Autonomy is a spectrum, usually described by the position of the human in the decision loop. The further the human is out of the loop, the less a live datalink is needed — and the less grip EW has.
| Level | Human's role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Manual | Pilot flies continuously, every input | Classic FPV drone |
| Semi-autonomous — human in the loop | System flies/navigates itself (waypoints, height/position hold, return-to-home), but the human approves every engagement | Waypoint ISR; interceptor with fire authorisation |
| Semi-autonomous — human on the loop | System acts on its own; the human supervises and can intervene/abort | Loitering munition with operator override |
| Fully autonomous — human out of the loop | Self-launch, seek, select and engage without intervention | ATR-guided munition; future autonomous counter-air (see Chapter 9.2) |