Use of Artificial Intelligence in War
Israel's operation against Hamas/Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is being termed as World's First Artificial Intelligence War (AI War). Israel Defence Forces (IDF) used Artificial Intelligence and Supercomputing during June 2021 conflict with Hamas/PIJ in Gaza Strip. IDF has had to rely heavily on Machine Learning to succeed in “Operation Guardian of the Walls”. Information about this War has been compiled by me from extracts of news as appeared in ‘Jerusalem Post’.
This is/was first time when AI was a Key Component and Power Multiplier in fighting the Jihadists. This is/was a First of its kind Campaign for IDF. They thought and implemented New Methods of Operation and used Technological Developments which proved to be a Force Multiplier for entire IDF. During 11 days of fighting in Gaza Strip, IDF carried out intensive strikes against Hamas/PIJ Targets. IDF targeted Key Infrastructure and personnel belonging to these two groups. Ground Forces (Military) relied on what was already available on the civilian market and adapted it for military purposes, years prior to the fighting. Whole of IDF established an Advanced AI Technological Platform that centralized all data on Terrorist Groups in Gaza Strip onto One System which enabled the Operators, analysis and extraction of intelligence.
Unit 8200, an Intelligence Corps elite unit, pioneered Algorithms and Codes that led to several new programs called “Alchemist”, “Gospel” and “Depth of Wisdom” which were developed and subsequently used during fighting. This Unit/IDF collected entire Data using Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), Visual Intelligence (VISINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and Geographical Intelligence (GEOINT). Therefore, even before the conflict began, IDF had mountains of Raw Data that had to be combed through to find the Key Pieces Necessary to carry out a Strike.
“Gospel” used AI to generate Recommendations for Troops in the Research Division of Military Intelligence, which used them to produce Quality Targets and then passed them on to the IAF to strike. To facilitate this process, a Multidisciplinary Center was created which produced hundreds of targets relevant to developments in fighting. It allowed IDF to continue to fight as long as it needed, with more and more new targets. While IDF had gathered thousands of targets in the densely populated coastal enclave over the past two years, hundreds were gathered in real time, including Missile Launchers that were aimed at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Destruction of these Targets using AI helped shorten the length of the fighting by quickly gathering targets using super-cognition and make the strikes more effective.
IDF carried out over 700 Air Strikes against Hamas/PIJ, including Rocket Launchers, Launcher Sites, Rocket Manufacturing Units, Production and Storage Sites, Military intelligence Offices, Drones, Residence of the Commanders and Naval Commando Unit of Hamas. IDF has destroyed most of the infrastructure and weaponry of Naval Commando Unit including several autonomous GPS guided Submarines that can carry 30 kg of explosives.
Satellites of Unit 9900 gathered Geo Int over the years. They were able to automatically detect changes in terrain in Real Time so that during operation, IDF was able to detect Jehadi Launching Positions and hit them during/after firing. By using Satellite Imagery, Troops of Unit 9900 were able to detect 34 Rocket Launchers that were located next to a school.
Bassem Issa, a Brigade Commander governing Gaza City, was the highest ranking military figure in Hamas to be killed in this operation. He was killed along with Cyber and Missile Technology Chief of Hamas, Jomaa Tahla, Head of the Development and Projects Department Jemal Zebda and 16 other Scientists of Hamas who were responsible for her Weapons Manufacturing Unit.
Hamas’s underground “Metro Tunnel Network” was also heavily damaged due to several Air Strikes. IDF was able to map this Network consisting of hundreds of kilometers under residential areas, to a degree where they knew almost everything about them. Mapping of this Underground Network was done by a massive Intelligence Gathering process that was helped by the Technological Developments and use of Big Data to fuse all the Intelligence.
Once mapped, IDF was able to have a full picture of the network both above and below ground with details, such as the Depth of Tunnels, its Thickness and Nature of Routes. With these inputs, IDF was able to construct an Attack Plan that was used during Operation. IDF acknowledges that it has not destroyed entire Under Ground Tunnel Network. But she reiterates that she has struck parts of the Network that make it nearly impossible for Hamas to use again.
Thus, IDF has been able to crack this impregnable Network of under Ground Tunnels so painstakingly created/erected by Hamas by completely mapping it. By this action, IDF has removed Central Dimensions of Hamas’s Combat Strategy.
Years of work, Out of the Box Thinking and the Fusion of all the Power of Intelligence Division together with Elements in Field led to the breakthrough solution of Underground Tunnel Network. Using the data gathered and analyzed through AI, Israel Air Force was able to use Appropriate Munitions to hit a Target, whether an Apartment, a Tunnel or a Building.
IDF also used “Alchemist”, developed by Unit 8200, AI and Machine Learning to alert Troops in the Field to possible attacks by Hamas/PIJ. This dynamic and updating system was used by every Unit Commander in the field who had the system on a User Friendly Tablet. It is because of these that IDF lost only Sergeant Omer Tabib in spite of undergoing devastation caused by 3700 Hamas/PIJ Rockets/Missiles.
