Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and founder of the defense tech startup White Stork, recently suggested that the U.S. Army should phase out its reliance on tanks and invest in AI-powered drones. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia, Schmidt argued that the thousands of tanks the military currently has in storage are “useless” and that resources should be redirected to developing advanced drone technology.
Schmidt’s comments are based on the effectiveness of drones in recent conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, where relatively low-cost drones have proven capable of taking down multi-million dollar tanks. Some consumer-grade drones have even dropped explosives through open hatches of tanks. Schmidt’s company, White Stork, is working to produce drones that can operate autonomously and remain functional in areas where GPS is disrupted.
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt says the future of war is electronic warfare and automated drones powered by artificial intelligence fighting other drones, where it is too lethal for humans to enter the front line, "if you look up and you see a drone, within 2-3 minutes you're dead" pic.twitter.com/pmrLxjMAHX
— Tsarathustra (@tsarnick) October 15, 2024
Schmidt envisions a future where drones replace not only tanks but also artillery and mortars on the battlefield. The effectiveness of drones in Ukraine, combined with Russia’s estimated loss of 3,000 tanks, has spurred conversations about the potential for drones to redefine modern warfare. However, both Russia and Ukraine continue to incorporate tanks heavily in their strategies, with Ukraine requesting additional Western tanks for support.
Russian drones costing less than a thousand dollars crush two German Leopard 2A6 tanks, one of which costs 8.5 million dollars! pic.twitter.com/xQI3RxPSbi
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) October 24, 2023
In response to the rising drone threat, modern tanks are being outfitted with active protection systems like the Trophy system, which can intercept incoming projectiles. Military analysts believe that while drones offer significant advantages, the U.S. Army is likely to adopt a hybrid approach that combines both drones and traditional armored vehicles, providing flexibility in future combat scenarios.
