Defense & Aerospace Report: Recent Episodes
Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell
Welcome to the Defense and Aerospace Report podcast, our weekly podcast on the global defense and aerospace business sponsored by Bell, and hosted by Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Each week, we’ll bring you interviews with industry leaders and the business’ best analysts to put events in context, identify trends and keep an eye on what’s next in a fast-moving world. Defense & Aerospace Report is your global source for national security and aerospace news, thought leadership and analysis, founded and edited by Vago Muradian.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the report he co-wrote his son Thomas Mahnken who is an analyst with the think tank — “Rising Stars Over the Pacific: Cultivating Indo-Pacific Expertise in the US Armed Forces” — that focuses on the importance of promoting senior officers with Indo-Pacific experience to better prepare prepare America’s military for potential conflict in the region.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate passage of a continuing resolution and implications for this year’s defense budget; why debt and deficit will be a 2027-2028 issues; Deputy Secretary Feinberg’s memo to industry giving companies 21 says to submit detailed plans to accelerate production of key platforms and systems, including munitions; whether it would make better sense to focus on munitions to better prioritize resources rather than accelerate everything all at once; why the initiative might be fleeting; analysis of the Defiant-class battleship that President Trump wants as the centerpiece of his “Golden Fleet;” BWXT, CACI, Honeywell Aerospace, Howmet, Palantir, Redwire, Rheinmetall and SpaceX earnings; and a look at the week ahead and in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a slightly up Wall Street despite continuing Middle East tensions, rising energy prices and a dismal jobs report as Tehran demands Washington make more concessions before the Strait of Hormuz is reopened; the Senate passes a continuing resolution to keep the government open until Dec. 11; Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gives US defense contractors 21 days to draw up plans to accelerate production of key sensors, platforms and electronic warfare, munitions and space systems; Northrop Grumman’s B-21 bomber has been accelerated by 25 percent thanks to $4.5 billion invested in the program in last year’s reconciliation measure and Boeing’s F-47 fighter is on track for a 2028 fight flight, according to Gen. Dale White who’s overseeing B-21, the Sentinel ballistic missile effort, the F-47 and Air Force One; the joint Boeing-Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance raised $500 million through a bond sale to refinance its debt; BETA Technologies struck a $1 billion deal with the Export-Import Bank of the United States to expand manufacturing and partnered with Lockheed Martin to bring the giant’s Matrix autonomy capabilities to BETA’s MV250 autonomous aircraft that debuted at the Farnborough International Airshow last month; and BWXT, Honeywell Aerospace, Howmet, Palantir, Redwire, Rheinmetall and SpaceX report earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the future of reconciliation, a continuing resolution and appropriations as well as the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general; President Trump reportedly blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the acute shortage of weapons that are said to have curtailed US options against Iran; US intelligence warns Russia might test NATO through a limited incursion into alliance territory as Washington frays relations with its European allies and faces depleted magazines; Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg’s Aug 5 memo to defense executives giving them 21 days to develop concrete plans to accelerate production of sensors, platforms and electronic warfare, munitions, and space systems; Democratic senators accuse Feinberg of steering contracts to firms involving the president’s sons; Iran and Oman continue to negotiate an agreement to jointly manage the strait of Hormuz including a transit corridor for traffic; Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan’s mutual security pact; Trump’s deal between Israel and Hamas, Jerusalem struck Hamas in Gaza as Hamas said it won’t give up its weapons, just lock them up; Russia is suspected of using explosive drones on Leipzig’s airport in the vicinity of Ukrainian cargo planes; China tightens its grip on the Scarborough Shoal as Beijing acknowledges two Chinese sailors were killed last year when one of its destroyers collided with one of its coast guard cutters while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel; Japan’s new defense white paper — “Preparing for a New Era of Warfare;” Taiwan’s“Han Kuang” exercise to test wartime readiness; and why Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby wants to go to China.
Last week, we talked air and missile defenses with Dr. Tom Karako of CSIS. This week, we opened the aperture to include all missile systems, as the various US services proceed on different paths to replenish and modernize their stocks. Steve Trimble, the defense editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine and a certified missile head is with us for that tour of the horizon. And, of course, we have the week’s top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Is ship count the right metric for measuring naval power? Carriers, missiles, people, the industrial base, where should the Navy invest or divest to ensure the fleet of the near future is sized at the appropriate capability and cost. These issues and more are addressed in depth in the Hudson Institute’s upcoming Fleet Design report. The CavasShips team of Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello cover for Vago today and share their recent conversation with Hudson's Bryan Clark, where he previews the study and discusses current naval operations.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the importance of better management and sharing of limited spectrum for national security needs, provides an update on new technologies members are offering the Department of War and the value of other transactional authority when it come to prototyping and moving faster.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an up week on Wall Street and rising energy prices in the wake of wider conflict in the Middle East; higher Treasury yields in the wake of Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s communication stumble on explaining Fed’s decision to keep interest rates steady; President Trump call to suspend further Iran strikes pending a quick deal to end the war; despite an uncertain budget future, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a $58 billion contract for PAC 3 missiles that will also flow to companies like RTX and General Dynamics and HII $76.6 billion in contracts for nine Virginia-class attack subs and four Columbia-class ballistic missile subs; Washington and Tokyo worked together to prop up the yen, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking the New York Federal Reserve Bank to sell euros to buy yen; Britain’s Burnham government will release its budget on Oct. 28 that will include a $32 billion buffer as British bond yields near their post-2008 high after Washington and Jerusalem started their war on Iran; EasyJet says it’s got a 5.7 billion pound or $7.7 billion offer from Apollo Global Management; and Airbus, AerCap, Boeing, Bombardier, General Dynamics, Hexcel, HII, Leonardo and Leonardo DRS, Melrose, Safran, and Textron report earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the national security headlines of the week.
We heard this week about further casualties from drone and missile attacks on US forces in the Middle East. How is the threat changing, and can we still defend ourselves as weapon inventories shrink? In this summer-weight edition, Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Air and Missile Defense program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins us with the analysis — and an update on Golden Dome. And, of course, the week’s top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s role in UK defense as the government invests in a new generation of air, nuclear and strike technologies.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new company’s independence after its June 29 spinoff and its role in the global defense and aerospace ecosystem; how it will help deliver President Trump’s call to accelerate weapons production; managing supply chains; investing for the future, including to develop products that are immune from US export controls; and the implications of “right to repair” legislation on companies that invest to develop proprietary technologies.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another down week on Wall Street, what’s next for the Iran war and global energy prices as Washington pauses the conflict over concerns that US air defense weapon stocks are dwindling as Tehran strikes nations in the region and its Yemeni Houthi Allie’s strike Red Sea shipping to enforce their blockade; Trump administration’s use of exiting legislative authorities Including the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act; Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new administration; Dassault, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX and Thales earnings; major defense and commercial aviation story lines at this week’s Farnborough International Airshow.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss intensifying US and Iran military operations; Washington and Riyadh strike a nuclear pact; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee; update on the NDAA; Russia pounds Ukraine clouding the critically important Ukrainian port in Odessa; a week firing former Defense Minister Mykhailo Federov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired his chief of defense staff, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi; Russia conducts live fire exercises 46miles, off Britain’s key Portsmouth naval base as Andy Burnham becomes the UK’s new prime minister with John Healy at the Treasury; the People’s Liberation Army Daily blasts Tokyo and it’s drone capabilities as China and Russia step up military exercises off the Japanese coast that included a Chinese live fire drill; Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares for Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping as he meets his Quad counterparts in Manila at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting; Beijing and Manila spar over Second Thomas Shoal Incident and racist video posted by China Daily; the region braces for new US tariffs as the continuing Iran war drives energy prices up again; and the White House accused China of stealing American technology to improve its AI program.
There’s a new boss at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and it’s OJ Sanchez, formerly the Chief Skunk. He joins us for a high-level look at what’s ahead for the world’s largest military aircraft company. We’ll also have air savant Richard Aboulafia’s view of developments at Farnborough. And of course, the week’s top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss China’s new AI model, what that means, the administration evolving stance on checking out models before release, Congress' deliberate approach to AI legislation and the overhaul of CMMC.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the giant is working to answer the Trump administration’s demand for accelerated missile and weapons production; the company’s new approach to managing supply chains to improve performance; how the Pentagon is making it easier for contractors to move faster; how moving is moving faster on programs delivery; efforts to attract, retain and nurture a more experienced workforce to improve program execution as veteran workers retire or move to other companies; Boeing’s new culture of performance; Ukraine lessons shaping the company’s strategy, investment and products; thoughts on “right to repair” and capital allocation as lawmakers consider legislation; and whether the administration’s rhetoric that’s propelling allies to develop “sovereign” capabilities will negatively impact the company’s future prospects.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss escalating US-Iran hostilities and implications for world markets; US defense budget deliberations that include a reconciliation measure that’s $60 billion rather than $350 billion as expected with the prospect for a new Reconciliation 4.0 measure to bridge the difference; factors that could explain low defense stock valuations; Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby’s dismissal of “middle powers” strategy as Canada prepares to join Britain’s Global Combat Air Program with Italy and Japan, and buys a $1.8 billion radar from BAE Systems Australia; GE Aerospace earnings and AV’s Investor Day; and a look at the week ahead and in Washington and beyond, including the Farnborough International Airshow 20-24 July 2026.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a down week on Wall Street on AI worries; the implications of renewed US-Iran military operations; United Airline’s record second quarter 2026 results despite an 84 percent increase fuel costs over the same 2025 period; AV and GE Aerospace earnings results; authorization and appropriations stalled in the Senate as the House Budget Committee considers a revised Reconciliation 3.0 package that includes Iran war funding and totals $60 billion rather than $350 billion as expected with a Reconciliation 4.0 needed to bridge the differences; analysis of Ukraine’s decision to order 16 Rafale fighter jets; Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby dismisses notion of a “middle power strategy” of smaller nations banding together to keep from being bullied by great powers as well as nations opting against US arms purchases as Canada moves to gain observer status on the Global Combat Air Program led by Britain with Italy and Japan as Ottawa reconsiders its plan to acquire 88 F-35 Lightning fighters from Lockheed Martin, and taps BAE Systems Australia for a nearly $1.8 billion contract for the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar to plug air defense gaps for the US-Canada North American Aerospace Defense Command; and the themes that will shape the Farnborough International Airshow 20-24 July 2026.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss renewed US-Iran hostilities; a bewildering bewildering week in Congress as the NDAA and appropriations stalled in the Senate, the Iran supplemental and reconciliation; how Sen. Mitch McConnell’s illness and Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death impact legislation; Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby’s dismissal of “middle power” strategies; Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest cabinet reshuffle that ousted Yulia Svyrydenko and his popular defense minister Mykylo Federov; after dismissing the Knesset and calling October elections, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to visit Washington for Graham’s funeral; Israel and Lebanon advance peace talks and Hamas asks Iran for help; more than 100 Democratic lawmakersand one Republican vote against military support for Israel; Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi met with Trump at the White House; Xi Jinping continues to purge the part of top leaders accused of corruption, expelling Politburo member Ma Xingrui, the former governor of Xinjiang province who once headed the country’s space program; North Korea accuses Pak Hui-chol, deputy director of the Organization Department of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau, of abuse of power and corruption; and the US Coast Guard will base a squadron of its cutters to the Western Pacific.
