High Variance with Danny Buerkli The Quest for the Perfect Weapon – with Jeff Stern
Mar 25, 2026
Jeff Stern, reporter and author of The Warhead, combines investigative journalism and storytelling. He traces the origins of precision weapons, from early remote-bomb attempts to Texas Instruments’ laser-guided innovations. He probes the paradox of “surgical” strikes, how targeting shifts warfare and information battles, and how covering conflict reshaped his role and craft.
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Kennedy's Fatal Remote Bomber Experiment
- Joe Kennedy Jr. volunteered for a remote-controlled bomber mission in 1944 that used a TV camera and steering rods to fly a 30,000-pound explosive aircraft.
- The plane detonated prematurely before the crew could parachute, illustrating early risks in building 'perfect' weapons.
How A Calculator Company Built Paveway
- Weldon Wood combined a portable laser pointer concept with a simple photon sensor to make the Paveway laser-guided bomb practical and cheap.
- Texas Instruments' startup culture and focus on future markets enabled low-cost, easy-to-use guidance that frontline crews would accept.
Company Lore Drives Longterm Weapons Innovation
- Weldon Wood and Texas Instruments kept looking ahead to build tools for tomorrow's problems rather than today's market.
- That culture—from oil-prospecting roots to electronics—encouraged daring bets enabling breakthroughs like guidance systems.
