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U.S. Department of Defense Directive 3000.09
webThis is the primary U.S. government regulatory document governing autonomous weapons; it is a key reference for understanding how the DoD formally approaches human control, oversight, and accountability in AI-enabled weapon systems.
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Summary
The U.S. Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 establishes binding policy and responsibilities for the development, testing, and employment of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems. It mandates that such systems be designed to preserve appropriate human judgment over use of force, and requires senior-level review and approval for certain categories of autonomous weapons. The 2023 reissuance updates the original 2012 directive with new oversight structures including an Autonomous Weapon Systems Working Group.
Key Points
- •Requires autonomous/semi-autonomous weapon systems to be designed so commanders and operators maintain appropriate human judgment over use of force decisions.
- •Mandates rigorous hardware/software verification & validation and operational testing before fielding autonomous weapon systems.
- •Establishes a senior review and approval process for autonomous weapon systems that fall outside standard guidelines (e.g., those with reduced human control).
- •Creates an Autonomous Weapon Systems Working Group to coordinate policy, review, and oversight across DoD components.
- •Applies to all DoD entities involved in design, development, acquisition, testing, fielding, and employment of autonomous weapon systems.
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| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Weapons | Risk | 56.0 |
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# DOD DIRECTIVE 3000.09
# AUTONOMY IN WEAPON SYSTEMS
| | |
| --- | --- |
| | Originating Component: Offce of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy |
| Effective: | January 25, 2023 |
| Releasability: | Cleared for public release. Available on the Directives Division Website at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/. |
| Reissues and Cancels: | DoD Directive 3000.09, "Autonomy in Weapon Systems," November 21, 2012 |
| Approved by: | Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense |
Purpose: This directive:
• Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for developing and using autonomous and semiautonomous functions in weapon systems, including armed platforms that are remotely operated or operated by onboard personnel.
Establishes guidelines designed to minimize the probability and consequences of failures in autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems that could lead to unintended engagements.
• Establishes the Autonomous Weapon Systems Working Group.
# TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3
1.1. Applicability. . . 3
1.2. Policy. ... . 3
SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES . 7
2.1. USD(P). . . 7
2.2. USD(A&S). . . 7
2.3. USD(R&E). . . 7
2.4. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.. . 8
2.5. DOT&E. . . 9
2.6. General Counsel of the Department of Defense (GC DOD). . 9
2.7. Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. . .. 9
2.8. CDAO. 10
2.9. Secretaries of the Military Departments; Commander, USSOCOM; and Directors of the
Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities. . . 10
2.10. CJCS. . . 12
2.11. VCJCS.. . 12
2.12. Combatant Commanders.. 12
SECTION 3: VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION AND TESTING AND EVALUATION OF AUTONOMOUS
AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS WEAPON SYSTEMS . . 14
SECTION 4: GUIDELINES FOR REVIEW OF CERTAIN AUTONOMOUS WEAPON SYSTEMS . 15
SECTION 5: AUTONOMOUS WEAPON SYSTEM WORKING GROUP . . 19
5.1. General. . . 19
5.2. Membership. . 19
GLOSSARY . 21
G.1. Acronyms. .. . 21
G.2. Definitions. .. . 21
REFERENCES 24
# FIGURES
Figure 1. Flow Chart to Help Determine If Senior Review and Approval is Required ............... 18
# SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION
# 1.1. APPLICABILITY.
a. This directive applies to:
(1) OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD.
(2) The design, development, acquisition, testing, fielding, and employment of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems, including guided munitions that are capable of automated target selection.
(3) The application of lethal or non-lethal, kinetic or non-kinetic, force by autonomous or semi-autonomous weapon systems.
b. This directive does not apply to:
(1) Autonomous or semi-autonomous cyberspace capabilities.
(2) Unarmed platforms, whether remo
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