Latest news with #militarytech
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Pouring Funds Into Untested Weapons Is A Recipe For Failure
Administration officials and leaders of the emerging military tech sector are determined to get rid of excess regulations that slow the development and production of new weapons systems. It is a reasoTrump administration nable goal, as long as the drive to deregulate doesn't eliminate rules and personnel that serve essential functions like preventing flawed weapons programs from going into full production before they have been adequately tested. Spending more won't make us safer if a significant part of the new funding goes to systems that don't perform as advertised, are difficult to maintain, or are not useful for the kinds of conflicts the U.S. military is likely to face in the coming period. Unfortunately, the administration seems to be doing just that, announcing that it will cut staffing at the Pentagon's Independent Office of Testing and Evaluation (IOT&E) in half. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has spoken out against the move: 'How is it 'efficient' to gut the office responsible for testing our equipment and making sure it's safe for servicemembers to use?' Warren said. 'This dangerous decision should be immediately reversed.' An analysis by the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense concurred with Sen. Warren's assessment: 'If the end result of this directive is to speed major weapons programs into the field before they're adequately tested, then the $300 million in savings identified by the [adminstration's executive] The independent testing office was created by Congress in 1983 The basis of its independence was the fact that it did not report to any of the military services, which are often too invested in new systems to assess them objectively. The office has earned its keep over the years by producing detailed, unbiased analyses of the cost and performance of major weapons systems like the F-35 combat aircraft. The testing unit's assessments have been invaluable to members of Congress and the media in identifying problems with weapons in the development phase, thereby providing a chance to fix problems early in the process, before they get out of control. At a time when the Pentagon budget is on the verge of hitting $1 trillion per year, and ambitious new initiatives like Golden Dome and the F-47 combat aircraft are scheduled to get huge infusions of cash, independent testing is more important than ever. Not all regulations represent unnecessary bureaucratic interference, as some in the Pentagon and industry seem to believe. The independent testing office is an example of an regulatory unit that can save taxpayers money and put more reliable weapons systems in the hands of the troops. This is not to say that there should be no effort to streamline the Pentagon's weapons buying process. There are no doubt a significant number of regulations that require useless paper work that slows down the development process. But distinguishing unnecessary regulations from essential ones would involve a level of patience and careful analysis that has yet to be exhibited by the administration or its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Most Americans have never heard of the Pentagon's testing office, but if it is weakened they could pay a high price in wasted tax dollars and dysfunctional weapons systems. Not only should the office be scaled back, it should be strengthened to monitor the flood of new weapons programs in the pipeline, especially complex systems driven by artificial intelligence, which could cause serious damage if they are not developed with adequate scrutiny.
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
The Zuck and Luckey Reunion Enshrines Big Tech's Dude Bro-ification
