The article, titled "A Systematic Literature Review on the Advancement of Modern Weapon Systems: From Precision Guided Munitions to Autonomous Lethal Systems," examines how scholarly research has evolved alongside advances in artificial intelligence. Rather than presenting new experimental findings, the paper synthesizes existing academic evidence to identify emerging trends, recurring concerns, and future policy challenges surrounding AI-enabled military technologies.
Artificial Intelligence Raises New Global Questions
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining technologies of the twenty-first century, influencing healthcare, transportation, education, finance, and national security. As AI systems become increasingly capable of processing information and supporting complex decisions, governments and researchers are paying closer attention to how these technologies should be governed in high-risk environments.
According to Ulfitri and Ruyat, discussions surrounding AI in defense are no longer limited to technological performance. Increasingly, scholars are examining whether humans should always retain meaningful authority over decisions involving the use of force, how accountability should be maintained, and whether existing international legal frameworks remain adequate for rapidly evolving AI technologies.
These questions extend beyond military institutions. They also affect policymakers, legal experts, AI researchers, ethicists, and international organizations working to establish responsible governance for emerging technologies.
Reviewing Two Decades of Scientific Evidence
The researchers employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following internationally recognized PRISMA guidelines to ensure a transparent and structured evaluation of previous studies.
Academic publications were collected from major scientific databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The review focused on English-language publications released between 2000 and 2025.
From an initial collection of 612 records, duplicate removal and quality screening resulted in 78 peer-reviewed studies being included in the final qualitative analysis. The researchers examined technological developments, operational themes, ethical debates, legal perspectives, and governance issues to identify consistent patterns across the literature.
Key Findings
The review identifies several major themes emerging from two decades of international research.
Growing importance of human oversight
The literature consistently emphasizes that humans should remain responsible for supervising AI systems operating in high-risk environments. Researchers argue that maintaining meaningful human control is essential for ethical decision-making and accountability.
Ethical and legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace
Many scholars cited in the review conclude that existing international legal frameworks were developed before today's advanced AI systems emerged. As a result, questions regarding accountability, responsibility, transparency, and compliance with International Humanitarian Law remain unresolved.
Global governance is becoming increasingly important
The review highlights growing international concern over the absence of widely accepted governance mechanisms for advanced AI technologies. Researchers argue that international cooperation will be necessary to establish common standards, reduce uncertainty, and encourage responsible innovation.
Human Responsibility Remains Central
One of the strongest messages emerging from the review is that artificial intelligence should complement not replace human judgment in areas involving significant ethical responsibility.
Ulfitri and Ruyat note that many scholars advocate the concept of "meaningful human control," arguing that responsibility should extend throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems, including design, deployment, oversight, and governance. This perspective recognizes that accountability cannot rest solely on technology but must remain a human obligation.
The review also notes that interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, legal scholars, policymakers, psychologists, and ethicists will become increasingly important as AI technologies continue to evolve.
Why the Findings Matter
Although the review focuses on defense-related AI research, its broader conclusions have relevance far beyond military applications.
The findings contribute to ongoing international discussions about:
- Responsible artificial intelligence development
- AI governance and regulatory frameworks
- Human-centered technology design
- Transparency and accountability in automated decision-making
- International cooperation on emerging technologies
For universities, the study highlights opportunities for interdisciplinary research combining artificial intelligence, ethics, law, public policy, and international relations.
For policymakers, the review reinforces the importance of developing governance systems capable of keeping pace with rapid technological change while protecting humanitarian values.
An Academic Perspective
Drawing upon the international literature, Khairunissa Ulfitri and Yayat Ruyat of the Republic of Indonesia Defense University conclude that advances in AI present both significant opportunities and substantial governance challenges. Their synthesis indicates that future progress should balance technological innovation with ethical responsibility, legal accountability, and meaningful human oversight to ensure that AI development remains aligned with humanitarian principles.
Author Profile
Khairunissa Ulfitri is a researcher at the Republic of Indonesia Defense University whose work focuses on defense technology, artificial intelligence, and security studies.
Yayat Ruyat is an academic at the Republic of Indonesia Defense University specializing in defense policy, strategic studies, and emerging technologies in national security.
Source
Ulfitri, Khairunissa & Ruyat, Yayat. A Systematic Literature Review on the Advancement of Modern Weapon Systems: From Precision Guided Munitions to Autonomous Lethal Systems. Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026. DOI: 10.55927/fjst.v5i7.115. URL: https://journalfjst.my.id/index.php/fjst
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