The a16z Show The Missing Power Layer of Modern Warfare
83 snips
Mar 24, 2026 
Alex Miller, U.S. Army CTO driving soldier-first tech adoption, joins Adam Warmoth, Chariot Defense founder and former Anduril engineering leader. They dig into why battlefield power is breaking down. Think diesel generators, fuel convoy risk, silent tactical batteries, EV and aviation tech adapted for combat, Arctic battery failures, and faster ways to get new hardware into soldiers’ hands.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Power Systems Become Targets By Emitting Signatures
- Fuel and power systems create multiple signatures the enemy can target, not just obvious noise and heat.
- Alex Miller says generators emit thermal and acoustic cues, while poorly shielded batteries can leak electromagnetic noise in places that should stay quiet.
Smart Power Management Matters More Than Raw Battery Size
- Chariot's system acts less like a battery pack and more like a smart buffer, converter, and power manager between vehicles, generators, and electronics.
- Adam Warmoth says it handles surges, enables silent periods, cleans dirty power, and prevents mistakes like a coffee pot knocking out an air defense radar.
Defense Power Is Borrowing Its Breakthroughs From EVs
- Commercial EV and electric aviation advances created the high-voltage batteries and power electronics that now make tactical hybrid power viable.
- Adam Warmoth frames Chariot like Anduril or Palantir: adapting commercial breakthroughs for defense instead of inventing everything inside government labs.