Space Chiefs Conference, with former Air Marshal Greg Bagwell of the Air and Space Power Association and USAF Reserve chief Lieutenant General John Healy (and his AI twin.) And we even squeeze in some airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his latest report — “Is the Industrial Base on a Wartime Footing? A Progress Report” — he cowrote with his colleague AJ Dilts.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book, “The French War of War: Eight Strategy Lessons for Today’s Conflicts;” how military defeats and resource limitations have taught France to be more strategic; the essence of strategy; lessons from the Mali operation; and more.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s latest up week even as energy prices rise after US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes and President Trump says the ceasefire between the countries is over and Tehran struck shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; air travel impact of renewed hostilities as Delta maintains the carrier will maintain pricing and profit power; the US defense budget outlook as the appropriations process as well as the administration’s $88 billion Iran war supplemental stall; efforts by the House budget committee to accelerate the $350 billion reconciliation 3.0 budget increase for the Pentagon; analysis of NATO’s Ankara summit that included a pledge of unity as well as $50 billion in deals, including the alliance’s acquisition of new Saab GlobalEye radar planes and Northrop Grumman Triton reconnaissance aircraft; whether the summit was enough to assuage allied concerns about America’s commitment to NATO despite rhetoric from Washington and President Trump’s continued interest in acquiring Greenland; implications of Trump’s pledge to allow Ukraine to join Japan and Germany in license producing Patriot missiles; what it will take to allow Turkey back into the F-35 Lightning II fighter project; the decision — after Washington resumed strikes on Iran — to fly the president out of the Turkish capital to Britain on the purpose-built VC-25A presidential transport, where he boarded the former Qatari jet to return to Washington; Lockheed Martin’s proposed $3.5 billion acquisition of Ultra’s Martime business; engine failure aboard a Ryanair 737 heading from Greece to Germany that shattered a window, injuring a passenger before who was sucked partly out of the aircraft; and Bank of America’s initiation of SpaceX coverage.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a $1.15 trillion House National Defense Authorization Act that’s in trouble as both the Trump administration’s $88 billion Iran war supplemental and House and Senate appropriations processes stall; under President Trump’s pressure, the House Budget Committee moves to advance the $350 billion Reconciliation 3.0 measure for the Pentagon; US attorney Jay Clayton’s hearing to become the next director of national intelligence is back on; after Iran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz Trump says the ceasefire with Tehran is over and resumed strikes, again sending energy prices soaring as Iran continues efforts to exert control over the critical waterway; takeaways from the NATO’s Ankara Summit where Trump berated allies for not backing his Iran war and still seeking to acquire Greenland, but also endorsed alliance priorities including defense projects and allowed Ukraine to license produce Patriot missiles; as Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine, Moscow uses AI to wage a disinformation campaign against American data centers and technology; Russia’s partnership with China; Beijing’s test of a new submarine-launched ballistic missile; Taiwan’s opposition pro-China Kuomintang party stalls President Lai Ching Te’s asymmetric defense strategy; analysis of former US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel’s peace plan for the Middle East; Israel’s declining popularity; Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s plan to visit New York City in September for the United Nations General Assembly meeting as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani vows to make good on his plan to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant on the Israeli leader; and a look at US political drama from Graham Platner’s collapsing campaign against Sen. Susan Collins in Maine to the impact of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s declining health.
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies recently completed a new war game looking at the Air Force we need against China and Russia. Mark “Gonzo” Gunzinger and Heather “Lucky” Penney peel back the covers on their results. And we have the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the attack that damaged a Qatari liquified natural gas carrier in the Strait of Hormuz; what’s next for US defense spending including prospects for Reconciliation 3.0; surprises in the Trump administration’s $88 billion Iran war supplemental request; whether the assertion that the “American way of war” is dead; Saab’s big week including the sale of 16 new Gripen E fighters to Ukraine and Canada’s decision to pick HDW over Hanwha to supply 12 new non-nuclear attack submarines; Britain’s plan to increase defense spending by $20 billion; expectations from NATO’s Ankara summit; and a look at the week ahead and in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s continuing rally in the wake of the US-Iran deal; outlook for air travel as analysts adjust war’s impact on energy and air travel; Castlelake’s $7.3 billion offer to acquire the European discount carrier; expectations as NATO leaders convene in Ankara for the alliance’s annual summit; Saab’s massive week as Ukraine ordered 16 of the company’s most advanced Gripen E fighter aircraft, on top of the 16 C-D versions of the jets donated by the Swedish government, and signature of a nearly $5 billion contract for three of the Swedish firm’s A26 submarines; how the Gripen order could boost Saab’s prospects as Canada’s next fighter and whether HDW’s loss will boost Hanwha’s offer over the German company’s proposal in Ottawa’s competition for a dozen new attack submarines; Thales buys drone and robotics maker Exail after Safran scrapped it’s $2.3 billion offer to buy the French firm; continuing consequences for Rheinmetall and Thales of Germany’s decision to cancel the six-ship F126 frigate program; KNDS’ decision to pull its initial public offering; the Federal Aviation Administration’s move to create new rules for supersonic civil transports; and RocketLab’s $8 billion acquisition of Iridium to compete against SpaceX and its StarLink product.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a Wall Street rally after a brutal drop; what’s for the Iran war as Washington and Tehran trade fire; Trump administration’s expected request for $88 billion to cover Iran war costs as the president hosted US defense executives at the White House accelerate production to refill depleted US weapons stocks; Lockheed Martin’s seven-year $35 billion to quadruple THAAD interceptor production; budget deliberations continue in Washington as White House proposes taking $1.7 billion from the Navy to pay for the E-7 radar planes Congress forced the administration to buy for the US Air Force; British Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s decision to step down, clearing the way for former Manchester Mayor and new Member of Parliament Andy Burnham to challenge his leadership of the Labour Party; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s Washington visit to woo Trump to ensure an Ankara Summit July 7 and 8 that mirrors the recent G7 meeting; whether the US move to withdraw capabilities from Europe is part of a strategy to drive European nations into turning to Washington to buy stop gap capabilities; France orders 5,000 more quadcopters from Harmattan AI after the two-year-old startup delivered 1,000 quadcopters in six months; Air Force acceptance of the T-7 Red Hawk trainers, but with an airworthiness risk classified as “serious” because a Boeing supplier hasn’t released data on some unspecified safety-critical elements needed to sustain the aircraft; questions about Rheinmetall’s strategy of purchasing Lurssen’s naval business and take over construction of six large frigates for the Deutsche Marine after Berlin cancelled the F116 project; China Eastern’s order of 25 A330neo for more than $9 billion and China Southern’s purchase of $3.6 billion worth of 777s from Boeing; and Babcock’s full-year results.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s derailing of the budget process by refusing to sign a bipartisan housing affordability measure until lawmakers pass his SAVE Act that critics maintain is a voter suppression measure; prospects for Reconciliation 3.0 as lawmakers move to tie it to portions of the SAVE measure; House and Senate authorization and appropriations processes move ahead as the administration is expected to request $88 billion to cover Iran war costs; analysis of ongoing US-Iran negotiations — as well as direct contact between American military officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — as Tehran fired on a Singaporean tanker for using an unauthorized transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, shutting traffic as Iranian officials continue efforts to assert ownership of the key waterway; Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s efforts at the Gulf Cooperation Council to sell the deal to nervous allies as Saudi Arabia opened direct talks with Iran; Israel’s continuing operations fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to Washington to pave the way for a smooth alliance summit 7-8 July in Ankara as the administration considers deep cuts in US capabilities available to NATO and fires Gen. Chris Donahue, the top US Army commander in Europe; Ukraine turns the tables on Russia and Crimea; China sails its newest aircraft carrier — the Fujian — through the Taiwan Strait and pressures US states and private American firms to cut ties with Taipei; US efforts to modernize alliances across Asia whether through new operational concepts or economic ties; South Korea’s investment in the United States and whether US lawmakers will allow the US Navy to buy foreign-made ships; Japan’s $2.3 trillion industrial plan; Kim Jong Un commission’s North Korea’s largest ever new destroyer on the 76th anniversary of north’s invasion of the south; and reflections as America celebrates its 250th birthday.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book — “Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It or Not” — how the book differs from his earlier report on the future of war for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; how warfare across air, land, sea, space and cyber are changing; the culture change needed within the military services as change makes existing platforms obsolete; focusing more on the “survivability” problem, rather than “lethality”; role of humans on an increasingly autonomous battlefield; getting on the right side of the cost imposition curve; and how US forces would fare against China if they drained their precision strike and air defense weapons stocks against Iran.
