Will humanoid robots ever make sense for combat? How are robots and drones impacting the future of warfare? And where will AI fit in the future of military tech?
We’ve all see what’s happening in Ukraine. Drones have become a key weapon of war, and might just be the key thing helping Ukraine defend against a much bigger opponent. What does this mean about the future of combat? And will AI-driven autonomous humanoid robots eventually become part of the military menu?
To chat, we have the CEO and founder of Mach Industries, a next-gen weapons manufacturer that recently raised $80M in venture capital His name is Ethan Thornton.
Drones, robots, & AI: episode summary
In this TechFirst episode, John Koetsier speaks with Ethan Thornton, CEO of Mach Industries, a next-gen weapons manufacturer that recently raised $80 million. The conversation centers on how drones, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing are rapidly reshaping modern warfare—especially in light of lessons from the war in Ukraine.
Key insights from the episode:
- Unmanned systems are redefining war. In Ukraine, outnumbered forces are using cheap drones to disrupt and defeat more expensive military assets. Small, inexpensive systems like quadcopters are eliminating tanks, refineries, and other high-value targets.
- Cost is a major factor. The mismatch between cheap attackers (like drones) and expensive defenders (like tanks or aircraft) is forcing a rethink in military strategy. However, the U.S. can’t just outscale China by building millions of drones—it needs strategic innovation, not just mass production.
- Autonomy and communication are critical. With GPS often jammed, drones need on-board intelligence, vision-based navigation, or systems that home in on enemy signals. Communication innovations like laser-based comms and directional RF are becoming more important than the drones themselves.
- Humans won’t disappear from war. While the battlefield is becoming more mechanized, human soldiers will still play roles in peacekeeping, special ops, and areas where trust and judgment matter.
- Humanoid robots for combat? Possible in urban environments, but largely speculative. Most future combat systems will be airborne, underwater, or remotely operated.
- Decentralized manufacturing is essential. Modern war makes centralized production a liability. Mach is focusing on flexibility, vertical integration (limiting reliance on foreign components), and decentralization to ensure survivability and responsiveness.
- Mach’s products:
- A vertical takeoff, cruise missile-style drone for long-range strikes without infrastructure.
- A high-altitude glide bomb.
- A stratospheric balloon (details not disclosed, but likely for surveillance or communication).
- Future of warfare (5-year outlook):
Warfare will become decentralized, autonomous, and data-driven. Quadcopters will replace mortars and artillery. Cruise missiles will be produced in huge numbers. Underwater and airborne unmanned systems will proliferate. Stratospheric and satellite sensors will provide global coverage. Massive platforms like aircraft carriers may become obsolete due to vulnerability.
Thornton emphasizes that the U.S. must lean on its strengths—hardware innovation and speed of deployment—to maintain strategic overmatch, rather than trying to win on scale alone. His goal with Mach is to rapidly build and deploy hardware that enables low-cost, high-precision warfare and secure supply chains.
TechFirst: available on all the major podcasting platforms
Prefer to listen to your podcasts rather than watch them on YouTube?
No worries. Here you go: