Autonomous Weapons And Soldier Morale

The emergence of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) represents a clear shift in warfare and raises critical questions about the impact this change will have on soldiers' morale on a 21st-century battlefield. The complex effects that such technology has on military morale are highlighted through historical parallels to previous, similar military innovations and supplemented by analyses of the ongoing drone warfare in the Ukraine War. Narratives surrounding military technologies mould both soldier and morale to defend, a dynamic that is explored through Annens’ tripartite theory of morale. It is made clear that morale is not closely linked to the invention of military technologies themselves but rather to how these technologies are implemented and the narratives that surround them. To bolster future fighting capabilities, these narratives must be actively constructed to face the changing organisations and psychological stresses of military service.