As part of the Munich Security Conference 2025, the Junge Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft (JDAG), in collaboration with the Transatlantic Dialogue Center (TDC), organized the panel discussion “Why It Matters — Tech Tactics: The Role of Autonomous Systems in Defense and Ukrainian Experience” on February 14, 2025. The discussion focused on the role of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems in modern conflicts. Over 100 participants, including security experts and emerging leaders, discussed the strategic impacts and practical applications of these technologies in military operations.
The panelists were:
- Dmitri Alperovitch, Co-Founder and Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator and member of the Security Innovation Board of the Munich Security Conference
- Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos, Founder of Abundance Studio and advisor to governments and industry on Emerging Technologies
- Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Potii, Head of the Ukrainian State Service for Special Communication and Information Protection (SSSCIP)
- Stepan Rusyn, Coordinator of the German-Ukrainian Partnership Program (TDC)
The discussion focused not only on the strategic advantages of autonomous systems but also on the challenges posed by technological warfare, cybersecurity risks, and the integration of such systems into existing armed forces.
The takeaways from the Russian-Ukrainian war were particularly highlighted, along with what can be learned from these experiences for future military operations.
