Former Google CEO and chairman, Eric Schmidt, a name synonymous with technological innovation and listed among the world’s 100 richest individuals by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is calling for a seismic shift in the US military’s approach to warfare. He’s advocating for a dramatic reduction in reliance on traditional tank fleets, proposing a transition towards a force dominated by AI-powered drones. This bold assertion comes from a figure deeply entrenched in the technological landscape, having played a pivotal role in Google’s meteoric rise from 2001 to 2011 and subsequently serving as executive chairman of both Google and its parent company, Alphabet.
Schmidt’s involvement in the military technology sector is far from peripheral. He is the founder of White Stork, a startup actively developing autonomous “Kamikaze drones” designed for deployment in the Ukraine conflict. These aren’t your typical drones; they’re designed to loiter on the battlefield, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike enemy positions with devastating precision. The drones’ capacity to function effectively even in GPS-jammed environments – a significant advantage in modern conflict – is a key factor driving Schmidt’s advocacy.
His vision for a drone-centric military was further articulated at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia. Highlighting the sheer volume of tanks in US arsenals, Schmidt reportedly stated, “I read somewhere that the US had thousands and thousands of tanks stored somewhere. Give them away. Buy a drone instead.” This provocative statement underscores his belief in the transformative power of affordable, readily available drone technology.
Schmidt’s perspective is heavily informed by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict that has strikingly demonstrated the disruptive potential of relatively inexpensive drones against significantly more expensive military hardware. As reported by Forbes, he succinctly summarized this disparity: “A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank.” This cost-effectiveness, highlighted by the Ukraine conflict, is a compelling argument for shifting military priorities.
In July 2023, Schmidt further solidified his stance in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, unequivocally declaring drones “the future of war.” He credited Ukraine’s successful defense against a numerically superior Russian force, in large part, to its effective utilization of drones. This argument, supported by his extensive experience in technology and his direct involvement in drone development, is forcing a serious re-evaluation of traditional military strategies and spending priorities within the US defense establishment. The debate sparked by Schmidt’s pronouncements is certain to continue, prompting critical discussion about the changing face of modern warfare and the role of emerging technologies on the battlefield.
