Meanwhile, the software companies capable of fixing these issues face internal revolt at the idea of defense contracts. Apparently inaccurate targeting systems and vulnerable firmware in equipment that is going to deployed (regardless of protest) is better for pacifism?
There's been companies around willing to do the work for a small premium for a long time. There's also software designed for security or making it easier. Here's a few, semi-random examples:
The defense buyers just don't use such companies or products in most cases. They know they don't have to due to corruption mostly. The money they save might even get someone a bonus for achieving some metric like keeping costs down. Mass market is similar where they don't buy the stuff either. So, the supply of high-security systems are extremely low, usually high per-unit as a result, and not prevalent.
It's a conundrum. Do you not work on it, and have innocent people accidentally killed? Or do you work on it, and have innocent people purposefully killed?
I think it is reasonable to assume that the number of innocent people that the military is intentionally trying to kill is less than the number of innocent people accidentally killed by imprecise munitions, miscommunication, lack of verification/impulsivity, and bad sensors/intel (areas where technology helps).
For perspective, not too long ago during WW2 and following wars the best measures we had were napalm firebombs and binoculars. Civilian deaths were much higher, and friendly fire incidents were commonplace. Technology, despite dystopic appearances, has helped reduce the brutality of war.
