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If you count ICBMs, we’ve had them at least since the 1960s.

For more targeted strikes with conventional explosives, we started using Tomahawk Cruise Missiles in 1991 during the Gulf War.



Those aren't autonomous weapons in the sense meant here.

Both of what you mention attack a predetermined target - a target selected by humans.

This technology is about "smart weapons" going out and searching for targets. For instance, the Chinese helicopter drone I mentioned in another post could easily be fitted with an IR sensor, and could probably hit targets out to ~200 meters with the AK.

One challenge is IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), but if you just want the drone(s) to kill all "enemies" within a certain boundary that'd be easy. AK ammo is even cheap, unlike the $500K missiles we often use to blow up individual jihadis...

And of course, at any time a human could potentially take control or at least monitor activity.




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