring to the Ardennes, it has nothing to do with Belgians overlooking some road, their regional forces fought delaying actions as planned on all routes of advance, the problem is that the main line of resistance collapsed too soon. And Maginot line did play a considerable role in setting up the events as it's construction and upkeep, sucked the funds the rest of army needed, while lulling the politicians, who held the control of the budget, into false sense of security. The fact that best troops were assigned to Maginot Line instead of mobile units made the situation worse.

I was more referring to the french not protecting the mountains enough

 

[Scottty]

From what they have explained to us, all the fancy tech and everything lasts for only so long. It is generally told that the longer the war the more antiquated it gets in this modern times. I am just going by what they explain to us these days

I'm guessing that part of it is: all your fancy high-tech stuff, vs dirt, wind-blown dust, and mud.
Eventually, the mud wins.

Unlike a terminator robot, a human grunt can wade through mud without it getting inside his knee-joints.

 

[PsihoKekec]

I was more referring to the french not protecting the mountains enough

What mountains?

 

[Zachowon]

What mountains?

I am to lazy to spell the Ardennes

 

[PsihoKekec]

Ardennes are in the Belgium and Allied forces started moving into country only after German invasion started, due to Belgian and Netherlands neutrality. Allied forces were supposed to face the Germans on Meuse-Dyle-Breda line with Belgian screening forces delaying Germans as this happened - which they did. The problem was that Allies were too slow, their tactics and operatorics were shit, high command was unresponsive, there was no meaningfull reserve and while Luftwaffe put maximum effort into campaign while allied air forces operated in second gear. Also Ardennes were only part of equation, Allies got shitcanned all along the line.

 

[Zachowon]

Ardennes are in the Belgium and Allied forces started moving into country only after German invasion started, due to Belgian and Netherlands neutrality. Allied forces were supposed to face the Germans on Meuse-Dyle-Breda line with Belgian screening forces delaying Germans as this happened - which they did. The problem was that Allies were too slow, their tactics and operatorics were shit, high command was unresponsive, there was no meaningfull reserve and while Luftwaffe put maximum effort into campaign while allied air forces operated in second gear. Also Ardennes were only part of equation, Allies got shitcanned all along the line.

It did not help outdated doctrine by the french, which had the allies managed to get there in time and hold out, would have worked, but they did not. I just know the Ardenne was blamed for the line falling mainly.

 

[Aaron Fox]

That wholly depends on how things change technologically in the coming decades. It is just as likely that drones replace humans in combat by the end of the 21st as drones without AGIs or their operators being within 300 meters (or, in combat terms from what I've been told, 'practically on its ass') being rendered completely obsolete because someone manages to create a program that goes 'lol, drone hacked' and turns it against you.

There are powers out there that want it either way.

 

[Zachowon]

That wholly depends on how things change technologically in the coming decades. It is just as likely that drones replace humans in combat by the end of the 21st as drones without AGIs or their operators being within 300 meters (or, in combat terms from what I've been told, 'practically on its ass') being rendered completely obsolete because someone manages to create a program that goes 'lol, drone hacked' and turns it against you.

There are powers out there that want it either way.

It is not that easy to hack a drone

 

[Aaron Fox]

It is not that easy to hack a drone

Actually, it is surprisingly easier than one would think, given that Irani-backed terrorists managed to do so... by sat uplink no less. I wouldn't be surprised that North Korea (and other countries) has been trying to do just that so they can eliminate the US's drone fleet.

 

[Zachowon]

Actually, it is surprisingly easier than one would think, given that Irani-backed terrorists managed to do so... by sat uplink no less. I wouldn't be surprised that North Korea (and other countries) has been trying to do just that so they can eliminate the US's drone fleet.

You..do know how drones are communicated with right? Especially the ones in the middle east?

Iran is also one of the big three adversaries of the US

 

[Aaron Fox]

You..do know how drones are communicated with right? Especially the ones in the middle east?

Iran is also one of the big three adversaries of the US

Yes but not as capable in that regard, if a pawn of Iran can bring a sat-link driven drone down by its own sat uplink, then have fun with those implications.

 

[Zachowon]

Yes but not as capable in that regard, if a pawn of Iran can bring a sat-link driven drone down by its own sat uplink, then have fun with those implications.

You obviously dot know how that sorta stuff works do youZ?

 

[Aaron Fox]

You obviously dot know how that sorta stuff works do youZ?

Other than it is one of the most secure methods of information transfer, is just mind-bogglingly hard to hijack, and only until recently the only way to stop said links are via jamming the shit out of them...

 

[Zachowon]

Other than it is one of the most secure methods of information transfer, is just mind-bogglingly hard to hijack, and only until recently the only way to stop said links are via jamming the shit out of them...

There is a lot more to it then that. I don't know everything but enough to know there are things that can be done.

 

[PsihoKekec]

EW warfare has yet to be tried in ''highest setting''. And one of the biggest worries is that USA, with it's overreliance on drones, would at some point engaged an opponent with serious EW capabilities.

 

[Zachowon]

EW warfare has yet to be tried in ''highest setting''. And one of the biggest worries is that USA, with it's overreliance on drones, would at some point engaged an opponent with serious EW capabilities.

That is why there is a lot of non drone assets still used for things. From MI to Signals, to combat.