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Under Secretary of War Emil Michael made a blunt case at the Breitbart “AI is Here” event: the Pentagon’s big budget request is not vanity — it’s a catch-up sprint. Michael argued that much of America’s military was designed for a different century and that a one-time, historic increase is needed to buy the future technologies that will actually matter on tomorrow’s battlefields.
Cold War gear won’t cut it against modern threats
Michael pointed out the obvious — our armed forces still rely on platforms built for the Cold War: big planes, huge carriers, and heavy tanks. Those systems were brilliant for their time, but they are often ill-suited to fight the kind of wars we see today. Look at the conflict in Ukraine: low-cost drones and autonomous systems are changing tactics and making the battlefield cheaper and faster. If we insist on fighting modern wars with Cold War tools, we are choosing to lose slowly and expensively.
One-time investment, smarter mix of forces
The Under Secretary’s pitch was simple: keep the reliable, “exquisite” systems we need, but invest now to build the new capabilities — drones, electronic warfare, AI-enabled sensors, and stockpiles — so the force mix can shift without leaving the nation exposed. He called for a short-term surge in spending that normalizes later. That makes sense if you accept that technology and doctrine must evolve together. It also makes sense if you want our grandchildren to inherit a deterrent that actually deters.
AI in defense — promise, peril, and procurement problems
Michael also argued that AI will eventually make defense more affordable and more effective. That’s true — if we get the adoption right. The Pentagon’s procurement system moves like molasses and loves big, slow programs. The solution is faster prototyping, software-first acquisitions, and a better partnership with private industry. That means funding, yes, but also accountability. Congress should fund the modernization push while refusing to subsidize wasteful programs that never deliver.
We should agree with Emil Michael’s core point: modern threats require modern investments. Congress should approve targeted funding for AI, unmanned systems, cyber defenses, and the munitions needed to deter aggression — while insisting on speed and results. If we fail to modernize now, defending freedom later will cost far more than a one-time push. Or we can keep arguing about symbolic cuts while our adversaries buy the future — and then wonder why our shiny carrier doesn’t matter next to a swarm of smart, cheap drones. That would be a plot twist nobody should be rooting for.
