• Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk
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    1 month ago

    Are you not watching the news about the hundreds of automated drones in Ukraine…?

    Our military is unlikely to get larger in terms of manpower. I suspect for every soldier there will be 10 drones supporting them.

    • OwOarchist@pawb.social
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      1 month ago

      Yes, but the drones are expensive, whereas dead soldiers actually cost less money than live citizens.

      • Korhaka@sopuli.xyz
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        1 month ago

        Training and equipping soldiers of course costs nothing…

        Many drones are a fraction of a soldiers annual salary, let alone the rest of the costs involved.

        • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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          1 month ago

          If the UK goes for the Russian approach of sending its undesirables and surplus population to the frontline with the cheapest possible equipment, essentially as ammunition, it could cost little. Though that only works if you have a frontline to throw them at.

      • Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk
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        1 month ago

        Drones can be cheaper than live soldiers.

        A british private - in year 1.

        £26,500 salary.

        £47,500 training/kit/accommodation/food

        £fuck knows in national insurance and pension contributions.

        That number increases each year as their salary does.

        Unmanned drone costs -

        £5000 for loitering munitions

        £500 for consumer drones with grenades attached etc

        • eldebryn@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          In my (european) country there is a mandated draft. You get paid 5 euros a month, the only personal gear you get is the outfit, boots, winter coat with some underwear and a bedbug-pillaged blanket and pillow that most dare not use.

          Why am I mentioning this? Because there’s nothing stopping the UK or other nations from establishing similar draft conditions given a good enough excuse in a war economy.

            • eldebryn@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              They are offered very basic food at the base they’re stationed at, usually cooked by 1-2 of the other privates, so luck of the lot.

              Word is that the reason you get multiple shots before basic is due to some of the meat being deep frozen for so long they kinda want you to be extra protected to be able to handle it.

        • pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip
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          1 month ago

          Drones can be cheaper than live soldiers.

          Right. But when the stakes are “get killed” the interest in expert opinion goes way up, and experts aren’t betting their lives that today’s AI can outwit humans when it matters.