Unmanned Dilemma: Separating Hype from the Business Model of Neo-Defense Tech

Please join us for an exclusive, off-the-record luncheon and discussion with Dr. Jonathan Panter, Navy Surface Warfare Officer, on the strategic and economic realities of mass-produced unmanned systems.

In an era defined by great power competition and the rapid technological lessons of conflicts like the war in Ukraine, the defense industry is undergoing a generational shift. New venture-backed companies, often referred to as “neo-defense tech,” promise to revolutionize military capability by delivering cheap, mass-produced unmanned systems. But what are the long-term strategic and financial realities of this trend?

Drawing on his recent article in War on the Rocks, “A Skeptic’s View of the Hype Machine and Business Model of Neo-Defense Tech,” Jonathan will lead a candid conversation centered on the economics of large-scale unmanned system production. We will challenge the prevailing narrative and explore critical questions relevant to BENS’s mission:

• The Cost-Exchange Conundrum: Is “cheap mass” truly cheaper, or does the reliance on complex, software-defined systems simply shift the cost burden to permanent licensing and continuous updates (Software-as-a-Service)?

• Industrial Base Resilience: How can the U.S. and its allies build production capacity for these systems without risking strategic over-indexing on conflict lessons that may not translate to the Indo-Pacific theater?

• Mobilizing Capital: What is the sustainable business model for companies in this space? When private capital is mobilized for defense, how do we align patriotic investment with viable, long-term strategic outcomes for the Department of Defense?

This discussion is an essential opportunity for BENS members to apply private sector insights to the future of the defense industrial base and the production challenges of 21st-century warfare.

We look forward to an incisive and productive conversation.