{"id":34933,"date":"2019-04-18T16:45:56","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T16:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/18\/french-army-eyes-robots-change-in-force-size-as-it-prepares-for-future-wars\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:08:11","slug":"french-army-eyes-robots-change-in-force-size-as-it-prepares-for-future-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/unmanned\/robotics\/2019\/04\/18\/french-army-eyes-robots-change-in-force-size-as-it-prepares-for-future-wars\/","title":{"rendered":"French Army eyes robots, change in force size as it prepares for future wars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2014 Innovation and a sufficiently populated Army that can fulfill the service\u2019s strategic needs are key factors in whether France will be prepared for a high-intensity conflict, the military\u2019s strategic thinkers said at a forum held April 16 in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMass,\u201d or the capacity to generate and maintain an ample number of soldiers, is one of eight factors of operational superiority identified by the French Army, according to a speaker at a seminar on how the service will fight in future high-intensity wars. The event was held under Chatham House rules, which means the speaker can not be identified for this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smaller ground force of 77,000 \u2014 compared to 220,000 or so in 1996 when conscription was mandatory \u2014 could be supported by robots, but French officials insist there will always be a man in the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior officer outright rejected the idea of \u201cautonomous killer robots.\u201d He added that future conflicts will likely take place in urban areas and would result in \u201cferocious attrition of men and materiel,\u201d both of which would be \u201chyper-connected and thus hyper-powerful.”<\/p>\n\n\n\t