Back to #2234 - Marc Andreessen, with Marc Andreessen.
How Will Mach 5 Jet Drones Change War?
Marc Andreessen says Mach 5 jet drones will be common within a few years and will change the fundamental equation of war. Winners used to be the side with the most soldiers and the most equipment. In a drone war, winners will be the side with the most money and the best technology.
The drones will be a fraction of the size of current manned planes, so a military can field a lot more of them. Picture 1,000 of them coming over the horizon at once. A small advanced state like Singapore will punch way above its weight. Large states that are economically or technologically backward, and that normally would have won, will now lose. The balance of who can fight and win will be recalibrated.
The good news is countries are not putting soldiers at risk, so there will be a lot less death. The bad news, arguably, is it will be easier to get into conflicts when leaders are not putting soldiers at risk. Countries will have to recalibrate when they lean into an attack.