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey, the original founder of Oculus VR who has since become a military contractor, weren't on the best of terms for many years. After all, Zuck is the one who fired Luckey after he helped establish Meta's entire VR business. That's now water under the bridge. There's major money to be made in military tech, but Zuckerberg and Luckey—two nerds who made billions off their consumer products—are also bound tight by their newfound ultra-masculine, Trump-supporting personas. On Thursday, the pair declared they were hitching themselves back together after their initial nasty divorce and subsequent lawsuit nearly a decade ago. Luckey's military contracting company, Anduril, and Meta announced they were going to make 'the world's best' AR and VR technology for the U.S. military. This initial project is dubbed 'EagleEye' and, according to The Wall Street Journal, will be some kind of 'rugged' VR system that could detect enemy soldiers or drones. The Oculus founder added that he and Zuck had been working on several projects 'for a while now.' That could include a joint bid for a U.S. Army contract worth approximately $100 million, according to the WSJ. It's a real match made in murder. Microsoft had worked hard on a similar project called HoloLens that was supposed to provide soldiers with individual XR goggles. After years of development, initial tests back in 2022 went so poorly soldiers said the devices gave them motion sickness, adding, 'The devices would have gotten us killed.' Microsoft killed off its consumer-level HoloLens last year, but the company expected to do more tests of its XR devices this year. The Journal reported Aduril has replaced Microsoft as the leading vendor for military VR. Big tech companies see dollar signs, and it's no wonder they're so eager to claim a slice of the military-industrial complex pie. Luckey has long been a supporter of President Donald Trump. His donations to a pro-Trump group and his public endorsement of the U.S.-Mexico border wall were deciding factors in his ouster from Facebook. Luckey all but confirmed it in a recent TED talk where he said he was fired from the company for 'donating $9,000 to the wrong political candidate.' There is a lot of money to be made in military contracts. Elon Musk, whose company Starlink is a major U.S. contractor, isn't the only CEO who has buddied up close to Trump for the sake of access and new potential deals. Zuckerberg, alongside the CEOs of several major tech firms from Google to Amazon to Apple, donated millions of dollars for Trump's inauguration and stood behind the wannabe authoritarian while he was sworn in. All these companies have multi-billion ties to the Pentagon, though tech giants like Google and Amazon try to keep their ties out of the limelight. So what's changed with Meta? The CEO of Andruil—a company name he ripped from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series—has long been an ardent Trump fan, but shortly after the election, Zuckerberg had his moment to finally come clean about his displeasure with all things having to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion—or DEI. The once-tweedy, nerdy Zuck has tried to transform his look as he's become a big fan of martial arts. He said on Joe Rogan's podcast that he believes the workplace needs more 'masculine energy,' which in the end just means he will kill funding for nonprofits and schools that he doesn't think fit in his new worldview. The arms dealer's slicked-back mullet and soul patch framed by his typical Hawaiian shirts, cargo shorts, and sandals don't exactly gel with Zuckerberg's masculine makeover. The connection between the pair of wannabe warmongers is more than skin deep. Luckey has been outspoken of his love for the 'warriors' of the U.S. military. In past posts to X, Luckey identified himself as a 'warrior' since he helps provide the 'tools of violence.' The bad blood between Luckey and Zuckerberg wouldn't survive the pair's transformation into their new 'warrior' identities. Yes, the contracts are lucrative enough to salve any lingering wounds, but the push into arms tech isn't driven merely by seeing dollar signs in the eyes. Both are committed to building a society that puts value on weapons and the armed forces above people. Perhaps they hope they'll both get a seat on the lead tank at Trump's fascist-flavored military parade next month.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Posted May 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM EDT
Dumb and dumberer. Mark Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey have buried the hatchet after Zuckerberg fired Luckey in 2017, so they can build virtual and augmented reality gear for the military. Oculus made, of course, the most successful VR headset and was also a tremendous flop for Meta. Anyway, here's the WSJ story about their new team-up. Time and money heal all wounds, I guess?
