Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently advocated for the U.S. Army to phase out its tanks in favor of AI-powered drones. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia, Schmidt argued that the thousands of tanks held by the U.S. military are “useless” and should be replaced by advanced drone technology.
Schmidt pointed to the Ukraine conflict as an example of drones’ effectiveness, noting that even low-cost drones have proven deadly against expensive tanks. Schmidt’s company, White Stork, aims to develop drones that use AI for targeting and are resistant to GPS jamming, potentially offering the U.S. Army a new approach to modern warfare.
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
Schmidt believes that as autonomous technology becomes more affordable, drones will eventually replace tanks, artillery, and other traditional weaponry. Reports suggest that Russia has lost around 3,000 tanks in Ukraine, a statistic fueling debate about the continued relevance of tanks. However, both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to utilize tanks heavily.
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
Modern tanks now incorporate active protection systems like Trophy, which can intercept incoming attacks before they hit. Experts argue that the U.S. military is unlikely to abandon tanks entirely, instead favoring a combined strategy that integrates both drones and armored vehicles for a balanced approach to combat.
