I am thinking of a generational shift in tank design, as radical as the concept of the Predator drone being roughly modeled on the A-10 Warthog. Yes, drone tanks, something that has been wanted since before WWII.
When you don’t need to design for people, all the rules change. The could have temporary glide wings and be deployed from cargo aircraft, so land deep in enemy territory. Much easier to optimize for heat, cold and wet situations. Both guided and autonomous operations.
The number one thing that changes is there no need for heavy armor anymore. Robot tanks can be very fast and light.
If you don’t have people in them, you don’t really need all that expensive armor to protect them. If you don’t need that expensive armor, you can make them much smaller, faster and cheap. If they are cheap you can make a lot of them.
Picture thousands of units the size of an ATV which are fast, armed and autonomous.
Now picture them landing on the shores of America.
Scary.