Wood, NathanNathanWood2026-09-162026-09-162026-09-09International Affairs 102 (5): 1607-1629 (2026)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/64896Some scenarios justify the use of force, yet overriding political, moral or strategic concerns may argue against the outright use of a state's military. In such cases, transfers of weapons present would-be aiding states with means to apply force-short-of-war, or jus ad vim. This article argues that transferring sophisticated autonomous and AI-enabled weapon systems represents a maximal means for exerting force without implicating one's own military or state in a direct fashion. Moreover, the article argues that, because such weapons can be argued to be merely weapons, such transfers allow one to avoid (or at least mitigate) concerns surrounding escalation while also working to avoid the risks of a ‘morally truncated victory’ or a situation of vis perpetua (permanent violence). In making these points, the article regularly looks to the ongoing example provided by the Russo-Ukrainian war, concluding with a practical examination of the limits of autonomous weapons and when their impact may not be as significant for the prospects of an aided state.en#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#2026516071629Oxford University Pressarms transfersautonomous weapon systemsescalationjus ad vimRusso-Ukrainian warSocial Sciences::355: Military ScienceTechnology::623: Military Engineering and Marine EngineeringJournal Article10.1093/ia/iiag126