Lethal autonomous weapon system

A weapon that can select and engage targets without further human input once activated. Its regulation is debated internationally, including under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Used in these articles

Related terms

Uncrewed systems and autonomy

• Affordable mass
• American Security Drone Act
• Attritable
• Beyond visual line of sight
• Blue UAS
• Brushless DC motor
• Collaborative Combat Aircraft
• Command and control
• Common operating picture
• Counter-UAS
• DoD Directive 3000.09
• Electronic speed controller
• FCC Covered List
• Fiber-optic guided drone
• Flight controller
• FPV drone
• GNSS-denied navigation
• Ground control station
• Human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop
• Inertial measurement unit
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
• Loitering munition
• Loyal wingman
• NDAA-compliant
• PX4 and ArduPilot
• Remote ID
• Sensor fusion
• SWaP-C
• UAS groups 1–5
• Uncrewed aerial vehicle
• Uncrewed aircraft system