Podcast Summary
Drones in Warfare: The use of drones in warfare is a reality that is changing the way wars are fought, as demonstrated by recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian airfields.
The nature of war is evolving, with drone strikes becoming a significant tactic, as seen in the recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian airfields. Historically, war has been about one man trying to shoot another, but from a technologist's perspective, it makes more sense to have the weapon detached from the person and automated. This shift in warfare raises the question of whether America and other nations are prepared to adapt. The use of drones in warfare is not just a fictional concept, as seen in movies like "Apocalypse Now" and "Saving Private Ryan," but a reality that is changing the way wars are fought. The Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airfields mark one of the biggest attacks on Russian airfields since the war began, demonstrating the increasing importance of technology in warfare. As technology continues to advance, it's essential for nations to adapt and be ready to enter the fight in this new landscape. From NPR, I'm Mary Louise Kelly. Support for this podcast and the following message comes from WISE, the easy-to-use app for managing your money in different currencies. With WISE, you can send and spend money internationally at the mid-market exchange rate, with no hidden fees or guesswork. Learn more about how WISE could work for you at wise.com.
Future Wars, Military Readiness: The US military is not fully prepared for the new era of warfare marked by the use of drones, AI, and robots, as highlighted by the conflict in Ukraine. The US needs to invest in technology and adapt to new tactics to keep up with the evolving battlefield.
The world is on the brink of a new era in warfare, and according to General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, the US military is not fully prepared. In their article for Foreign Affairs, they discuss the changing nature of warfare, highlighted by the conflict in Ukraine with its use of drones, AI, and robots. Milley explains that this marks the most significant change in warfare since the 1930s and the introduction of the airplane, radio, and mechanization. Schmidt adds that the US needs to invest in technology and adapt to new tactics to keep up with the evolving battlefield. The NPR Politics Podcast and NPR Elections Hub are great resources for staying informed on the election and the issues that matter, including this pressing concern about the military's readiness for the wars of the future.
Military Autonomy: The integration of drones, robots, and AI into warfare is making wars more precise, less costly, and potentially dangerous, as seen in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The integration of drones, robots, and artificial intelligence into warfare is transforming the way conflicts are being fought, as seen in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. From a technological standpoint, the autonomy and abundance of these advanced military tools are making wars more precise, with less collateral damage, and potentially much more cost-effective. Historically, war has been about one man trying to shoot another, but from a technologist's perspective, there's no reason to tie weapons to individuals. Instead, having weapons in drones and automating them would lead to more surgical targeting and potentially lower costs. However, this advancement also raises concerns about setting a new, potentially dangerous standard for the cost of war.
Military procurement process adaptation: The U.S. military needs to adopt a more agile approach to procurement, focusing on building minimum viable products and adapting to new technologies, rather than the current lengthy development process.
The U.S. needs to adapt its military procurement process to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology. The current system, which can take up to 15 years to develop weapons systems, is ill-equipped to handle the three to six week timeline of technological innovation. To stay competitive, the U.S. must shift its approach to incrementally building minimum viable products and adapting to new technologies as they emerge. This requires a change in mindset, as well as updates to training, leadership development, and procurement systems. Failure to do so may result in the U.S. being perpetually out of sync with technological advancements.
Military Innovation Budget: Regulations prevent military from allocating budget to innovative tech developments, missed opportunities in Ukraine and Israel highlight the need for military innovation, fostering collaboration between gov, industry, and military could lead to groundbreaking technologies, challenging to implement
The military could significantly benefit from allocating a portion of its budget towards innovative technological developments, similar to how tech companies continually improve and innovate their products. However, this is currently illegal due to regulations. The conflict in Ukraine and Israel serves as an example of missed opportunities for military innovation, such as weaponized drones and tunnel clearing technology. If the military had a dedicated budget for new and unrelated projects, it could foster collaboration between the government, industry, and military to create groundbreaking technologies, ultimately improving military capabilities and reducing risks for soldiers. However, this would be a challenging sell due to the complexities of collaboration between different branches of government and the need for a high degree of synergy.
Military modernization, drone threats: The US needs to modernize its military and procurement systems to counter emerging drone threats from countries like Russia, or risk being unprepared for future wars.
The United States needs to modernize its military and procurement systems to keep up with emerging threats, particularly from countries like Russia, which are developing advanced drone technologies. Eric Schmidt and General Mark Milley argue in their Foreign Affairs essay that America is not prepared for the wars of the future, and the potential consequences could be serious. For instance, what is the U.S. response if a thousand cheap drones attack one of its bases? These are critical questions that require urgent attention. Meanwhile, there are other threats to American security, such as the rise of Christian nationalism, which could lead to a theocratic government and fewer rights for citizens. In the new season of Extremely American, Heath Druzen explores this movement in depth. To stay informed and ad-free, consider supporting NPR or becoming an Amazon Prime member.