Recently revised Pentagon policy allows for autonomous use of lethal force. In test later this year, combat drone will be asked to chase, kill simulated target, coming up with own strategy for mission. Second program’s goal is Air Force that is more unpredictable and lethal.
The US policy had been that any firing of offensive weapons needed a human pulling the trigger (I guess defensive ones like C-RAM/CIWS/whatever have been fine). But according to this article, that’s changed.