In an era where many tech billionaires cast their gazes toward the stars, few venture into more unconventional territories like Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries. While titans like Elon Musk are busy launching pedestrians into orbit or funding lunar missions, Luckey raises eyebrows with his assertion that the future of national defense might reside not in the cosmic vastness but beneath our feet—quite literally, in the subterranean realm.
During a recent event, Luckey faced the question: “Is space destined to be the defining domain for 21st-century national defense?” Without hesitation, he countered, stating, “I actually believe that the subterranean domain will be the defining space.” This notion shocked many in attendance, prompting laughter and incredulous reactions. But Luckey remained steadfast, asserting, “Every time I talk about it, I sound insane to people.”
His rationale is compelling. Luckey pointed out the sheer mass of the Earth’s crust, asserting, “There’s a lot more crust than there is air or sea or surface of land.” He believes that vehicles designed to navigate through the Earth, akin to how submarines operate underwater, could redefine military capabilities moving forward. “I think they’re going to define at least the second half of the century,” he added.
This leads to an intriguing aspect of subterranean warfare: the strategic ambiguity it presents. Luckey explained, “Just because someone can know exactly where a submarine is doesn’t mean they can get to it and stop it.” He argues that similar advantages would be exponentially greater when operating underground. “It’s quite easy to drop a depth charge on somebody… Very, very hard to go get something that is five miles under the surface of the Earth,” he emphasized, painting a vivid picture of a potential future battlefield.
While Luckey’s ideas may initially sound far-fetched, they strike a chord with certain sectors of military and defense research. In late 2021, DARPA hosted a Subterranean Challenge, soliciting innovations for navigating robot technology below the Earth’s surface. On a more regional scale, Israel has devoted significant resources to counter-tunnel operations, particularly in Gaza, underscoring the practical relevance of subterranean considerations in modern conflict.
Despite the serious implications of his remarks, Luckey’s discussion was somewhat laced with humor, as he often takes to social media to respond to critiques. A follow-up discussion on X, which included sharing a meme from *Breaking Bad*, showcased his willingness to inject levity into serious topics, despite the skepticism surrounding his views.
Luckey’s presentation at the Internet Marketing Association’s IMPACT 25 conference raised further eyebrows when he discussed his company’s innovative technologies. He claimed to have been working on prototypes related to subterranean operations, though he refrained from delving into details. As the audience listened, he humorously acknowledged his need for a more marketable term than “subterranean warfare” to resonate with potential investors or partners.
This mix of revelation and controversy is not new for Luckey. His prior comments on media portrayal have also stirred discussions. A recent Wall Street Journal piece examined the challenges faced by Anduril’s technologies, which prompted backlash from Luckey, who argued that the portrayal misrepresented the efforts of his engineers in testing the company’s drones.
Luckey’s fixation on subterranean systems reflects a growing trend among some of tech’s most ambitious minds, aiming beyond traditional defense paradigms. However, a glance at other billionaire ventures such as Musk’s Boring Company, which aims to revolutionize transportation through underground tunnels, raises questions about feasibility and practical application. Musk’s aspirations, while ambitious, have faced criticism for lacking tangible outcomes, exemplifying the potential pitfalls of futuristic thinking.
While Luckey’s hypothesis of an underground warfare economy might seem unconventional, it aligns with a historical narrative of humanity adapting to threats, where the underground has often been romanticized as a refuge during crises. Some, however, caution against overly prescriptive visions of a subterranean future that may arise out of necessity rather than innovation.