Posted on 06/15/2025 8:17:52 AM PDT by RandFan
Advances in drone technology and artificial intelligence seem destined to transform defense planning and budgeting. But we shouldn’t assume these innovations will render obsolete manned weapons systems.
It would be a strategic and costly mistake to cut the procurement of existing programs that we need in the short term. Given the real chance of great power conflict in the near future—well before new technologies now in the research and development phase are ready to use—the United States must continue fielding traditional combat-relevant systems and weapons while continuing to research and develop the next generation of defense technologies.
This isn’t a new conversation. In the 1920s, following the First World War, some analysts believed that the invention of tanks meant that dismounted infantry was a thing of the past. After the Second World War, some Air Force generals argued that warships were no longer needed thanks to advances in airpower. History shows how difficult it is to predict how transformative new technologies will be or how they will affect existing systems and operations.
Today, air and sea drones are the current innovations that many believe will replace existing systems, such as manned warships and fighter aircraft. Already, some have called for scrapping procurement of existing warships and fighter jets entirely and focusing the defense budget on researching unmanned systems. Yet ongoing conflicts show that this would be a big mistake.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...
The drones we see today are primitive, short ranged, and require a human controller in the loop. In the near future, we will much greater range, faster approach speed, greater payloads and AI independent ability to detect targets and eliminate them. Besides aerial drones - which will provide target interdiction, Close Air Support, Air-to-Air combat, logistic support and medical evacuation - we will have subsurface drones to interdict surface and subsurface vessels (including loitering drones that will provide far better effects and flexibility than traditional sea mines)- and surface drones to provide logistic support. Land drones will provide most of the same roles and they will also supplant ground infantry for close combat, recon, mine clearance and flank support. Infantry robots need not me humanoid - we looked at spiders as a potential direction of study.
In short, whoever gets there first has a pronounced advantage in our future- in AI development and in drone design.
“People who whine about the “military industrial complex” have no credibility.”
Ooh Rah!!! That is right! Screw our Grandchildren and their future prosperity!!!
Thank you for demonstrating the mindset of those who whine about the so-called “military industrial complex”.
ALL “ new technology “ weapons are eventually countered or defeated….from the Panzers ( bazookas and hand held AT weapons) to fast, high flying aircraft ( AA proximity fuzes).
Ukie drones are already being jammed by Russian ECMs….and Russia itself has now developed wire guided, unjammable drones ( like our TOW’s)….hypersonic missiles will eventually be defeated.
Wilson Beaver is a Senior Policy Advisor for defense budgeting in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security. In this role, he conducts research, writes and engages audiences on the adequacy, composition, and character of the U.S. defense budget and associated policies, and supports the center’s mission to promote a strong U.S. national defense.
If a drone carrying ordnance costing $100 can take out an M1 Abrams tank costing 4.3 million (12 million for export), maybe it’s time to rethink military budgeting and tactics.
“The tactical nuclear hand grenade can take out an entire city block, maybe two!”
But the blast radius is greater than Chuck Norris can throw it?
“Maybe if we ... wire a Silver Star to the pin?”
So? I am wrong because I care more about the future of my Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren more than I care about war profits for the MIC and the Globalists who own them?
Let me explain something factual and important to you. This countries greatest threat and enemy to future freedom and prosperity is the MIC from within.
The Corporations who own the MIC machine are the One World Order Globalists. And when we feed the MIC we are feeding the Global Beast that will enslave our Grandchildren.
It is they who are trying to kill our President because he stands in the way of perpetual war profits. It is they who are pulling the strings in Congress and the Courts fighting Trump from having peace in every devious way they can muster.
We are right now in a full scale internal Military operation to retain the full control of our government and nation they have had for half a century now.
You just destroyed your credibility.
Let me explain
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahaha!!!!
You? Presuming to explain something to me?
Get over yourself.
And there it is... The brilliant fourth grade IQ response.
If you support the MIC you are an ignorant threat to my Grandchildren. And your own...
Most countries don’t have the technology to do that. Satellites with sufficient resolution to find and track a ship, as well as maintain coverage of it, requires a pretty significant network. And for a sub to carry a massive enough missile to carry that many drones that have to be sufficiently strong enough to handle the launch/splashdown, as well as big enough to carry that payload for 100+ miles, isn’t going to be a big swarm. And to get through the fleet’s defenses.
At best, that might kill a couple soldiers standing around, but no way it’ll stop a carrier group from conducting offensive operations. A bit of damage on a surprise attack, but on war footing that’ll likely not work at all.
The world is populated by nice people who will happily kill us if they have the chance. The only thing standing between us and annihilation are the young volunteers in our armed forces.
Getting the best and most advanced weaponry - as well as training and effective doctrine - are the only way those young people and us will survive. Drones in particular can take the war to the enemy without risking one of their lives and as a former officer and the father of four boys and two girls, I am all for whatever it costs to keep them alive.
I am mightily sick of armchair nonexperts telling me how much money defense costs. Maybe we'll just send you and a .22 next time and you'll defend us all, right?
I’m not going to lower myself to disparage you in return. All I can say is that Foreign enemies are not the major current threat to our Nation. Our worst enemies are within. Our true worst enemies are the American Corporations who own the Military Industrial Complex.
They have absolutely no loyalties to our country, their only loyalty is to profits from war. And they are throwing our President, our Country, and our future generations under the bus to get these right now. This truth has been exposed and those who still support the MIC are now a minority.
The bigger picture is much more complicated than most can even fathom. and we have been brainwashed in mass to support them with false propaganda.
You do understand that you sound like somebody who’s never been out of our country and likely never worn our uniform either.
Your statement “foreign enemies are not the major current threat to our nation” means that you have never met them.
You do understand that it takes all of my self control not to disparage you, right?
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