Instead of pumping all that money into research and development, why don't we just steal the plans for the next generation from China? We could tweak them a bit, if necessary.
Maybe have a design contest inside the US, or with our allies. Perhaps some deserving citizen has a good plan sitting on the back of the desk.
Another great analysis Dave. Next question. It seems that future conflicts may rely less on hardware and more on AI. Perhaps going back to a siege system - disrupt food, water, power. Do you agree? And as an Australian, I’m curious as to how relevant our future fleet of very expensive nuclear submarines will be I the future?
Two big ones, Rick. War against an enemy’s home front has been a feature of “total war” since WWI and the Zeppelin attacks on London, etc. Turning off your enemy’s electricity (which would cripple any population and industrial base), would have to be the big ticket AI hack of any major peer conflict from now on. So, yes, I agree. Imagine the panic if there was no electricity! Everything that makes modern life possible relies on it. You would have to be off the grid and self sufficient to survive. But then you would become a target for desperate people who don’t know how to survive without it (99% of the people around you). Best also be well armed, I guess. The subs thing is a challenge because so much of the technology involved is above top secret. But I’ll give it a crack!
Instead of pumping all that money into research and development, why don't we just steal the plans for the next generation from China? We could tweak them a bit, if necessary.
Maybe have a design contest inside the US, or with our allies. Perhaps some deserving citizen has a good plan sitting on the back of the desk.
Another great analysis Dave. Next question. It seems that future conflicts may rely less on hardware and more on AI. Perhaps going back to a siege system - disrupt food, water, power. Do you agree? And as an Australian, I’m curious as to how relevant our future fleet of very expensive nuclear submarines will be I the future?
Two big ones, Rick. War against an enemy’s home front has been a feature of “total war” since WWI and the Zeppelin attacks on London, etc. Turning off your enemy’s electricity (which would cripple any population and industrial base), would have to be the big ticket AI hack of any major peer conflict from now on. So, yes, I agree. Imagine the panic if there was no electricity! Everything that makes modern life possible relies on it. You would have to be off the grid and self sufficient to survive. But then you would become a target for desperate people who don’t know how to survive without it (99% of the people around you). Best also be well armed, I guess. The subs thing is a challenge because so much of the technology involved is above top secret. But I’ll give it a crack!