The National Air and Space Museum is celebrating its 50th birthday by revealing a massive makeover, with all but two of its renovated galleries open to the public starting next week. We had a sneak peek at the newest exhibits, and get a look at the Museum’s past present and future with its director, Christopher Browne. And we have the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Sen Mark Warner’s claim that Gen Josh Rudd, the director of the National Security Agency, told him that Anthropic’s Mythos AI model was able to breach “almost all’ classified systems in hours; how the administration should prepare a new era of cyber and data vulnerability in the wake of the debut of ever more powerful AI models; how soon before another model debuts that’s more powerful than Anthropic’s; gauging America’s lead over China’s AI capabilities; whether spending more is the only way to develop breakthrough AI products; and why AI isn’t just a financial bubble waiting to burst.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next now that Washington and Tehran have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire; a look at the US defense budget outlook as House and Senate Armed Services Committees finish their version of the National Defense Authorization Act, House defense appropriators finish their mark, and lawmakers await an Iran war supplemental and ponder the fate of the $350 billion Reconciliation 3.0 for the Pentagon; defense stock valuation drivers; takeaways from the Eurosatory ground warfare exhibition and conference last week in Paris; role of increasingly sophisticated Ukrainian, Turkish, and South Korean firms in Europe’s rearmament; whether Washington’s export control reforms and calls for deeper cooperation will entice European nations alienated by the administration’s rhetoric; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and behind.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a Wall Street rally after Washington and Iran struck a 14-point deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz; takeaways from the G7 meeting that endorsed Ukraine’s sovereignty and imposed new sanctions on Russia and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement of a six-month review of US forces detailed to NATO; Britain’s decision to develop ITAR-free strike missiles and what’s next now that Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was elected to Parliament; analysis of the Eurosatory land systems show in Paris where Ukraine seized the spotlight as an innovative and capable supplier; L3Harris delivery to the US Air Force of a former Qatari royal aircraft modified to serve Air Force One — as the VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft — until Boeing delivers two new purpose-built presidential aircraft; the Air Force’s award of six-year contracts to both Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop and delivery their Increment One versions of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft; Boeing’s withdrawal from the US Navy’s competition for a new training aircraft to replace the T-45 Goshawk, leaving Leonardo and Beechcraft to compete against Sierra Nevada with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics; Dassault’s Falcon 10X business jet makes its first flight; and after 10 years of research, Qantas took delivery of new Airbus 350-1000 jetliners that allow the carrier to launch more than 20-hour nonstop flights from Sydney to New York and London includes lighting and wellness features to attract passengers.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the appropriations process as the Senate Armed Services Committee finishes its version of the National Defense Authorization Act and the outlook for reconciliation and an Iran war supplemental; prospects for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after President Trump directed his nominee to become the next Director of National Intelligence, US attorney Jay Clayton, to skip his confirmation hearing clearing the way for housing chief Bill Pulte to serve in an acting capacity; Washington and Tehran’s 14-point ceasefire memorandum of understanding giving the two sides 60-days to negotiate a lasting deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz that lawmakers and Israel blast as too generous toward Iran; Vice President Vance’s warning to Jerusalem; G7’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and impose more sanctions on Russia as Britain and France organize nations for a military mission to restore traffic through the strait; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launches another broadside at the alliance as Washington considers withdrawing key withdrawing air and naval capabilities; South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s invitation for Trump to lead a peace talks with North Korea; Beijing’s ability to strike Australia; and the Pentagon’s decision to change the US Indo-Pacific Command back to the US Pacific Command.
The French Air and Space Force is helping celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, but they are busy elsewhere around the world. French fighter aviation chief General Pierre Gaudilliere joins us from Washington to discuss today’s challenges and his force of tomorrow, while celebrating the red, white, and blue. And the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on the Ukraine war; why it’s hard to judge progress or advantage in the conflict; lessons European powers should be learning from the conflict as they seek to bolster their land forces; how the war will change the design land vehicles and how they are employed in concert with unmanned air capabilities; why Russia remains a threat to Europe despite the bloodying it’s taken in Ukraine; and the applicability of Ukraine lessons to the Indo-Pacific;
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the dynamic as the House and Senate deliberate the Trump administration’s 2027 defense budget request; how $1.5 trillion in planned defense spending can be compacted into $1.15 trillion if the $350 billion reconciliation package fails; the Iran war supplemental outlook as Washington and Tehran strike a ceasefire; how the Pentagon can spend so much more money when it doesn’t have enough contracting officers to spend last year’s Big Beautiful Bill funding; President Trump’s latest call to meet with defense industry executives to accelerate defense production; update on Pentagon efforts to reform the defense acquisition system; congressional efforts to translate the president’s executive order on share buybacks into legislation, “right to repair,” and attract new defense competitors.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the prospect of a ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, including best and worst scenarios; the need for investment in drones as well as manned platforms; the House Armed Services Committee’s $1.15 trillion 2027 National Defense Authorization Act as House appropriators mark to $1.07 trillion; dim outlook for the $350 billion Reconciliation 3.0 for the Pentagon; President Trump’s planned meeting with top US defense executives to accelerate weapons production to restock depleted stocks; and the SpaceX initial public offering and defense capital market.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s rebound despite inflation hitting its highest mark since 2022 propelled in part by SpaceX’s Initial public offering; President Trump’s claim to a ceasefire deal to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz as Iran says more time is needed and Israel says it’s not party to any agreement; president’s planned meeting next week at the White House to meet with top US defense executives accelerate weapons production refill stocks depleted by continuous military operations and support for Ukraine and Israel; the House Armed Services Committee moves to back the Trump administration’s 2027 budget request at $1.15 trillion, but House appropriators mark the measure at $1.07 trillion as consensus grows that reconciliation measure to add $350 billion to the Pentagon budget is unlikely, setting up the prospect of jamming $1.15 trillion of spending into $1.15 trillion in available funding; implications of planned US cuts to forces available to NATO including fighter, reconnaissance and tanker aircraft, bombers, a ballistic missile submarine and warships including an aircraft carrier as alliance members remain unable to unite to compensate for Washington’s pull back; the unraveling of the Franco-German SCAF next generation combat air systems effort with Spain and Belgium at the Berlin Air Show; Germany is now said to be eying participation in the Global Combat Air Program led by Britain and including Italy and Japan as reports suggest London’s funding for marquee effort is shaky; the resignations of British Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns to protest Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s inability to bolster defense spending as Japanese officials reportedly expressed frustration at Britain’s funding levels for the program; and more tensions between France and Germany at the Eurosatory ground warfare exhibition in Paris next week.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate markup of its version of the National Defense Authorization Act as House appropriators unveil their $1.07 trillion defense spending measure; as lawmakers pass Reconciliation 2.0 that funds President Trump’s immigration efforts, Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, see dim prospects for the $350 billion Reconciliation 3.0 plus up for the Pentagon; how the administration and lawmakers can pack $1.5 trillion in planned spending into a smaller funding package; the future of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; the president’s decision to tap US attorney Jay Clayton as the next Director of National Intelligence; what’s next for the Iran war as Trump declares a deal involving Tehran and Jerusalem is imminent, a stance Iran and Israel deny; as Russia escalates its provocations against Europe, Washington prepares deep cuts to US capabilities for NATO, including cuts to fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, and refueling aircraft as well as a missile sub and warships including an aircraft carrier as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Alex “Grinch” Grynkewich tells a European audience that “Russia is not looking for a conflict;” British Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned to protest Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s unwillingness to increase defense spending to bolster the country’s flagging military capabilities; Starmer visits Tokyo where officials express frustration that Britain is underfunding the Global Combat Air Program that includes Japan and Italy; Japan and South Korea work increasingly closely with Europe with the Takaichi to expand her tour of Europe during the upcoming G7 meeting; China continues to salami slice in South China Sea and arrests US citizen Min Zin, testing its detente with Washington; and Xi Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang bolstered Kim Jong Un’s nuclear hand.
After 51 years in US service, the Marine Corps said farewell last week to the AV-8 Harrier. We have reminiscences of that jet and how it grew to success from someone with tremendous time at its controls, former Lieutenant General and Deputy Commandant for Aviation Jon “Dog” Davis. He shares his thoughts about the F-35 and the future of Marine aviation as well. And the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the first ever rescue of two US Army aviators shot down in the Strait of Hormuz by an unmanned surface vehicle and whether the US military is ready for the tactical, operational and strategic implications of an increasingly AI-enabled force; the impact of AI on how military members think and work; the right balance for the government in encouraging and enabling AI adopting while protecting against vulnerabilities it could cause; how the government needs to structure vetting of AI models; ensuring US access to the chips that are vital to the burgeoning AI ecosystem; the Trump administration’s approach to Taiwan and how to improve interoperability with the island democracy; and the changing dynamics of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss approaches the US government should consider to underwrite an industrial capability vital for national security as well as American economic prosperity; whether Airbus and Boeing will be able to sustain ambitious production including the US giant’s goal of boosting the 737 rate to 70 jets a month; whether capacity is sufficient to sustain a surge in defense production; and what it will take to encourage US investment to as Europe and Asia step up.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Iran’s strikes on Israel in retaliation for Jerusalem’s strikes near Beirut — despite a warning from President Trump that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu not strike close to the Lebanese capital that could derail US-Iran talks; Washington’s decision to cancel the deployment of US Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany to avoid antagonizing Russia, prompting Berlin to consider buying the US weapons; the House Armed Services Committee approves its version of the Trump administration’s proposed $1.15 trillion 2027 defense spending request; Reconciliation 3.0 for the Pentagon in the wake of Senate passage of Reconciliation 2.0 for border and immigration funding; Honeywell’s Investor Day as the firm prepares to split into three companies; startup valuations and portfolio shaping; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the worst day on Wall Street since April 2025, ending a nine-week winning run driven by worries over the chip stocks and higher interest rates; airline CEOs meet at IATA’s 82nd General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro as energy prices remain high and Washington and Tehran continue to discuss a ceasefire; Airbus order and delivery figures as Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg eyes a further increase in 737 production to 70 jets a month; Southwest sticks with all 737 fleet despite frustration over Max 7 delay; Airbus won’t be ready to unveil stretch version of A220 by Farnborough; the House Armed Services Committee’s chairman’s markup of the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion spending request for 2027 and its version of the National Defense Authorization Act; outlook for the $350 billion Reconciliation 3.0 plus up to the Pentagon budget; Washington’s decision to block delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles ordered by Germany to avoid provoking Russia; and what to expect from next week’s ILA air show in Berlin.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate passage of the $70 billion Reconciliation 2.0 package and what it means for the $350 Reconciliation 3.0 measure for the Pentagon; the House Armed Services Committee’s National Defense Authorization Act and chairman’s markup of the administration’s $1.15 trillion 2027 defense spending request; House passage of war powers resolution; outlook for US-Iran talks as two sides trade fire; Trump orders Israel to not strike Beirut to prevent collapse of talks with Iran, prompting Israel and Lebanon to strike new ceasefire; House approval of $8 billion in new Ukraine aid; Kyiv struck St. Petersburg oil facilities as Vladimir Putin convened his annual economic forum where Saudi Arabia was a special guest; Moscow’s $25 billion Iran nuclear deal; Washington’s decision to block Tomahawk cruise missiles for Germany to avoid provoking Moscow as Norway joined France’s European nuclear deterrent initiative; Chinese coercive maritime behavior; Japan’s quasi-alliances with Australia, the Philippines and — perhaps — SouthKorea; undersea warfare and uncrewed technologies become the first AUKUS Pillar II elements; the 17-nation Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges; impact of Trump’s proposal to elevate Federal Housing Finance Agency as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac boss Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence on renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; and US politics.
