Russian KUB-BLA drones conduct autonomous 'suicide' attacks

Autonomous Kalashnikov ZALA Aero KUB-BLA loitering drones may have been used for 'suicide attacks' in Russia's war with Ukraine, raising concerns about the ethics and accuracy of so-called 'killer robots'.

According to a Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists article, images of a downed Russian-made Kalashnikov ZALA Aero KUB-BLA drone were found in Ukraine. 

KUB-BLAs are able to select and strike targets through inputted coordinates or autonomously, with the system capable of 'real-time recognition and classification of detected objects' using AI, according (pdf) to Netherlands-based peace organisation Pax for Peace.

Open source intelligence together with images released by the Russian government indicate AI technologies are being used widely in the Russia-Ukraine war.