Monday, August 26, 2024

Watch Out Shipping, Silicon Valley Is Gunning For You

This may not be the best idea ever to come out of the Valley.

From gCaptain, august 26:

US Tech Titan Targets Ships: Y Combinator Backs Anti-Ship Missile Startup

In a move that could ripple through global naval strategies, Y Combinator—the California-based tech incubator behind Airbnb, Dropbox and Flexport—is now backing Ares Industries, a startup aiming to revolutionize maritime warfare with a new line of anti-ship missiles.

This development marks a significant shift for Silicon Valley, traditionally known for software and tech innovations rather than weaponry. However, the industry has been pivoting rapidly with the success of other defense startups like Palantir and Anduril Industries. Ares Industries is bringing the disruptive spirit of the tech world into the defense sector, focusing on compact, cost-effective weaponry designed to challenge naval warfare conventions.

The centerpiece of Ares’ arsenal is a next-generation anti-ship missile, priced at a mere $50,000. This lightweight, backpack-sized missile can be deployed from small vessels or merchant ships, making it a versatile tool for both conventional navies and irregular maritime forces. A defense expert tells gCaptain this level of affordability and portability could be a game-changer in and around choke points, where smaller, agile forces might neutralize much larger naval assets.

“Ares is building a new class of anti-ship cruise missiles,” said cofounders Alex Tseng and
Devan Plantamura in a recent statement. “We are going to deliver the capabilities that the US Department of Defense wants in a form factor that’s 10x smaller and 10x cheaper.”....

....MUCH MORE

Couldn't they have worked on an anti-missile missile first? What with the Houthis and all.