Has the war with artificial intelligence already begun? The US Army tests armed robots in the Moroccan desert, uses drones with explosives, and showcases a system capable of reducing military decisions from hours to just 3 minutes.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 03/06/2026 at 00:23

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In African Lion 2026, in southern Morocco, the US Army tested artificial intelligence, armed robots, drones with explosives, and Palantir systems in an exercise with 30 countries, while military personnel discuss speed in decision-making, replacement of soldiers, and ethical limits for autonomous weapons

In the African Lion 2026 exercise, held in southern Morocco with 30 partner countries, the US Army tested artificial intelligence platforms, armed robots, and drones, while military and defense companies discuss operational speed, ethical risks, and limits for lethal decisions.

Artificial intelligence was tested by the US Army in African Lion 2026, in southern Morocco, in a multinational exercise with 30 countries that simulated faster military decisions, armed robots, and drones capable of supporting operations on the battlefield.

Exercise in Morocco showed how artificial intelligence entered the war

At the point where the Sahara meets the Moroccan Atlantic coast, explosions, gunfire, and artillery smoke marked how the American Armed Forces prepare soldiers for technological conflicts. African Lion 2026 brought together troops, private companies, and experimental systems.

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Decisions that previously took hours were simulated in minutes

One of the tested applications involved attempting to shorten the lethal chain, the sequence that goes from identifying a target to authorizing the use of force. The proposal is to accelerate data, reduce delays, and support commanders.

At the Joint Operations Center in Agadir, operators used an artificial intelligence-based platform developed by Palantir. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Leonguerrero told CBS News that the system accelerated decisions.

He reported that a decision that could have taken two or three hours five years ago was made in three minutes during the exercise. Even so, the final target approval remained with a human, who ordered the attack.

The system behind the operation was Project Maven, a Pentagon artificial intelligence initiative created by Palantir. The platform processes battlefield data, identifies patterns, and helps prioritize information, including about targets.

Military and industrial sources familiar with the systems stated that Maven’s interface with human operators relies on Claude, Anthropic’s language model. The tool allows simple queries and helps synthesize what Leonguerrero called an ocean of data.

Ethical debate accompanies the advancement of autonomous systems

The presence of Claude in the exercise drew attention because Anthropic had a public clash with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The company advocated for safety measures to prevent the model’s use in mass surveillance of American citizens or autonomous weapons.

Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 30 that AI would not make lethal decisions on the battlefield, although he did not directly respond if this rule would always apply. The topic remains sensitive.

An American soldier interviewed by CBS News stated that he would never feel comfortable delegating to a computer a decision that belongs to an officer. For him, computers can assist operations but not replace human responsibility in critical choices.

General Dagvin RM Anderson, responsible for the U.S. Armed Forces Africa Command, acknowledged moral and ethical issues to consider. At the same time, he stated that the technology exists, will not disappear, and ignoring it could pose a risk.

Anderson described the idea of AI assuming lethal responsibilities from humans as disturbing. Even so, he argued that not adopting it would be imprudent because adversaries will also resort to these resources and could gain an operational advantage.

Armed robots promise to remove soldiers from the front line

Another front demonstrated in Morocco was the use of robots to replace military personnel in dangerous tasks. Overland AI, a Seattle startup, tested the ULTRA autonomous vehicle, controlled by a laptop and capable of following routes with a few clicks.

Standing about one and a half meters tall, with robust tires, cameras, and sensors, the ULTRA advanced through the desert towards the simulated firing line. The vehicle can carry a machine gun, mines, and explosive charges, keeping the operator informed.

Tim Bishop, Director of Business Development at Overland AI, told CBS News that the system can protect soldiers by providing covering fire, planting mines to contain enemy advancement, and detonating explosives to break through adversary lines.

For now, the machine gun installed on the vehicle is operated remotely by a human. Bishop acknowledged that it would be technically possible to automate this function in the future, allowing the machine to decide when to open fire.

First Lieutenant Vincent Gasparri stated that invasion operations are among the most dangerous for soldiers. In a specific exercise, he estimated that about 40 humans were replaced by two robots, allowing for greater speed.

Gasparri, leader of the Bayonet Innovation Team of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, admitted apprehension about autonomous weapons. Nevertheless, he said his motivation is to save lives, speed up decisions, and ensure that American soldiers are not at a disadvantage.

With information from CBS.

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Ethical debate accompanies the advancement of autonomous systems

Armed robots promise to remove soldiers from the front line

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