Publication

Autonomy Artificial Intelligence Robotics (AAIR)
2022

THE ‘GUILLOTINE’ AN ADAPTIVE, ROBOTIC, ANTI-TANK PRECISION ATTACK SYSTEM

by Matthew Dooley; Alberto Lacaze

Abstract

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) remain a key component of most modern militaries. While the best way to ‘kill a tank’ is via the employment of another tank, matching enemy armor formations one-for one is not always possible. Light infantry lack organic armor and their shoulder launched anti-tank capabilities do not defeat the latest generation of MBTs. To compensate for this capability gap, the U.S. Army has employed precision guided anti-tank munitions, such as the “Javelin.” However, these are expensive to produce in quantity and require risking the forward presence of dismounted Soldiers to employ. Mine fields offer another option but are immobile once employed. The ‘Guillotine’ Attack System proposes to change the equation by pairing an AI enabled, adaptive unmanned delivery system with a shaped charge payload. Guillotine can loiter for hours, reposition itself to hunt for targets, and- when ready- deliver a precision shaped charge strike from the air.