Russian Su-25 fighter

Upgraded version Su-25 fighter, Su-25SM3 will be equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled target acquisition and sighting system to allow pilots to strike designated targets without their participation.

"As part of further upgrade of attack aircraft, the latest Su-25SM3 versions will be furnished with a new sighting system. It will be fully automated and a pilot will only have to select a target on the screen and all the rest will be done by artificial intelligence," a source from the defense industry was quoted by TASS as saying Wednesday.

The target acquisition system with artificial intelligence will be able to independently identify hostile targets, keep them in sight and guide missiles. The new technology has been integrated into the unified troop command and control system, which allows mapping an optimal route towards the target and the trajectory of using weapons.

Upgraded attack aircraft will also be able to receive data on targets from external sources through the command and control system.

Another aircraft that will be getting a similar AI-enabled system is the Mi-28NM, the report stated.

When picking a target, the aircraft’s onboard information and control system automatically maps the most optimal route towards this target in compliance with the selected tactics… The system can also offer options for employing the weapon payload against such a target, the variants of tactical and air maneuvers with regard to this target," according to a military expert.

Besides, the attack aircraft equipped with this system can guide weapons using target acquisition from external sources, he added.

"It can get target acquisition from ground-based hardware, for example, from the Strelets reconnaissance, control and communications system [part of the Ratnik soldier combat gear]," the expert concluded.