Hermeus just became the first company to fly a privately-developed supersonic UAV. But that’s just a milepost on the way to a much bigger goal. Founder and executive chairman A.J. Piplica joins us to illuminate their future. With the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how ever more powerful AI models change cybersecurity; how the government should assess the security implications of new models as President Trump prepares to sign an executive order that would give the government a month to review models before their release; how to improve cybersecurity across the defense industrial base and flaws with the CMMC approach; and his company’s “DIB CyberDome.”
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian are Abigail Hunter, the executive director of the Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, and Joe Quinn, the executive director of the Center for Strategic Industrial Materials, both with the Ambassador Alfred Hoffman, Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy at the industry advocacy group SAFE — Securing America’s Energy Future — to discuss strategies that will secure US access to both critical minerals as well as steel, copper and aluminum for commercial and defense needs.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next as Washington and Tehran appear on the verge of a ceasefire deal; energy price impact given disruption to global energy flows and facilities; prospect US industry will get contracts to help rebuild Iran; analysis of the House Armed Services Committee chairman’s markup for the Trump administration’s proposed $1.15 trillion 2027 defense spending request; outlook for passage of the budget, Reconciliation 3.0 and an Iran war supplemental; SpaceX’s initial public offering that’s expected to hit a record valuation of $1.8 trillion; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another record Wall Street close on strong tech performance and prospect of a US-Iran ceasefire as a quarter of trapped Persian Gulf tankers have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz with US Navy help; airlines grapple with higher fuel costs and declining traffic as the Department of Homeland Security threatens to pull immigration and customs enforcement officers from major US international airports to punish cities the Trump administration deems insufficiently supportive of its immigration crackdown as analysts warn the move would have a catastrophic impact on business and leisure travel to the United States; a banner week for Saab as Ukraine commits to acquiring up to 150 Gripen jets, Canada opts for four of the company’s GlobalEye radar planes, and the Swedish firm strikes a partnership to mount its LoyalEye radar on General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ MQ-9; analysis of the Pentagon’s plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on buying drones and investing in companies that make them; major Space Force contracts for SpaceX as the company launches history’s largest ever initial public offering valued at $1.8 trillion, including a $4 billion award to develop a space-based air moving target indicator capability by 2028 that would make airborne early warning aircraft obsolete and $4 billion for missile tracking radars for Golden Dome missile defense system; and Elbit and Heico earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss prospect of a US-Iran ceasefire deal after both sides exchange fire; Israel ramps up strikes on Hezbollah in South Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza; Russia pounds Ukraine, warning foreigners to leave Kyiv lest they be targeted as a Russian drone overshoots Ukraine to hit an apartment building in Romania; Moscow ramping up of threats and intimidation against the Baltics as America shifts its force posture in Europe and reduce capabilities devoted to NATO; Ukraine’s decision to buy Saab’s Gripen fighter as Stockholm opts for French frigates and Canada buys Swedish radar planes; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ 24th annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore; South Korea’s decision to pursue nuclear attack submarines; the Quad — America, Australia, India and Japan — launches its first security organization, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative; and the latest rift between the Israel and the UN.
Dr. Brendan Mulvaney directs the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, which had their big biennial conference last week, and he joins us to discuss the latest in Chinese airpower. Plus the week’s other airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on the Ukraine war including on the role of unmanned ground vehicles, lessons from the conflict, how armies learn lessons and whether the US Army is inculcating those lessons in its $252 billion 2027 spending request, how the need for more powerful electromagnetic and air defense capabilities as well as drones for surveillance will shape future vehicles, his new Korea Regional Review article “Ukraine War Ground Combat and its Implications for a Possible Future War Along the Korean DMZ,” the threat posed by Russia as Moscow continues to fight in Ukraine and increasingly provoke NATO’s Baltic nations, priorities for Europe as nations rebuild their ground combat capabilities, and the role of land forces in the IndoPacific.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for the latest round of talks between Washington and Tehran as US forces strike Iranian bases accused of threatening American warships and aircraft; the prospect of a US credibility gap and what it means; Washington’s plans for Cuba and why they’re immaterial; GOP senators rebel against President Trump’s compensation fund for allies and White House ballroom plans, jeopardizing reconciliation funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon; themes from last week’s congressional hearings; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a roaring Wall Street despite rising inflation and worries about higher interest rates; energy prices drop as Washington and Tehran again are on the verge of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as nations led by Britain and France prepare to participation in an international mission to help reopen the critical waterway; the prospect of ongoing operations prompts the US Air Force to cancel the RAF Benevolent Fund’s annual Royal International Air Tattoo, the weekend before the Farnborough International Airshow in July; after President Trump’s visit to Beijing, China said it would order 200 Boeing jetliners and GE Aerospace engines; GOP senators rebel over Trump’s $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies and $1 billion White House ballroom, blocking a reconciliation package to bolster Pentagon spending; after cutting 5,000 US troops from Germany and canceling the rotational deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, Trump says 5,000 American troops will be permanently based in Poland to reward right-wing President Karol Nawrocki as Washington reconsiders capabilities it will make available to NATO; Sweden picks Naval Group’s Amiral Rona’ch-class FDI frigate over Babcock’s Type 31 for four-ship, $4 billion contract; mounting pressure for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign; Airbus production delays as a French court holds the company and Air France accountable for a 2009 crash that killed 228; and a Seattle jury found Boeing not guilty of wrongdoing in a suit brought by Poland’s LOT airlines after the company’s 737 Max jetliners were grounded in the wake of two deadly crashes that killed 346.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss outlook for reconciliation as Senate GOP lawmakers rebelled against President Trump’s $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies prosecuted for their actions and $1 billion to pay for a new White House ballroom after the president backed Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas and Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana primary in Louisiana; prospect of a deal between Washington and Tehran as Iran continues efforts to formalize its control over the Strait of Hormuz; Vladimir Putin’s escalating provocations against the Baltics as Washington reconsiders its obligations to NATO and shifts troops in Europe; reverberations of Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader hosted Putin; Washington’s move to shift more operational control to South Korea as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Taikichi hold a landmark meeting; Seoul and New Delhi strike a security agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rome to ink another security deal; and Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would evict Palestinian Bedouins from a West Bank village in retaliation for an ICC warrant seeking his arrest.
The US Air Force has ambitious plans, which even the proposed budget increases for fiscal 27 might not cover. Former Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter joins us with the analysis, including looks ahead at how CCAs, a new heavy bomber, and a future airlifter might not be what we think. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the technology and how it can revolutionize military and commercial maritime operations; the importance of hybrid-electric propulsion especially to stealthy applications; learning lessons from past programs to craft better future solutions; access to capital in a competitive innovation market; doing business with the Pentagon as it seeks to change what it buys and how; and how best to create an innovative national technological ecosystem.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review President Trump’s summit meeting with Xi Jinping last week and what to expect from the Chinese leader’s meeting with Vladimir Putin this week in Beijing; the implications of Trump executing his “grand bargain” that trades Taiwan for stability in the Indo-Pacific; whether Washington’s mixed messages and depleted arsenal increases the prospect of conflict; the lessons Beijing has taken from US actions in Venezuela and Iran; how Beijing is capitalizing on the Washington’s focused efforts to shatter the rules-based order created in the wake of World War II to prevent another global conflict; the dissolution of that rules-based order and whether Beijing has the will use its vast resources to enact a new order that supplants the United States; and the impact of AI on cybersecurity.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the drop in European defense stock prices on investor perceptions that the Ukraine war is ending, mitigating the need for European military modernization, despite the ongoing war and the continuing threat posed by Russia; US defense budget outlook as Senate and House conduct hearings as lawmakers plot a third reconciliation package to bolster spending; bipartisan skepticism about the cost of the Iran war and future impact on operations and maintenance in the wake of the conflict; a look at the Defense Autonomous Working Group fund; President Trump shifts on Taiwan in the wake of summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing during which the Chinese leader made clear his focus on absorbing the island democracy and the US leader sees an opportunity to realize his “grand bargain” between the world’s leading economies and military powers; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a flat week on Wall Street as April inflation that rose to 3.8 percent on higher energy costs in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran; Washington-Tehran talks continue as Strait of Hormuz traffic remains stalled; President Trump’s summit in Beijing with Xi Jinping that yielded few deals and Taiwan as the central bargaining chip in the relationship; the US defense budget outlook as lawmakers float the prospect a “3.0” version of reconciliation; Vladimir Putin suggests that the Ukraine war is coming to an end as he continues to pound Ukrainian cities; the Pentagon’s abrupt cancellation of the deployment of 4,000 troops after the first elements of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team had already arrived in Poland to help deter Russian aggression; UK political update as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces a leadership challenge; Babcock’s warning of higher costs on its Type 31 frigate for the Royal Navy and export customers; and Lorenzo Mariani replaces Dr Roberto Cingolani at Leonardo’s helm.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Congress and the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion defense budget request, Reconciliation 2.0 as well as a new 3.0 version; lawmaker reaction to Pentagon’s claim the Iran war has cost $29 billion; update on talks to end the US-Israel war on Iran as the CIA estimates Tehran has reconstituted much of its capabilities as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed except to shipping Iran allows; news reports that Emirati and Saudi aircraft participated in operations against Iran as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited the UAE where Israeli air defenses troops are stationed; Saudi Arabia proposes a nonaggression pact with Iran; in the first of four planned summits, President Trump flatters Xi Jinping but the Chinese leader warns of Taiwan as a flashpoint in the relationship that could lead to conflict as American eagerness for more business for US firms fails to land deals; Vladimir Putin suggests his Ukraine war is coming to an end even as he continues to bombard the country and Kyiv disrupts Moscow’s Victory Day commemorations; bipartisan lawmakers force a vote on Ukraine aid as the administration continues to punish Europe for not supporting the Iran war by abruptly canceling a planned nine-month deployment to Poland of 4,000 troops from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, some of whom had already arrived in the country to help deter Russian aggression; and an update on redistricting and their impact on November’s elections.