Japan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Railguns, missiles and lasers: Japan uses massive defense event to highlight shift
A cutting-edge railgun, new missiles, a high-powered laser and a myriad of drones were just some of the advanced military tech on display Wednesday as Japan kicked off its largest-ever defense exhibition — part of a move to highlight its growing openness to international collaboration and even the once-taboo topic of defense exports. The range of products and systems being displayed by both Japanese firms and the Defense Ministry at the three-day DSEI Japan defense exhibition in Chiba is both diverse and sophisticated, and comes amid soaring international and regional tensions. Ranging from a multipurpose combat naval drone and upgraded Type-12 missile systems to the UNICORN integrated antenna system and a potential new advanced trainer jet, the kit is part of a marketing push supported by the Defense Ministry and its Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA). Among this year's highlights is a model of a railgun system intended to be installed on warships that uses electricity to launch projectiles at speeds much higher than conventional guns. A prototype of the weapon is already undergoing trials aboard a Maritime Self-Defense Force test vessel. A model of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's upgraded Mogami-class frigate is displayed at the DSEI Japan defense exhibition. The vessel is currently being pitched for sale to Australia. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ Also on display was a Ground Self-Defense Force vehicle mounting a high-power laser system that can be used to defend against drones, enabling a lower-cost response compared with missiles and other countermeasures. To better defend its remote southwestern islands, Japan is currently working on several systems, including an improved variant of the ground-launched Type-12 system, a model of which was on display. Another such system is a hyper-velocity gliding projectile being developed for the GSDF that can travel at high altitudes and supersonic speeds, making it difficult to intercept. Defense Ministry officials told The Japan Times that development of this supersonic weapon — which was shown in a video at the event — is set to be completed this year, with induction slated for either 2026 or 2027. A model of the Global Combat Air Program fighter jet is displayed at the DSEI Japan defense exhibition. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ Unmanned systems were also prominent at DSEI Japan, with ATLA revealing that it is conducting research on a multipurpose maritime vessel aimed at supporting naval combat missions. Based on a modular design, the uncrewed ship could carry out a diverse range of roles ranging from surveillance missions to launching anti-ship missiles. Japanese firms also used the event to unveil their latest tech, including ShinMaywa's XU-M amphibious drone. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), meanwhile, showcased several concepts of uncrewed armored combat vehicles, including amphibious variants, that can deploy small aerial drones, as well as a scale model of long-endurance lithium ion battery-powered submarine drone. Another of MHI's highlights was the unveiling of the T-X trainer aircraft concept, which is being pitched as a replacement for the Air Self-Defense Force's T-4 trainer to support flight training for student pilots and operational training in fighter squadrons. U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass speaks during the DSEI Japan defense exhibition in the city of Chiba on Wednesday. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ Equipped with software to simulate an enemy aircraft's radar and weapon systems, the twin-engine T-X is expected to enable training for both fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, potentially including future pilots of the next-generation fighter aircraft being developed jointly by Japan, Britain and Italy under the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP). The trilateral defense project is Japan's largest ever with a country other than the U.S. and featured prominently at the exhibition. Indeed, defense cooperation is a key focus of the event, with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani vowing in a speech to promote military-industrial collaboration between Japan and others as a means of strengthening regional peace and stability. 'The security environment in the Indo-Pacific is going through great change,' Nakatani said. 'It's becoming more complex and diverse, and the enhancement of defense collaboration with allies and like-minded countries is becoming increasingly important.' A model of Japan's new Type-12 anti-ship missile is displayed at the DSEI Japan defense exhibition. The upgraded version of the weapon aims to extend its range to at least 900 kilometers, and eventually to 1,200 km. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ Japan has reached a spate of defense cooperation deals with other nations in recent years, but its ties with the United States under President Donald Trump are being closely watched. U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a speech at the event that the alliance's strength comes from expanding and elevating its capabilities and capacity, 'which means leveraging our respective skills and our specialties in co-development, co-production and co-sustainment.' 'The alliance cannot afford to rest on its laurels in the face of determined adversaries,' Glass added, in what was widely seen as a thinly veiled reference to China, North Korea and Russia. 'The United States and Japan must be prepared to invest and innovate like never before — and with an urgency, never seen before.' The vehicle-mounted laser weapon system developed by the Defense Ministry's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency is seen at the DSEI Japan defense exhibition. