FT Tech Tonic Future weapons: Tomorrow’s technology
42 snips
May 13, 2025 Sylvia Pfeifer, an industry correspondent covering defense, joins Ryan McMorrow, the deputy Beijing bureau chief focusing on China’s military tech, and Demetri Sevastopulo, who reports on US-China relations. They discuss how defense technology is reshaping geopolitics, the rapid advancement of drones and AI in military strategies, and the implications of these innovations on U.S.-China relations. The conversation also delves into the balance between automated systems and human soldiers in future warfare, highlighting the evolving landscape of global military capabilities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
War Spurs Defense Tech Investment
- The Ukraine war has accelerated investment in new defense technologies like drones, robotics, and sensors.
- European governments had underinvested in defense R&D compared to the US, which exposed gaps when the conflict started.
China's Growing Military Edge
- China leads in hypersonic missiles and military drones, and the gap with the US military is closing.
- China's nuclear arsenal is expanding rapidly, with plans to match US and Russian warhead counts by 2035.
China Fuses Industry with Military
- China focuses on integrating electronics firms with the military to boost capabilities, emphasizing drones spawned from its strong commercial drone industry.
- Innovations include compact, lethal drones like mini flying grenades leveraging China's electronics supply chain.