What Happened
New Players Shaping National Security And Defense Technology
A new wave of defense-tech innovators is emerging in Washington, driven by the intersection of Silicon Valley and traditional defense contractors. With venture-capital firms investing nearly $50 billion in defense-tech startups, the Pentagon is partnering with private companies, including SpaceX and Palantir, to develop new technologies such as drones, autonomous ships, and AI-powered weapons. This shift may signal a more agile and innovative approach to defense technology, but also raises questions about the role of startups in manufacturing weapons at scale and potential conflicts of interest. This article was first reported by Washingtonian.