The Missing Power Layer of Modern Warfare - The a16z Show Recap

Podcast: The a16z Show

Published: 2026-03-24

Duration: 3034

Guests: Adam Warmoth, Alex Miller

What Happened

The power infrastructure of modern military operations is facing significant challenges as battlefields become more reliant on electronics such as drones, sensors, and edge AI. Adam Warmoth, founder and CEO of Chariot Defense, and Alex Miller, CTO of the U.S. Army, discuss how the Army's current system, based on diesel generators and lead-acid batteries, is struggling to meet these demands. This legacy system creates detectable thermal and acoustic signatures, making it a liability in distributed and electronics-heavy warfare.

Chariot Defense is at the forefront of addressing these challenges by building a tactical power layer optimized for robotic warfare. Their hybrid power systems integrate batteries, power electronics, and microcontrollers, with their first product, the Sam 424 system, providing a four kilowatt solution with energy storage. The system's design includes interoperability with existing Army equipment, featuring bidirectional charging capabilities and the ability to plug into NATO ports on tactical vehicles.

Modern warfare's reliance on electronic systems has increased power demands at the soldier level, with average power consumption now equivalent to that of a mid-tier laptop running continuously. Soldiers use creative methods to manage power in harsh conditions, such as using space blankets to keep batteries warm in extreme cold. The Army is working on making command posts smaller and more power-efficient while ensuring that power becomes a non-issue for soldiers on the field.

Procurement reform in the Army is accelerating the deployment of new technologies, allowing startups like Chariot Defense to get products into soldiers' hands quickly. The Army has reduced its acquisition process from 13 program executive offices to six portfolio acquisition executives, streamlining the process and aligning contracting officials and labs under these executives. This transformation facilitates flexibility in organizing units and equipment according to mission needs.

The Army is also focusing on solving 80% of power-related issues with commercial technology, while addressing the remaining 20% of edge cases through specific military initiatives. Investments are being made in onshoring battery cell production and manufacturing capabilities to ensure a steady supply of reliable components. The Army aims to have tactical power solutions that are microgrid compliant within 24 months, minimizing reliance on potentially compromised foreign products.

Fuel convoys are identified as significant targets due to their thermal and acoustic signatures, making them vulnerable in modern warfare. The Army is addressing these vulnerabilities by leveraging commercial advancements in high-voltage batteries and silicon carbide power electronics. The goal is to eliminate power as a concern for soldiers, enabling them to concentrate on their mission objectives without logistical hindrances.

Key Insights