Is a bigger bomb always a better bomb? Tyler Hacker and Luke Widenhouse from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments say no, and make their case in a new study. We’ll break down the details, including how tactical innovations become strategic advantages. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense budget outlook and best and worst case scenarios as Trump administration works to advance its $1.15 trillion 2027 Pentagon spending request, Reconciliation 2.0 and an Iran war supplemental; how more spending gets translated into contracts after contracting officers were culled in the name of reducing DoD headcount and improving efficiency; whether the defense and aerospace industry can absorb so much funding at once; implications of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest broadside against heritage contractors and whether the working relationship is more productive in private; the administration’s commercial approach to development and production and ensuring a level playing field for heritage and new firms; protecting intellectual property as the military services revert to proprietary architectures; right to repair; and the strategy the administration is using to determine where it invests public money in private firms.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest social media broadside against heritage defense contractors, criticizing them for failing to deliver while padding their pockets, making the case for more funding and greater reliance on commercial fixed-price approaches to develop and acquire new weapons; the prospect the administration’s ambitious budget and priorities will be supported by lawmakers; the strategy that’s shaping the administration’s defense planning and spending; roles of heritage and new economy defense contractors; whether the administration’s commercial contracting approach will succeed in cutting acquisition costs; the implications of shifting from open architectures to proprietary ones; and the decline in defense stock values.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss why the end of the Iran war would be good news for the US defense industry; what to expect the upcoming summit between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping; how nations worldwide are realigning defense purchases to reduce their dependence on US suppliers without alarming Washington; US defense budget deliberations as lawmakers return to the Capitol; what happens if Democrats won’t retake the House or Senate; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s video lambasting heritage contractors while touting commercial and fixed-price contract terms as outlined by the president’s recent executive order; first quarter earnings thoughts; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street on stronger than expected US jobs figures and momentum trading despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate an end of the Iran war as both sides continue to fire on each others forces and Iranian attacks on international shipping; air travel outlook as jet fuel prices soar; President Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first of four meetings this year between the leaders as Washington pursues its “grand bargain” with talks that will cover trade, critical minerals, Taiwan and AI; Trump’s threat that European nations face a 25 percent tariffs on cars unless the EU accepts a trade deal by July 4 as the president threatens to withdraw troops from Italy and Spain and reassess its relationship with NATO after members of the defensive alliance refused to participate in the US-Israel offensive war on Iran; Rheinmetall’s new joint venture company with Destinus with plans to start production later this year of a new cruise missile with more than 430 miles of range and the German giant’s proposal to take over Germany’s F126 frigate program from Damen and deliver six ships under a 12 billion euro contract; Turkey’s plans for a new ICBM with a three-ton warhead and range of nearly 4,000 miles; outlook for British defense as Labour lawmakers call for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation after a drubbing in local across England, Scotland and Wales; AirAsia’s decision to order 150 Airbus A220 jetliners; and a look at Embraer, Hensoldt, Howmet, Rheinmetall, RocketLab, and Transdigm earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next for the Iran war as Tehran and Washington continue talks while exchanging fire that damaged cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the UAE’s key oil port at Fujairah; Washington’s Project Freedom mission to escort ships through the strait; Israel’s continuing strikes on Lebanon; how the energy crisis precipitated by the war shaped the European Political Community summit in Yerevan and the ASEAN meeting in the Philippines; Ukraine gains the upper hand with strikes deep into Russia as Moscow prepares to commemorate Victory Day and Russians grow increasingly frustrated with the war; President Trump threatens European allies with a 25 percent tariff on cars if the EU doesn’t approve a trade pact by July 4; analysis of the administration’s decision to cut 5,000 of 36,000 American troops from Germany and threat to pare back US forces from Italy and Spain as well; what to expect when Trump and Xi Jinping meet in Beijing; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Australia and Vietnam as Tokyo considers exporting used warships to the Philippines; and North Korea’s new constitution that drops reuniting with the south as a goal.
Among the many lessons of Ukraine and the Iran war is the role of small, distributed air and missile defenses, whether using -- or defending against -- missiles or drones. Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, details how effective small weapons can be, whether massed drones could undermine U.S. operational concepts, the implications of using big weapons to counter little ones, and many more insights. Plus the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the cyber aspects of the Trump administration’s 2027 federal spending request, changes lawmakers should consider to improve cyber security, impact of new AI models like Anthropic’s Mythos on improving cyber defenses, the administration’s interest in testing AI models before their release and how such tests should be conducted, and growing role of AI in warfare and the government’s oversight over contractors during military operations.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the prospect of a ceasefire during Russia’s May 9 Victory Day commemoration; Ukraine’s ability to strike ever deeper into Russia, bringing the conflict to more Russians in more places; Russia’s continuing ability to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure; shifting battlefield dynamic as Kyiv increasingly uses unmanned ground vehicles to hold Russian forces at bay by inflicting 1,000 casualties a day; impact of continuing war, economic sanctions and harsh domestic political measures on Vladimir Putin’s popularity; speculation that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is involved in a coup plot against Putin; 8th European Political Community Summit that featured Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as featured guests and the message sent by picking Armenia to host the meeting in Yerevan; the defeat of Russian mercenaries in Mali; and the evolving transatlantic security dynamic as Washington withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Iran war scenarios as President Trumps says US forces will escort neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran warns it will fire on ships that transit the waterway without permission; the latest rupture between the United States and its European allies after the administration announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, leaving 30,000 in the nation; the Pentagon’s warning to allies in Europe and Asia to expect long delays in filling arms orders as new production is redirected to fill depleted US stocks and decision to “fast track” $8 billion in weapons to Gulf allies including $4 billion in Patriot missiles to Qatar; whether delays in US delivers will give opportunities to other European suppliers, Ukraine and South Korea; the president’s fixed-price contracting executive order; defense budget update as lawmakers express reservations about Reconciliation 2.0; the Pentagon’s $54 billion Defense Autonomous Warfare Group funding block; takeaways from Modern Day Marine; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street despite rising energy prices; implications of the collapse of Spirit Airlines; Airbus earnings as the European giant as well as Bombardier, Crane, Garmin and L3Harris report; Textron’s plan to separate its aerospace and defense business from its industrials group; business jet outlook; Washington’s warning to allies that delivery of the US weapons they’ve ordered will be long delayed as new production is redirected to refuel depleted American military stocks; the Pentagon’s Friday announcement that 5,000 troops from Germany will be withdrawn over the next six to 12 months, leaving 30,000 US service members in the country, where troop levels were before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and the outlook for E-7 program as the US Air Force tests two prototypes of the Boeing radar plane with five to be delivered under the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the multi-year contract that the Trump administration has worked to stop in favor of space-based airborne warning and control as well as ground-moving target indication missions.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a chaotic week as House lawmakers advance a budget resolution to increase Immigrations and Customs Enforcement funding, extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and end the 80-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine testify before Congress as Hegseth lambasts members over the Iran war, arguing the ceasefire effectively stppped the 60-day War Powers Resolution clock; GOP lawmakers move to secure public funding President Trump’s top priority White House ballroom after the attack on the White House Correspondents Association dinner that prompted the evacuation of the president and top officials; continuing talks continue to end the US-Israel war on Iran as the United Arab Emirates dropped out of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; Trump engaged Vladimir Putin to renew efforts to force Ukraine to accept a ceasefire as Russia continues to take a beating at Ukrainian hands as its mercenaries are trounced in Mali and its “no limits” partnership with Beijing shows cracks; NATO nations consider scrapping their upcoming summit to avoid a clash with Trump; Germany’s drives ahead to become Europe’s defense leader; nuclear signaling by China and both Koreas as the Nonproliferation Treaty conference convenes in New York; defying Beijing, Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena to visit Taiwan in May as China again warned Japan about its commitment to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific; and takeaways from King Charles’ state visit and his historic address to a joint session of Congress on America’s 250th birthday.
The US Air Force is providing the bulk of firepower for Operation Epic Fury. Does their new budget request provide the Air Force the nation needs? We asked that and more of our guest, retired Major General Mark Mitchum. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Team — Laura Winter of The DownLink, Cavas Ships Podcast cohosts Chris Cavas and Chris Servello, and Air Power Podcast co-host JJ Gertler join Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the air, land, sea and space elements of the Trump administration’s defense budget request across its $1.15 trillion base budget, $350 billion “Reconciliation 2.0” plan, and as-yet-undisclosed Iran war supplemental.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his commentary on the Breaking Defense website — “Multi-sourcing, MOSA, and producibility form next-level defense acquisition reform.”