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ This year's iteration of the event is bringing together around 450 national and international exhibitors — compared with 291 companies two years ago — according to organizers, as firms unveil their latest advancements in a variety of fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and space technology. Heightened regional tensions along with Tokyo's recent defense policy shift have led to Japan's largest defense contractors experiencing a surge in the sale of military assets, be they warships, aircraft, missiles or other defense gear. MHI, for instance, reported earlier this month that its year-on-year order intake increased by ¥31.4 billion ($218 million), with the company forecasting further growth over the coming years. 'When the Japanese government announced that it would be doubling its defense spending to reach 2% of its gross domestic product by 2027, both the domestic and foreign defense industries saw a significant growth opportunity in the Japanese market,' a former U.S.-Japan alliance manager said on condition of anonymity. A model of the multipurpose combat-support USV developed by the Defense Ministry's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency is seen at the DSEI exhibition. The vessel is intended to be operated autonomously or remotely from a land-based control facility. | GABRIEL DOMINGUEZ As part of dramatic revisions to key defense documents in late 2022, Japan has been seeking to boost the presence of domestic firms at international defense exhibitions as it seeks to increase exports. To enable this, the government has simultaneously been easing its strict arms export controls as well as signing defense equipment and tech transfers agreements with numerous countries. Simon Chelton, of the London-based RUSI think tank, said that the latest exhibition reflects that Japanese companies are beginning to understand how to engage with the international defense market after years of an almost strictly domestic focus. 'While they are still often constrained by fears of adverse public perception, the environment has changed substantially over the past decade, particularly since the first-ever defense exhibition held in Japan: MAST 2015,' Chelton said. The Defense Ministry's increased support — 'substantially greater' than that of 10 years ago — also doesn't hurt, he said. This, he added, has likely been informed by Japan's failed 2016 bid to sell Soryu submarines to Australia. The development of DSEI over the past six years into a much more robust show, Chelton said, 'reflects the greater maturity of Japan towards international collaboration and defense exports.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France Wants to Roll Out Robot Army by 2040
Though armed conflict is becoming increasingly rare as the decades go by, global military spending is rising sharply with each passing year, reaching unprecedented numbers in the history of warfare. Much of that spending is fueled by the rise of the military tech industry. Between 2021 and 2023, venture capital firms pumped $100 billion into military tech startups in the US alone, hoping to snag lucrative contracts for everything from high-powered counter-UAV systems to deadly drone swarms. With so many startups and defense conglomerates pitching all kinds of buzzy hardware, it's getting pretty difficult to predict what the future of warfare is going to look like. That isn't stopping countries like France from taking a guess, however. General Bruno Baratz, commander of future combat programs for the French Army, recently announced the country's intent to deploy robot warriors to the front lines as soon as 2028. "We hope to have something fairly evolved within three years, with the first ground robot capabilities ready to equip our forces," Baratz said at a military robotics exercise near Paris. Baratz added that the French government anticipates "deploying evolved systems with practical utility to our combat elements well ahead of 2040," referencing a target date for robot deployment set back in 2021. That decision was part of a call by French military leaders to prepare for "high-intensity warfare" by upgrading equipment, increasing army reserves, outsourcing to private contractors, and investing in high-tech drone and robotics programs. At the military robotics trials, Barrons reports that unmanned units sporting legs, treads, and wheels navigated obstacles and dodged traps meant to emulate battlefield conditions. The French army anticipates deploying the robo-units for a range of tasks, from surveillance to remote repair work to mine clearing. "Now we need to prove [the robots] can be more effective when they come into contact with an adversary," said French general Tony Maffeis, head of the army's technical branch. "The robot must facilitate combat, not hold it back." Though France points to the Russian-Ukraine war as a reason to embrace high-tech hardware, president Emmanuel Macron recently affirmed that France would not be sending troops to the conflict — raising the important question of what, exactly, its robot army will be used for. The European superpower is currently withdrawing troops from deployments in formerly colonized African countries like Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which some critics warn is a smokescreen for France to return to the kinds of covert schemes its military has come to be known for across the continent. France has previously employed tactics like economic warfare in Guinea, drone espionage in the Central African Republic, and high-tech arms transfers to the oil-rich nation of Guyana, to name a few. It's anyone's guess how France will deploy its cutting-edge military tech going forward, but it's hard to imagine it'll be sitting in a warehouse gathering dust. More on military robots: Senior Pentagon Official: New Plan Is to Invest in "Autonomous Killer Robots"
