The future of warfare is no longer reliant on tanks or missiles. According to successful entrepreneur and investor Naval Ravikant, drones are set to dominate the battlefield in ways previously unimaginable. He, alongside Marc Andreessen, has boldly stated that the future of all warfare lies in drones.
This may seem like a drastic shift, but the reality is already taking shape. China, a nation with a rapidly advancing technological and military presence, is making huge strides in drone development. In fact, it has already committed to mass-producing drones at a scale previously unseen.
“There will be no tanks, missiles, or soldiers,” predicted Naval Ravikant. For a man known for foreseeing big shifts—from solo entrepreneurship to independent work—this isn’t just a thought experiment. It's a warning.
Ravikant, a successful entrepreneur and angel investor, believes the nature of war is fundamentally changing. He and Marc Andreessen, another tech visionary, agree, “The future of all warfare is drones.”
It's a statement loaded with urgency. The machines are not coming. They’re already here.
Who’s Winning the Drone War?
That’s the question Ravikant posed, “Who’s winning the drone war?” The answer, he admits, didn’t surprise him. But the details did.
China isn’t dabbling. It’s racing ahead.
While political chaos and cultural distractions consume other nations—“While America is throwing shit at the greatest entrepreneur of our lifetime,” as one online commentator put it—China is building.
And not quietly.
China’s Drone Fleet: A glimpse into the future
China’s focus on drones is not merely a future concept. It is happening now. The country has developed over 50 types of drones that are currently in active development, including kamikaze drones that are expected to reach production numbers in the millions by 2026. These are not your average drones—some are hypersonic, while others have stealth capabilities that rival traditional military aircraft.
Among China’s most advanced drones is the WZ-8, a hypersonic reconnaissance drone capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3 at altitudes of 100,000 feet. This drone is designed to outrun enemy defences and perform deep surveillance missions over enemy territory. There is currently no other operational version of a drone with similar capabilities.
Then, there’s the GJ-11, a stealth bomber UAV that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi film. Its internal weapon bays give it the ability to carry out strikes without exposing its presence to enemy radar. This drone is China's answer to the U.S.'s RQ-170 Sentinel, but with more advanced features.
Millions of Kamikaze drones by 2026?
China’s drone plans are staggering in scale. According to a thread by Wayne Yap, China has over 50 drone types currently in active development. That includes more than one million kamikaze drones scheduled to be in production by 2026.
These aren’t just buzzing toys or surveillance tools. They’re war-ready machines.
And they’re getting smarter, faster, and harder to stop.
A look at the fleet
Among the most eye-catching examples is the WZ-8, a hypersonic reconnaissance drone. It can fly at Mach 3—three times the speed of sound—at 100,000 feet. That means it can spy deep into enemy territory, dodge defensive systems, and disappear before anyone notices.
“No one else has an operational version like this,” notes Yap.
Then there’s the GJ-11, known as the “Sharp Sword.” It’s a stealth attack drone that looks like a UFO, flies like an American Reaper, and hides its bombs inside internal bays. It’s believed to rival the US RQ-170 Sentinel—perhaps even outperform it.
China’s long-endurance drone, the CH-9, can stay in the air for 40 hours and is armed for strike missions.
Swarms, not squads
But what really sets China apart is its experimentation with drone swarms.
Think: a mothership drone—called the Jetank—that releases hundreds of mini-drones. Each one can jam radar, carry out strikes, or silently surveil. Once launched, the swarm becomes a moving cloud of targets—too fast, too many, too coordinated.
“Good luck shooting down 100+ autonomous warbots in under 60 seconds,” writes Yap.
Mass production, military style
China’s edge is not just innovation—it’s industrial muscle.
With support from drone maker DJI, state-run AVIC, and direct backing from the Chinese government, UAVs are being produced at speeds resembling consumer electronics. Factories aren’t just building drones. They’re churning them out.
“They’re mass-producing UAVs like consumer electronics,” Yap said. No other country is moving this fast.
“Software Eats the Battlefield”
To sum up the shift, Andreessen put it bluntly, “Software eats the world, and now it's eating the battlefield.”
Autonomous systems, AI coordination, and digital warfare are no longer fringe ideas. They’re becoming the standard.
Behind the drones lies a strategy. One rooted in speed, intelligence, and volume.
A doctrine of caution?
Despite the aggressive drone buildup, China continues to project a cautious military stance. The country’s doctrine, tracing back to Deng Xiaoping’s era, remains, “China will not fight a world war, nor is it afraid of a world war.” (中国不打世界大战，也不怕世界大战)
It suggests that while China is ready for high-tech warfare, it does not seek open global conflict.
But readiness itself sends a signal.
Naval Ravikant’s forecast may seem bold: a battlefield with no tanks, no missiles, and no soldiers. But as drone fleets take to the skies, his words feel less like a prediction and more like a description of the present.
However, the sheer scale of China’s drone fleet and its capabilities could shift global military strategies. As drones become the backbone of future warfare, the implications for international security are vast. With the production capacity, speed, and innovation China possesses, the balance of power on the global stage may soon tip towards unmanned warfare.
China isn’t preparing for war the old way. It’s writing a new manual—one drone at a time.
