This is CBSI in the world.

I'm John Batchler.

The Defense Department of the Future involves artificial intelligence, yes, something called

robots, but the robots are getting more and more sophisticated.

Humans are involved, but the decision-making is everything.

And I welcome Patrick Tucker of Defense One, the Technology Editor, to tell us how the

Air Force is thinking, how the Navy is thinking, how the Army is thinking, about interrelating

with machines that have software in them that far outproduce the ability of human beings

to make decisions at the moment.

We're looking now at communications deep inside enemy lines or deep in the water or behind

enemy lines walking with a combat unit.

Patrick, a very good evening to you.

The B-21, that's the future for the Air Force.

The excitement is obvious.

Why the excitement is the puzzle?

You explicate that they're looking at the B-21 not only as a platform to deliver a weapon,

but also as a communication center.

How so, and is this similar to what the F-35 can do, become an AWACS in combat?

The vision a little bit, this comes from a recent conversation between Kenneth Willsbach,

who's commander of the Pacific Air Force's general, Ken Willsbach, who talked a little

bit about the problem set of China and the Tour of China in the South China Sea.

And the B-21 figures very heavily in these plans, not just as a bomber, as a lot of people

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