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the continuing US-Israel war on Iran despite a lull in shooting; diminishing US offensive and defensive precision weapons stocks and how they might shape American deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere; economic factors that could drive even rich nations to redirect spending from military programs; the continuing global defense realignment as nations work to forge new partnerships to reduce reliance on the United States; takeaways from the Trump administration’s 2027 base budget request and prospects for Reconciliation 2.0; a look earnings as Boeing, CACI, GE Aerospace, Hexcel, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Teledyne and Thales all report; market impact in the wake of the latest instance of American political violence as a shooter tries to break into the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the week on Wall Street as investors worried about what’s next for the US-Israel war on Iran and higher energy prices on inflation, goods and services; how rising jet fuel prices are impacting airlines and the commercial aviation industrial ecosystem; President Trump’s suggestion that the US government use Defense Production Act authorities to acquire Spirit Airlines for $500 million; the Trump administration submits its $1.15 trillion 2027 defense budget request to Congress as key lawmakers push back on a $350 billion reconciliation package to fund programs, $17 billion to for the president’s top priority Golden Dome air and missile defense system with only $400 million in funding included in the base budget request; how lingering Iran war costs to repair damaged civilian and energy infrastructure could complicate efforts by Gulf nations to increase defense spending; the Pentagon’s reported efforts to punish NATO members for not participating in the US-Israel war on Iran, including suspending Spain’s membership in the alliance and backing Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands as King Charles begins his state visit to the United States; Germany’s first-ever security strategy to be Europe’s defense leader by 2039; NATO’s decision to buy Saab’s GlobalEye to replace its aging fleet of Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control aircraft; and a look at first quarter earnings reported by Boeing, GE Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Thales, and Teledyne.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion 2027 defense budget request and opposition from veteran Republican lawmakers to funding key programs like the Golden Dome missile defense project through reconciliation as a GOP civil war erupts over reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, complicating efforts to fund the Department of Homeland Security; President Trump — citing a request from Pakistan — again extended the ceasefire with Iran to negotiate a deal as both US and Iranian forces seize ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and announced a three-week ceasefire extension to allow Jerusalem and Beirut to negotiate a deal over Hezbollah in South Lebanon; the Pentagon reportedly seeks to punish NATO allies for not supporting the Iran war, including “suspending” Spain’s membership and siding with Argentina against Britain’s sovereignty over the Falklands as the White House prepares to host King Charles for a state visit to celebrate America’s 250th birthday; Berlin plans to become Europe’s leading military by 2039 as the EU approved a 90 billion loan to Ukraine; top US Indo-Pacific commanders testify before the Senate as Washington tells Taipei to pass a defense budget in exchange for military assistance; Japan participates in US-Philippine exercises as Tokyo says it will allow arms sales to allies and partners, prompting protests from Beijing that sailed warships through Yokoate waterway; Trump fired his Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sacked Navy Secretary John Phelan; Democratic Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned; and Virginia voters approved the latest gerrymandering plan that could give Democrats an edge in November elections.
Army Aviation just came away from its biggest conference of the year, but does the new budget give them reason to celebrate? Army aviation legend retired Major General Jeff Schloesser looks at that plus operations, MV-75 updates, and lots more. And the week’s headlines, including a deep dive on the FY27 airpower budget. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report he co-authored with his research associate Chris Park — “Last Rounds? Status of Key Munitions at the Iran War Ceasefire;” whether low US inventories will weaken deterrence and warfighting capacity especially in the Indo-Pacific; the Trump administration’s 2027 defense budget request; how long it will take to replenish depleted stocks of precision air defense as well as strike weapons; the kind of weapons America needs; and the role of allies and partners in increasing production capacity.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to preview the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion 2027 defense budget request; what will be included in the Reconciliation 2.0 measure that will boost 2027 military spending to $1.5 trillion; what would be included in a supplemental funding measure for Iran war costs; and analysis of Navy, Air Force and Army department budgets.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next as both Tehran and Washington test the ceasefire adopted last week that paused the US-Israel war on Iran; whether higher government spending to offset higher energy and other societal costs in the wake of the conflict will reduce resources for defense; what to expect as the Trump administration prepares to submit its 2027 defense spending request to Congress; thoughts on drone and counter-drone warfare; tradeoffs nations are making among drones, novel capabilities and legacy systems; what to expect at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow next week; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a record week on Wall Street as stocks soared and energy prices plunged after Iran said it would open the Strait of Hormuz, but prices increased sharply over the weekend announced the closure of the strait to protest Washington’s blockade despite a ceasefire agreement; President Trump’s threat to resume strikes unless a deal is reached; impact of jet fuel prices on air carriers cut flights; implications of a merger between United and American air lines and whether regulators would approve the creation of the world’s largest air carrier that would also control half of domestic air travel; takeaways from the National Space Symposium; look ahead to the administration’s 2027 defense budget submission to Congress on Wednesday; Peter Magyar’s election as Hungary’s next prime minister; former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson’s stark warning about the perilous state of Britain’s defenses; Italy’s decision to suspend defense cooperation with Israel; and the US Army’s decision to name Bell’s new MV-75 the Cheyenne II.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the prospect of a deal to end the US-Israel war on Iran that would curb its nuclear ambitions that was facilitated by a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon after talks in Washington; whether a resumption of hostilities in South Lebanon will trigger a response from Iran; impact of Iranian statement that the Strait of Hormuz will be open through the current ceasefire; efforts by lawmakers to curb Trump’s war powers as well as renew FISA; Britain and France’s maritime coalition meeting in Paris; Xi Jinping’s criticism that the world can’t afford to revert to the law of the jungle a month before meeting with the American president in Beijing; what to expect as the administration prepares to submit its full 2027 defense spending request to Congress next week as Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought refuses to tell lawmakers how much money the Pentagon will need to cover Iran war costs; implications of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s loss to Peter Magyar as the new leader pledges to fight corruption, warm relations with the EU including dropping Budapest’s opposition to a 90 billion euro loan package to Ukraine, sack Orban cronies and restore press freedoms; former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson’s warning that Britain is in peril after underfunding defense; prospect Russia will make a move against Europe this year; Australia’s new defense strategy that would increase military spending to 3 percent of GDP; North Korea’s vow to increase nuclear enrichment; and Trump’s feud with Pope Leo.
The US/Israeli action against Iran has gained attention for its use of advanced offensive weapons and platforms. But defenses have also been busy, and burning through munitions at a brisk rate. Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Air and Missile Defense program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins us to dive deep on defenses. Plus the week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what they expect to hear from US Navy leaders at the Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow next week. Cavas Ships will produce daily content and our coverage is sponsored by RTX.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Iran’s cyber operations against the United States; how personnel and budget cuts to the government cyber workforce and a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security make it harder to defend against attack; how Iranian capabilities compare to those of Russia and China, and why they don’t collaborate; how Anthropic’s Mythos and Palantir’s Maven are changing US military operations; the US government’s push to blacklist Anthropic and President Trump’s pro-Palantir tweet; what to expect from the administration’s upcoming cyber budget request; what it will take to implement the president’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz; and whether high operational tempo and depleting weapons stocks will undermine US deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the planned US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz; what’s next in the US-Israel war on Iran; how the focus of US capabilities in the Middle East will impact America’s ability to deter conflict in the Indo-Pacific; what’s next for the conflict; outlook for the Iran war supplemental the Trump administration will seek; expectations as companies prepare to report earnings; and a look at the week ahead in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another up week on Wall Street after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran and how the president’s Sunday announcement after US-Iran talks failed that America would blockade the Strait of Hormuz will impact energy markets and commercial transport; the administration’s stance — right after the ceasefire — that it would reduce its supplemental request from 240 billion to $100 billion; Trump’s renewed criticism of NATO during a meeting with Secretary General Mark Rutte; France’s decision to withdraw the last 129 tons of gold from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as part of an 18-month strategy to reduce reliance on the dollar; Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s decision to replace Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani with the company’s former chief commercial officer, Lorenzo Mariani; Trump’s Palantir tweet; and NASA’s successful Artemis II mission to the moon.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the two-week Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to allow for negotiations to end the US-Israel war on Iran; what’s at stake as Vice President JD Vance leads a Us delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran; US and European pressure on Israel over its Lebanon strategy; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s Oval Office meeting as President Trump continued to criticize the alliance; Vladimir Putin’s proposed Ukraine ceasefire for the duration of the Orthodox Easter; Vance’s rush to Budapest to boost the election prospects of Hungarian President Viktor Orban who’s lagging in the polls before Sunday’s election; two key polls show major shifts in the Indo Pacific sentiment towards the United States and nuclear weapons; a month before Xi Jinping’s Beijing meeting with Trump, the Chinese premiere hosted Taiwan’s KMT opposition leader Cheng Li-wun as China declared an exclusion zone near Taiwan Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang; wear and tear of the Iran mission on US forces; the administration’s communications strategy; and Britain monitors Russian activity near its critical seabed infrastructure.
With all the airpower involved in Iran, we haven’t heard a lot about Naval air. Vice Admiral John “Fozzie” Miller, former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Fifth Fleet, brings us up to date on naval action in Epic Fury and Naval aviation’s future. Plus a busy week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new bipartisan five-year plan to position Michigan as the arsenal of democracy for the 21st century that was unveiled by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the Munich Security Conference in February.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the next phase in the US-Israel war on Iran as President Trump threatens to devastate the country’s power plants and bridges unless Tehran opens the Strait of Hormuz; the questions the war raises for the defense ecosystem; defense and aerospace stock performance in the wake of the conflict; the administration’s $1.5 budget request — $1.15 billion for the base budget and the rest through “Reconciliation 2.0” — plus an upcoming request for another $240 billion to cover war costs; and a look ahead to the major events of the coming week in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a up week on Wall Street as President Trump says the US-Israel war on Iran will span another few weeks with power plants and bridges to be targeted over the coming days unless Tehran opens the Strait of Hormuz; impact of rising energy and aluminum prices on commercial air travel and jetliner demand as projected capacity drops from an increase of 5.4 percent to .2 percent; nations worldwide convene diplomatic and military leaders to plan a mission to restore traffic through the strait after the shooting stops; the Trump administration seeks $1.5 billion for defense in 2027 — $1.15 billion in the base budget and the remainder from Reconciliation 2.0 — plus another $200 billion to cover war costs; analysis of “skinny” budget that includes nearly $66 billion for shipbuilding and 85 F-35 Lightning II fighters, plus a military pay raise; the White House proposes offsetting a defense increase with a 10 percent cut across social, science, environmental and other programs, expecting to raise $464 billion through new tariffs despite the Supreme Court’s recent rulings; Canada weights participation in the the Global Combat Air Program with Britain, Italy and Japan; and NASA’s Artemis II mission to return to the moon for the first time since 1972.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss President Trump’s stance that the US-Israel war on Iran would continue another two to three weeks irrespective of a peace deal with Iran and will leave it other nations to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz; statements by the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that America would reconsider its membership in NATO after alliance members declined to participate in a Hormuz mission until after the shooting stops; views of Trump’s Wednesday address from Europe and the Indo-Pacific that sent energy prices soaring and markets falling; Britain convenes 40 nations to discuss “joint action” to reopen the strait that included Canada, France, Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates; Trump sacked Pam Bondi as attorney general as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George; lawmakers grapple to fund the Department of Homeland Security and map Reconciliation 2.0 as they also await the administration’s $1.5 trillion 2027 budget and Iran war supplemental requests; European allies continue to call on Washington to support Ukraine as the key to stability in the Indo-Pacific as Washington works to reset relations with Moscow; and Japanese combat troops will return to the Philippines for the first time since World War II as part of the annual Balitakan exercise involving the so-called “Squad” nations — Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States.