This may seem like a drastic shift, but the reality is already taking shape. China, a nation with a rapidly advancing technological and military presence, is making huge strides in drone development. In fact, it has already committed to mass-producing drones at a scale previously unseen.
“There will be no tanks, missiles, or soldiers,” predicted Naval Ravikant. For a man known for foreseeing big shifts—from solo entrepreneurship to independent work—this isn’t just a thought experiment. It's a warning.
Ravikant, a successful entrepreneur and angel investor, believes the nature of war is fundamentally changing. He and Marc Andreessen, another tech visionary, agree, “The future of all warfare is drones.”
It's a statement loaded with urgency. The machines are not coming. They’re already here.
To quote Marc: "Software eats the world, and now it's eating the battlefield."
— Wayne Yap (@wayneyap) April 10, 2025
But... Thankfully I believe China's policy on war is:
"China will not fight a world war, nor is it afraid of a world war." -> 中国不打世界大战，也不怕世界大战 (From Deng Xiaopeng's era)
Who’s Winning the Drone War?
That’s the question Ravikant posed, “Who’s winning the drone war?” The answer, he admits, didn’t surprise him. But the details did.
China isn’t dabbling. It’s racing ahead.
While political chaos and cultural distractions consume other nations—“While America is throwing shit at the greatest entrepreneur of our lifetime,” as one online commentator put it—China is building.
And not quietly.
China’s Drone Fleet: A glimpse into the future
China’s focus on drones is not merely a future concept. It is happening now. The country has developed over 50 types of drones that are currently in active development, including kamikaze drones that are expected to reach production numbers in the millions by 2026. These are not your average drones—some are hypersonic, while others have stealth capabilities that rival traditional military aircraft.
Among China’s most advanced drones is the WZ-8, a hypersonic reconnaissance drone capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3 at altitudes of 100,000 feet. This drone is designed to outrun enemy defences and perform deep surveillance missions over enemy territory. There is currently no other operational version of a drone with similar capabilities.
Then, there’s the GJ-11, a stealth bomber UAV that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi film. Its internal weapon bays give it the ability to carry out strikes without exposing its presence to enemy radar. This drone is China's answer to the U.S.'s RQ-170 Sentinel, but with more advanced features.
Millions of Kamikaze drones by 2026?
China’s drone plans are staggering in scale. According to a thread by Wayne Yap, China has over 50 drone types currently in active development. That includes more than one million kamikaze drones scheduled to be in production by 2026.
These aren’t just buzzing toys or surveillance tools. They’re war-ready machines.
And they’re getting smarter, faster, and harder to stop.
A look at the fleet
Among the most eye-catching examples is the WZ-8, a hypersonic reconnaissance drone. It can fly at Mach 3—three times the speed of sound—at 100,000 feet. That means it can spy deep into enemy territory, dodge defensive systems, and disappear before anyone notices.
“No one else has an operational version like this,” notes Yap.
Then there’s the GJ-11, known as the “Sharp Sword.” It’s a stealth attack drone that looks like a UFO, flies like an American Reaper, and hides its bombs inside internal bays. It’s believed to rival the US RQ-170 Sentinel—perhaps even outperform it.
China’s long-endurance drone, the CH-9, can stay in the air for 40 hours and is armed for strike missions.
Swarms, not squads
But what really sets China apart is its experimentation with drone swarms.
Think: a mothership drone—called the Jetank—that releases hundreds of mini-drones. Each one can jam radar, carry out strikes, or silently surveil. Once launched, the swarm becomes a moving cloud of targets—too fast, too many, too coordinated.
“Good luck shooting down 100+ autonomous warbots in under 60 seconds,” writes Yap.
Mass production, military style
China’s edge is not just innovation—it’s industrial muscle.
With support from drone maker DJI, state-run AVIC, and direct backing from the Chinese government, UAVs are being produced at speeds resembling consumer electronics. Factories aren’t just building drones. They’re churning them out.
“They’re mass-producing UAVs like consumer electronics,” Yap said. No other country is moving this fast.
“Software Eats the Battlefield”
To sum up the shift, Andreessen put it bluntly, “Software eats the world, and now it's eating the battlefield.”
Autonomous systems, AI coordination, and digital warfare are no longer fringe ideas. They’re becoming the standard.
Behind the drones lies a strategy. One rooted in speed, intelligence, and volume.
A doctrine of caution?
Despite the aggressive drone buildup, China continues to project a cautious military stance. The country’s doctrine, tracing back to Deng Xiaoping’s era, remains, “China will not fight a world war, nor is it afraid of a world war.” (中国不打世界大战，也不怕世界大战)
It suggests that while China is ready for high-tech warfare, it does not seek open global conflict.
But readiness itself sends a signal.
Naval Ravikant’s forecast may seem bold: a battlefield with no tanks, no missiles, and no soldiers. But as drone fleets take to the skies, his words feel less like a prediction and more like a description of the present.
However, the sheer scale of China’s drone fleet and its capabilities could shift global military strategies. As drones become the backbone of future warfare, the implications for international security are vast. With the production capacity, speed, and innovation China possesses, the balance of power on the global stage may soon tip towards unmanned warfare.
China isn’t preparing for war the old way. It’s writing a new manual—one drone at a time.
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