The British Army plans to deploy robotic systems alongside soldiers in future conflicts, marking a significant shift in how ground forces operate, according to General Sir Roly Walker, the chief of the general staff. Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute’s Land Warfare conference, Walker emphasized the need for uncrewed systems to enhance battlefield effectiveness, particularly in deterring and responding to potential aggression from Russia.

Walker outlined a vision in which British troops will not enter combat without remote or autonomous vehicles supporting them. This approach aims to enable rapid strikes against Russian forces, with the army prepared to engage targets within 30 minutes of hostilities commencing. “If deterrence fails, and history tells us it does, that cost imposed on that aggressor must be felt immediately and preferably before they even get out of their own assembly areas,” he stated.

Drawing lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Walker highlighted how artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies have already changed warfare dynamics. Ukrainian forces have utilized small, unmanned ground vehicles equipped with machine guns to successfully repel Russian advances and recover lost territory. Robotics account for 90 percent of the Ukrainian army’s logistics operations, frequently undertaking risky resupply missions and medical evacuations with stretcher-equipped robots in areas too hazardous for infantry.

Walker has communicated these battlefield transformations to weapons manufacturers, insisting that “no crewed platform should ever deploy in future without uncrewed ground vehicles,” which he described as “the utility vehicle of the 21st century.” While acknowledging that human soldiers remain central to military outcomes, he emphasized the cultural and technological shifts underway within the army. “The army that adapts fastest wins,” he said, noting that the necessary changes extend beyond technology to mindset and strategy.

The general referenced the delayed Defence Investment Plan (Dip) only briefly during his speech. The Dip, which will set out the Ministry of Defence’s funding priorities for the coming decade, has been awaited eagerly by the defence sector. Currently, Walker commands the smallest British Army in over two centuries, with approximately 70,000 trained personnel. The army is expected to face further reductions when the Dip is eventually published, more than a year behind schedule.

Walker expressed hope that the plan will allocate increased resources toward drones, artillery, and the US-supported Asgard digital targeting system. This innovative platform employs AI, advanced sensors, and sophisticated communication networks to significantly reduce the time needed to detect and strike enemy targets, further integrating technology into modern combat operations.