One of the world’s top airpower observers, Doug Barrie of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has a new report out on UAVs. We also talk Russia, Iran, the future of NATO, and the best new whiskeys. Truly one to savor all the way through! Powered by GE Aerospace.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine; the impact of higher energy prices on Moscow’s coffers; how Kyiv has turned the tables on Moscow and is now killing more Russian soldiers than are being recruited and trained; Ukrainian capabilities to counter drones that are being ordered by Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE; whether the income from these sales, reported to be in the billions of dollars, are sufficient to bolster Ukraine as it waits for another 90 billion euro loan from European nations that are being stalled by Hungary; President Trump’s threat to reconsider US membership in NATO after alliance members balked at deploying ships and personnel to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until after the shooting stops; the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as Washington accelerates efforts to normalize relations with Moscow as Russia continues to be Europe’s leading threat; and whether there’s an opportunity for Europe to step in as a security partner in the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book, “The Rise and Fall of the British Army: 1975-2025;” the role of ground forces in the US-Israel war on Iran; impact of diminishing weapon stocks and how this conflict could leave the United States in a window of vulnerability; what it will cost and how long it will take to rebuild the kind of army Britain will need for the future; capabilities it needs; and lessons from failed acquisition efforts like the Ajax armored vehicle.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US-Israel war on Iran as the conflict enters its fifth week; how to constrain Iran after the war, including a “mowing the grass” model Israel deployed in Gaza; Iran’s ability to strike US interests including strike on a Saudi Arabian base that destroyed a US Air Force E-3 Sentry radar plane; how a shortage of US munitions might impact international security, including in the Indo-Pacific; what to expect when the administration submits its 2027 defense budget request to Congress on 3 April; takeaways from the Society of Military History’s conference last weekend; and a look ahead to the major events of the coming week in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the fifth down week on Wall Street as the US-Israel war on Iran continues driving up energy prices and inflation estimates; strikes on Iran continue as Tehran attacks a key US airbase in Saudi Arabia, injuring 12 american personnel and reportedly destroying a US Air Force $500 million E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System plane and damaged others; Washington draws on weapons stocks worldwide and considers redirecting weapons bound for Ukraine and other allies to the Middle East as the CSIS think tank says US forces have launched more than 800 or some 3,100 Tomahawk cruise missiles in stock during the first month of the war; how long it will take to refill stocks even with accelerated procurement efforts and new deals with BAE Systems, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin, as RUSI says US, Israel and allies have use 11,000 precision weapons including interceptors valued at $26 billion; whether Ukraine’s air defense deals with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE can offset a critical $90 billion loan package to Kyiv that’s been stalled by Hungary; Korea Aerospace unveiled its new KF-21 fighter the company claims is a less expensive alternative to Lockheed Martin’s best selling F-35 Lightning II; Germany’s expresses interest in Boeing’s Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft developed for Australia; and Palantir and Anduril to develop software backbone for President Trump’s top-priority Golden Dome missile defense system.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the US-Israel war on Iran as President Trump touts talks to end the conflict that has roiled world markets and sent energy prices soaring, driving up inflation; whether lawmakers will vote to constrain the administration’s war powers as GOP members worry that the economic turmoil in the wake of the conflict will hurt the party’s political prospects in November as Democrats made gains in Florida elections this week; outlook for wartime supplemental, reconciliation and base budget spending as lawmakers work to restore Department of Homeland Security funding; European nations jolted by soaring energy prices are under pressure from their citizens to find ways to both return normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and mollify a mercurial US president, with capitals suggesting they’re willing to help in an international mission after the shooting stops; whether Europe has an opportunity to supplant Washington as a Middle East and Indo-Pacific partner; Washington races to normalize relations with Russia despite Moscow’s intelligence and weapons support for Iran; US pressure on Ukraine to give up Donbas in exchange for security guarantees as the Pentagon considers shifting defensive weapons bound for Ukraine to the Middle East as Russia continues to pound the country; Asian governments scramble to triage energy to mitigate economic shocks; the White House says the president’s postponed summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing will be 14-15 May; Kim Jong Un uses the Iran war to justify his nuclear arsenal; and Israel’s campaign in South Lebanon.
China is racing to build a completely modern air force, with many new aircraft being revealed in the last year and a half, and factories and bases popping up. How big is the challenge? We get answers from former intel officer Mike “JDAM” Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies at the Mitchell Institute. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the innovative Chatsworth, Calif., firm’s AI-driven intelligent factories approach to increase commercial and defense production volumes at lower costs that attracted $124 million in Series C funding from investors including Lockheed Martin Ventures and Toyota to underwrite a new 200,000 square foot facility; the imperative to adopt AI as well as cutting edge machining technology and greater robotization to increase production; scaling the business as a manufacturer and technology provider; importance of designing for production and greater component flexibility to speed manufacture; how to better manage supply chains; how to manufacture at the edge; and the critical role of allies and partners in delivering capability.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the company turned breakthrough meta-material technology into small and affordable electronically scanned radars for military and commercial applications; the birth of the company in 2014 as part of former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures firm to develop foundational technologies key for a future generation of autonomous systems; the company’s commercial business model that in 2022 attracted $135 million from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, UK investment firm Baillie Gifford, Northrop Grumman and others; lessons from recent wars and growth prospects as anti-drone systems are prioritized worldwide, especially those with ITAR free technology; access to capital; how the Pentagon is changing how it does business with innovative companies; and navigating and surviving the Valley of Death.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s decision — citing positive talks — to postpone by five days his ultimatum that Iran’s power grid will be struck unless the Strait of Hormuz resumes normal traffic; what’s next for the war and whether it’s impacts will provide lasting even if fighting ends soon; outlook for US defense spending as the administration will seek a $200 billion war supplemental and the $1.5 trillion base budget request for 2027; how the campaign will impact US readiness as aging aircraft and even new ships like USS Gerald R Ford are run hard; and a look ahead at the week’s events in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s fourth down week in a row as the US-Israel war on Iran damaged energy infrastructure and virtually halted Strait of Hormuz traffic drive energy prices up despite releasing strategic reserves and lifting of Russia and Iran sanctions; high jet fuel costs drive airlines to cut flights and park jets; whether higher energy prices spells the end of the recent golden commercial aerospace age; President Trump’s statement that the US considering “winding down” the war even as his administration is expected to ask Congress for $200 billion to cover war costs as it prepares a $1.5 trillion 2027 budget request; Trump’s continuing pressure for NATO nations to send ships to open the strait as European nations say they might support an international effort after fighting ends; call by some European leaders to resume buying cheap Russian energy even as Moscow continues to hammer Ukraine and threaten NATO; the request by the select House China committee’s chaiman that the Pentagon review Safran’s commercial ties with China; what suppliers are reporting to their customers about war impacts; and takeaways from Bank of America’s annual Global Industrials Conference in London.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US-Israel war on Iran as the conflict enters its third week as energy markets are shaken by strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure and a backup of ships unwilling to brave the Strait of Hormuz; administration prepares to ask Congress for a $200 billion supplemental to cover war costs as it also plans to request $1.5 trillion in 2027 spending; rift between Washington and Jerusalem after President Trump said Israel was responsible for the attack on Iran’s energy facilities prompting Tehran to strike Gulf plans including Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan facility that’s lost 17 percent of its production capacity, driving a spike in gas prices; Israeli jets strike Iran reportedly from Azerbaijan; administration starts multistep process to escort tankers through the Strait as Europe, Japan and other allies consider participation in a mission to restore traffic; a week after Washington lifted sanctions on Russian oil, European leaders say it’s time to resume energy trade with Moscow; how rising energy prices and lifted sanctions will replenishing Moscow’s coffers as the rate of US and Israeli weapons use has raised concerns in Kyiv and across the alliance; Israel’s Lebanon campaign against Hezbollah that’s displaced 1 million; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi’s White House visit and US intelligence testimony on Iran, China and Taiwan; and the Iran war prompts Trump to postponed his planned meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing in April.