IDF relied heavily on intelligence to carry out Precision Strikes in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties. As per spoke person of Hamas, 2243 Palestinians were killed during the fighting, including 66 children and teens, with 1,910 people wounded. But as per IDF, 180 Operatives belonging to Terrorist Groups were killed and some of the civilian casualties were caused by Hamas rockets falling short or civilian homes collapsing after an airstrike on Underground Tunnel Network of Hamas.
That IDF has struck powerfully has been substantiated by Head of the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency in Gaza, Matthias Schmale who had said in an interview with Channel 12 that, “viciousness and ferocity of the strikes was heavily felt creating an impression that there is a huge sophistication in the way the Israeli military struck”.
After going thru this narrative, one needs to ponder on steps to be taken by us while facing dual threat from China and Pakistan.
a) Our apparatus for Collection, Collation, Analysis and Dissemination of day to day and real time intelligence has to follow these lines.
b) Our Scientists and Computer Experts/Wizards are required to develop and operate these types of Algorithm Equations to fight an offensive and defensive battle with China, Pakistan, and Jehadis from across the border, Internal Destructive Anti National/Jehadi Groups and Naxals.
c) Detailed dossiers on Armies/Leaders of China and Pakistan and Leaders/fighting capabilities of Pak sponsored Jehdi Groups/China sponsored Naxal Groups be prepared and continuously updated to keep a track of/on developments and profile. At present, it is probably not being done as is evident from the way Mehul Chokai and his likes are able to flee the country and manage to disappear afterwards.
d) We must place our intelligence gathering Geostrategic Satellites over China and Pakistan to monitor/keep a track of/on developments of new deployments/movements of Troops/Armour/Aircrafts, construction/upgrading/repairs of new Infrastructures like Air Strips/Air Fields/ Hangers/Living Accommodation/ Bunkers/Shacks/ Missile and Gun Pits/Dams and likes. This information has to be collected/collated/analyzed/disseminated on need to know basis. This will be a Geo Intelligence Bank. This is biggest need of the day. E must not forget the humiliation/anguish we had to face as we did not have prior information on/of Infrastructural and Geostrategic Changes prior to/during Kargil War/Doklam Issue and Ladakh Confrontation. Definitely, we do not want repetition of same in future too.
e) To fulfill the want of Artificial Intelligence and Super Computing Efforts, steps will have to be taken to build up a solid net work of Infrastructure/Computing Technicians across the country. To achieve that feet, brain drain from the country has to stop, recruitment to be made purely on merit, without any political or caste considerations, purely on knowledge/ perception/understanding/craving to scout new fields/analyzing capabilities. These persons have to be suitably rewarded in terms of salary and allied benefits.
f) Technological/Weapon needs of Defence Forces must be met at the earliest. That is the need of time. Looking at present fiscal state of country, when it will be met is a big question. Soldier/Pilot/Tank Crew must be trained in State of Art Warfare to face mighty China and nibbling Pakistan. Unfortunately this is not being done since long. We still plan to fight with what we have, save aberrations like Raffle Aircrafts. Even today; Soldiers die when barrel of gun bursts, Sailors get roasted in fire due to malfunctioning of system on Ships and Pilots die when they fly out dated/old vintage aircrafts.
g) It is not possible to apply Artificial Intelligence in War unless, unification/ gathering/collation/analysis/dissemination of intelligence is centralized. As on date, all intelligence apparatuses are controlled by/responsible and answerable to National Security Advisor. Considering that; one up man ship, desire to retain own empire at any cost and natural tendency of resistance to all types of changes is firm mentality of Indians in general; formation of Artificial Intelligence Apparatus seems to be a distant dream.
h) Israeli Army/Navy/Air Force work under unified Israel Defence Force (IDF).We have been having ego based functioning of three wings of Defence Forces. We suffered for that anomaly in Kargil War. Expert Committee tasked to find an answer recommended appointment of Chief of Defence Staff to eradicate that repeat in 1999.CDS was appointed in 2020. Except for giving him a Department of Defence minus authority to look after defence of the country and position of a Secretary, nothing has changed on ground.
j) China has made tremendous progress in use of Artificial Intelligence in war, though they are yet to test it. Pakistan is being helped by her and creeping slowly to attain same. India cannot afford to lag behind. We have catch up before it is too late and must accord it TOP PRIORITY at all costs.
One has to fight tooth and nail to achieve what one wants. It is more so over applicable when someone like us is in state of war almost all time. To get that leadership may/will have to overlook/ignore; bickering Opposition, ever complaining Human Right Watchers, Pseudo Experts/ Socialites and Messiahs of Poor. To preserve/keep intact, sovereignty of the Nation, Defence Infrastructure, based on Artificial Intelligence has to be build, even at cost of hardships to populace. It will be a Golden Day for India when Top Leaders, Government, Opposition and Population realize this basic fact.