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Swarm Troopers & the Future of Drone Warfare with David Hambling
Summary
In this episode we sit down with David Hambling, the author of Swarm Troopers and a prolific Uncrewed systems and tech Journalist, to dive into the rapid evolution of drone warfare. David shares how commercial drone technology has completely outpaced traditional military innovation, leading to a revolution on the battlefield. We discuss the failures of rigid defense procurement systems, the rise of AI-driven drone swarms, and how uncrewed systems are shaping the future of warfare. What really stood out was how drones have become a democratized technology—no longer limited to billion-dollar defense programs but now driven by individuals and small teams in garages, rapidly adapting and innovating.
With China poised to make major breakthroughs in uncrewed warfare, the next decade will be a race to keep up, and I can’t help but wonder if Western nations will be able to match the pace.
Key Takeaways
-
Drone Warfare’s Rise – In Swarm Troopers (2015), David Hambling predicted the rise of small drones in combat. Today, conflicts like Ukraine confirm how commercial drone tech has reshaped warfare.
-
Procurement Failures – Hambling criticizes Western defense procurement for repeated drone project failures. Meanwhile, Ukraine innovates rapidly, driven by frontline necessity and small startups.
-
Swarming & Autonomy – AI-driven drone swarms are becoming a reality, with Ukraine, Israel, and others already experimenting with coordinated, high-speed attacks.
-
Drone Tech for All – Unlike costly military R&D, drone innovations now come from individuals and small teams, leading to rapid battlefield adaptations like fiber-optic-controlled drones and incendiary ‘Dragon Drones.’
-
Future of Uncrewed Systems – China is emerging as a leader in drone warfare, developing advanced uncrewed carriers, aerial swarms, and undersea deterrents, challenging Western nations to keep up.
Find out more about David at his website:
https://www.swarm-troopers.com/
or contact on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hambling-3037b7a/
You can find more details on our website at:
www.ttpod.net/
or follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ttpod
View all episodes
By Joshua BaileySummary
In this episode we sit down with David Hambling, the author of Swarm Troopers and a prolific Uncrewed systems and tech Journalist, to dive into the rapid evolution of drone warfare. David shares how commercial drone technology has completely outpaced traditional military innovation, leading to a revolution on the battlefield. We discuss the failures of rigid defense procurement systems, the rise of AI-driven drone swarms, and how uncrewed systems are shaping the future of warfare. What really stood out was how drones have become a democratized technology—no longer limited to billion-dollar defense programs but now driven by individuals and small teams in garages, rapidly adapting and innovating.
With China poised to make major breakthroughs in uncrewed warfare, the next decade will be a race to keep up, and I can’t help but wonder if Western nations will be able to match the pace.
Key Takeaways
-
Drone Warfare’s Rise – In Swarm Troopers (2015), David Hambling predicted the rise of small drones in combat. Today, conflicts like Ukraine confirm how commercial drone tech has reshaped warfare.
-
Procurement Failures – Hambling criticizes Western defense procurement for repeated drone project failures. Meanwhile, Ukraine innovates rapidly, driven by frontline necessity and small startups.
-
Swarming & Autonomy – AI-driven drone swarms are becoming a reality, with Ukraine, Israel, and others already experimenting with coordinated, high-speed attacks.
-
Drone Tech for All – Unlike costly military R&D, drone innovations now come from individuals and small teams, leading to rapid battlefield adaptations like fiber-optic-controlled drones and incendiary ‘Dragon Drones.’
-
Future of Uncrewed Systems – China is emerging as a leader in drone warfare, developing advanced uncrewed carriers, aerial swarms, and undersea deterrents, challenging Western nations to keep up.
Find out more about David at his website:
https://www.swarm-troopers.com/
or contact on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hambling-3037b7a/
You can find more details on our website at:
www.ttpod.net/
or follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ttpod