Eric Schmidt, former CEO and chairman of Google, is advocating for a bold transformation in America’s military approach. He suggests that the U.S. military should transition away from conventional tank fleets and instead focus on deploying AI-powered drones. Schmidt, who led Google through a decade of significant growth from 2001 to 2011, played a pivotal role in shaping the tech giant’s trajectory.After stepping down as CEO, he served as executive chairman for both Google and later Alphabet, its parent company, before resigning from the role in 2018. Schmidt’s call reflects his deep engagement with cutting-edge technology and its potential applications in national defense.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia recently, Schmidt said, “I read somewhere that the US had thousands and thousands of tanks stored somewhere.” “Give them away. Buy a drone instead.” Schmidt’s advocacy for drones is rooted in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He argues that the conflict has demonstrated the effectiveness of affordable, off-the-shelf drones in neutralizing expensive military equipment.
Schmidt, according to reports by Forbes, reportedly told the audience that the Ukraine-Russia war has demonstrated how “a $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank.”

Building drones for Ukraine to take on Russia

As per a Forbes report earlier this year, Schmidt is the founder of White Stork, a military startup that is building a “Kamikaze drone” for Ukraine. The drones are reported to be designed to loiter on the battlefield before being dispatched to destroy its target.
“White Stork” is also a reference to a species of bird that is commonly found in Ukraine. Schmidt’s startup White Stork is reportedly actively developing autonomous Kamikaze drones designed to target enemy positions in Ukraine. These drones, equipped with AI, can operate in challenging environments and identify targets even when GPS signals are jammed.
In July 2023, Schmidt wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal calling drones as “the future of war. According to Schmidt, Ukrainian forces have “succeeded” despite the fact that Russia has a 3-to-1 advantage in soldiers as well as air superiority. Reason is: Ukraine’s deployment of drones.
Schmidt is listed by Bloomberg Billionaires Index among the 100 richest people in the world with a fortune valued at almost $35 billion.