FT Tech Tonic Future weapons: Rearming Europe
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May 6, 2025 Gundbert Scherf, co-founder of Helsing, a pioneering defense tech startup, shares insights on Europe's evolving security landscape amid the Ukraine conflict. He discusses the surge in military spending, especially France's staggering €800 billion defense budget, and highlights the crucial role of AI and drones in modern warfare. Scherf also explores investment trends in defense technology, ethical dilemmas faced by investors, and Europe's potential to lead in military advancements. The conversation delves into the risks and responsibilities of autonomous weapons in future conflicts.
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Technology Transforms Battlefields
- The future battlefield is transformed by a blend of drones, AI, software, satellites, and connectivity.
- These technologies combined create a new paradigm of warfare with speed and autonomy.
Ukraine Drives Drone Innovation
- Ukraine's war spurred rapid drone industry growth from almost nothing to leading global producer.
- AI and strike drones enabled longer-range missions under harsh electronic warfare conditions.
Iterate With Frontline Users
- Stay close to warfighters and iterate technology fast based on their feedback.
- Deploy scalable strike drones and support users directly to improve effectiveness.