Armas autônomas letais: estratégia naval e de dissuasão da Marinha dos EUA no âmbito do AUKUS

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the rise of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) in the military field and how they have altered the traditional foundations of planning, command, and force employment, particularly impacting the maritime and air domains. LAWS, which include unmanned surface vehicles, submarines, and aerial platforms equipped with advanced sensors, onboard artificial intelligence, and offensive capabilities, have moved beyond technological speculation to become operational assets actively developed by naval powers. In the case of the United States Navy, the incorporation of these systems occurs alongside doctrinal transformations anchored in concepts such as Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and the Joint Concept for Access and Maneuver in the Global Commons (JAM-GC), which aim to project power and ensure presence in contested environments. The research adopts a “Theory versus Reality” design, confronting conceptual expectations with evidence from multinational exercises such as Autonomous Warrior, Digital Horizon, and Digital Talon. The results indicate significant advances in multinational integration and highlight strategic implications for the Brazilian Navy in light of emerging trends in naval warfare.