Welcome to Defense One Futures, our new podcast about the people and technology shaping the future of national security. In this debut episode, we explore how robotic autonomy is altering warfare, with firsthand accounts of how the U.S. military and NATO allies are rethinking every aspect of buying, building, and training in the age of autonomy and AI.
At North Carolina’s Fort Bragg and Alabama’s Clark Range, the U.S. Army is incorporating advanced battlefield robotics into training. Across the Atlantic, NATO in September completed a large maritime exercise focused on coordinated, autonomous operations.
Featuring:
- Maj. Gen. Jason C. Slider, who leads the Army's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
- Paweł Zalewski, Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defence
- Eric Poulique, director of NATO's Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation
- João Alves, a principal scientist at CMRE
- Sam Bendett, analyst with CNA and CNAS
- Olena Kryzhanivska, NATO-affiliated Ukrainian defense analyst
- George Barro, Institute for the Study of War
Sponsored by:
The U.S. Army is integrating advanced battlefield robotics into training at Fort Bragg and Clark Range. NATO completed a significant maritime exercise in September that emphasized coordinated autonomous operations. The discussions feature insights from military leaders and defense analysts, highlighting the evolving nature of warfare due to robotic autonomy and AI.
- U.S. Army is incorporating advanced battlefield robotics into training at Fort Bragg and Clark Range.
- NATO completed a large maritime exercise focused on coordinated, autonomous operations in September.
- The podcast features insights from military leaders and defense analysts.