Operation Epic Fury continues targeting Iran, principally with airpower. This week, we get the strategist’s view from former Air Force planning chief LtGen Clint “Q” Hinote, and it’s a mind-blowing doozy. Airpower vs ships. The limits of autonomy. Getting the person out of the loop. Next-war tech. The value of decapitation. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new movie — The New Frontier: Inside the Comeback Factories Securing America’s Tech Future — that will be premiering in Washington on March 25 at the Miracle Theater on Capitol Hill; status of legislation and funding to bolster the US printed circuit board industrial base; the entire printed circuit board supply chain; the extent domestic manufacturers can sustain themselves without significant government support; and what it will take for the industry to surge to support dramatically increased production of weapons called for by the Trump administration.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss US and worldwide opinion on the US-Israel war on Iran; impact on the war on America and Israel’s reputational standing; China’s standing as nations worldwide hedge their economic and security bets; whether America’s reputation will heal after these rifts as it did from discord in the wake of the Iraq war; a look ahead to the US elections in November; the reality that foreign policy matters less to voters than economic and other social issues; and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s popularity a year into his tenure.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US-Israel war on Iran as the conflict enters its third week as energy prices soar; whether nation’s will provide the warships Washington demands to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz; lessons from the 1980s tanker wars; prospect US land forces will enter the fight; the outlook for global defense spending in the wake of the war; uncertain future for US defense spending; and a look ahead to the big events of the coming in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss more Wall Street turbulence as the US-Israel war on Iran drives up energy prices and a weaker than expected US employment figures and fourth quarter 2025 economic growth; oil prices edge higher despite releasing 400 million barrels from reserve stocks and US decision to life Russia energy sanctions for 30 days; impact of higher oil prices on air travel and commercial carriers; how more Russia energy revenue will impact Moscow’s war on Ukraine; Kyiv and European allies scramble for more air and missile defenses in midst of Iran war demands; Trump administration calls on allies to help to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz; White House’s so-called section 301 investigations into some 60 countries including China, the EU, Britain, Brazil, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, and Vietnam as the administration seeks new ways to impose tariffs after Supreme Court’s ruling last month; economic news to expect from Trump’s trip to Beijing next month; Canada’s plan to invest $24 billion in Arctic security to bolster the country’s northern bases; US Army’s unprecedented $20 billion multi-year award to Anduril for hardware, software, infrastructure, and services in lump sumps without smaller contracts in the name of accelerating acquisition and reducing bureaucracy; India’s interest in replacing its 105 Antonov-32 transport planes; takeaways from Howmet’s investor day and the International Society of Transport Air Traders conference; and and a look at the surging Asia-Pacific defense market.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss prospects for a supplemental and reconciliation 2.0 spending packages as the US-Israel war on Iran spans into its third week; confusion about the nature of the mission after conflicting statements from senior administration officials; as energy prices soar in the wake of the war despite the release of an unprecedented 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves, Washington lifts sanction on Russian energy for 30-days; implications of lifting sanctions on Moscow as Russia continues its war on Ukraine; what it will take to ensure to normalize traffic through the Strait of Hormuz; France’s naval deployment to the Middle East where 400,000 of its citizens live; US shifts air and missile defenses from Australia and South Korea to the Gulf; new alignment between European nations and China over energy concerns; China’s 15th five-year plan as Xi Jinping prepares to meet with Trump in Beijing; Israel has steps up strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon with more than 700,000 evacuating after being warned to leave their homes.
Operation Epic Fury continues targeting Iran, principally with airpower. Last week, we looked at the air campaign from the planner’s perspective. This week, we get the operator’s view from former Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mike “Mobile” Holmes. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to analyze the Trump administration’s new National Cyber Strategy; whether strategy weighted toward offensive operations will succeed; how the administration will execute an interagency approach to cybersecurity when cyber capabilities across government and law enforcement have been gutted; the implications of issuing a strategy that doesn’t name Russia and China that are America’s leading cyber threats; whether commercial cyber firms can fill the gap in diminished government cyber capacity; takeaways from the Pentagon’s feud with Anthropic; and an update on CMMC.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the US-Israel war on Iran on Moscow; how Washington should respond to Moscow’s sharing of intelligence to help Tehran strike US forces and allies in the region; update on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Kyiv works with allies and partners to develop capabilities to better defend itself; the message lifting of US energy sanctions on Russia would send and how such a move would improve Moscow’s financial prospects; Ukraine’s pledge to help Washington and allies better defend themselves against attack drones like Iran’s Shahed; whether US operations worldwide including in Venezuela and Iran bolster Washington’s hand in negotiating with Moscow; Lithuania’s assessment that Russia is increasing forces on NATO’s borders; and Russia’s efforts to fight corruption.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the second week of the US-Israel war on Iran and what to expect as President Trump demands unconditional surrender and hints at the use of ground troops; implications of a protracted closure of the Strait of Hormuz that’s already driven oil prices past $100 per barrel for the first time since the post-covid surge of 2022; whether US industry is going to be able to quadruple production of exquisite weapons that President Trump demanded during a White House meeting on Friday with US defense executives; industry frustration that the administration didn’t move more quickly to accelerate weapons orders; US budget outlook as the administration prepares its 2026 budget and a reported $50 billion supplemental request to cover war costs; and a look ahead to the big events of the coming in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report is a proud media partner on the defense edition of The Aerospace Event in October in Washington, DC.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US-Israel war on Iran and the Trump administration’s supplemental funding request to cover mounting operations costs as well as growing weapons needs as the stocks of precision air defense and strike weapons diminishes in the wake of campaigns over the past year; the administration’s shifting goals for the Iran war from the president’s call for regime change — and now unconditional surrender — to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goal of destroying Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities; analysis of the administration and its alies’ stance that the Venezuela and Iran operations are about pressuring China and curbing Beijing’s global influence; the failure of Senate and House war powers resolutions; European reaction to the war and impact on India after a US submarine sinks an Iranian ship invited by New Delhi to participate in naval exercises; France’s plan to increase nuclear weapons stocks and field a new ballistic missile submarine by 2036 and discussions with Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden join Paris’ new forward deterrent strategy; impact of Iran war on Ukraine as Kiev deploys air defense specialists to help counter Iranian attacks; Trump’s decision to replace Kristie Noem as Homeland Security secretary with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.; and Beijing’s decision to pare its economic growth target to 5 percent or below for the first time in decades, but boost defense spending by 7 percent to counter a “grave and complex security environment.”
Airpower is in action, with the U.S./Israeli Operation Epic Fury targeting Iran, and many countries defending themselves from Iranian retaliation. The architect of the Desert Storm air campaign, retired Lieutenant General David Deptula, joins us to look at the operation so far, how long it will last, how to put together an air campaign, friendly fire, and much more. Plus headlines. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the economic impacts of the Iran war and their new book on the history of business aviation, “Time Machines: Business Aviation’s Dynamic Journey.”:
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian on the sidelines of the commercial edition of Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event in Los Angeles to discuss the market impacts of the US-Israel war on Iran, the limits of surging production of complex weapons, role of new entrants to deliver capability more quickly like the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack Syste by Arizona startup SpektreWorks, and outlook for defense spending including the resumption of supplemental funding to cover the growing costs of operations worldwide over the past year; and John Cofrancesco of American AI Logistics discusses the Trump administration’s decision to blacklist Anthropic, the implications for industry, and how to craft an AI strategy to delivers breakthrough capabilities in line with the nation’s values.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss US-Israel military operations against Iran, Tehran’s attacks on nations across the region, and possible scenarios as Washington says operations will continue for weeks even as America’s allies recommend off ramps; impact of a protracted campaign on depleting US attack and defensive weaponry as well as wear and tear on aging equipment and personnel exhausted after back-to-back military operations over the past; what regime change in Tehran would mean for regional security and defense investment given Iran’s role as regional provocateur; key themes from L3Harris Technology’s investor day; takeaways from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ latest Military Balance; and a look ahead to the big events of the coming in Washington and beyond.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s worst day of 2026 on AI worries and lower than expected new US jobs creation; Israel and the United States attack Iran, killing the country’s top leaders as Tehran retaliates against Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE; worries that a prolonged conflict will take a toll on already depleted US weapons stocks, aging weapons and personnel; the conflict sends energy prices soaring; the Trump administration’s blacklisting of Anthropic from doing business with the US government and threat to seize its technology after the company expresses concerns over the use of it’s Claude model for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance as OpenAI strikes a deal with the Pentagon; the spat between Britain’s Treasury and Defense Ministries spills into the open as UK firms work to position themselves for growth; Ukraine’s desire to help produce the Patriot missiles it depends on to counter Russian attacks; BWXT, Heico, Hensoldt, Leonardo, MTU, and Rolls-Royce earnings as L3Harris holds its investor day; takeaways from the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium last week in Denver including plan to accelerate production of Northrop Grumman’s B-21 bomber; updates on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs including engines to power a new generation of unmanned aircraft; the White House’s decision to back the US Navy’s FA-XX to develop a next generation carrier aircraft; and what to expect at commercial edition of Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event next week at the Beverly Wilshire in LA.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s new tariffs after the Supreme Court’s ruling last week and Republican efforts to adopt new tariff legislation; takeaways from the president’s longest ever state of the union address; efforts to restore full Department of Homeland Security funding and update on Reconciliation 2.0; whether the president will get the $1.5 trillion defense budget he wants for 2027 as consensus settles on a more modest boost of around $1.1 trillion to $1.2 trillion; US-Iran talks continue in Geneva as Washington masses more forces in the region and prepares to evacuate US personnel from Israel to press Tehran into a nuclear deal; tensions between the president and military leadership as Trump says his chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, thinks a war with Iran would be easy as news reports indicate military leaders are concerned about the impact of a protracted and unpredictable conflict on weapons stocks, equipment and personnel; Ukraine’s allies shape another 106 billion euro aid package that Hungary has threatened to derail; as former US Army Europe chief retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges tells reporters his train was attacked, one of five suspected Russian attacks on Europe that day; the Pentagon’s threat to seize Anthropic’s Claude AI model and blacklist the company unless it allows its technology to be used for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance; after two months as Joint Staff Director Vice Adm. Fred Kacher will leave his job and return to the Navy; Beijing again cuts rare earth shipments to Japan; Kim Jong Un teases a summit with Trump amid US-Korea strategy strains; an escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel; and Washington’s decision to open a pop-up consulate for Israeli settlers in the West Bank town of Efrat.
We attended the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium so you didn’t have to. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems president Dave Alexander gives us the latest on a slew of programs. We review the event and Air and Space Forces magazine editor Tobias Naegele and Mitchell Institute Dean David Deptula add their views. Plus a headline or two. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss an updated version of his 2018 benchmark study of global industrial capacity that rings alarm bells for major commercial and military programs; the importance of forging facilities; the problematic nature of depending on gigantic pieces of equipment that are aging and when they fail are out of action for years, derailing supply chains; China’s strategic approach of investing in sovereign capacity and capability; why the business is so challenging commercially one without government support; and the investment necessary for the United States to revitalize a critical industry.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss an assessment of Russia’s war Ukraine as the conflict enters its fifth year; update on the fighting and impact of SpaceX’s decision to suspend Russian access to StarLink data; whether Vladimir Putin as more vulnerable as the war takes its toll on Russia’s finances and economy; what will convince Moscow to back off its maximalist demands; key transformations in warfighting over the past four years as both sides have struggled to gain advantage; prospect an economic deal with Moscow that would see US industry rebuild Russia would convince Russian leaders to turn away from Beijing; whether it’s reasonable to expect Ukraine to hold elections in May as demanded by President Trump; and what to expect in year five of the conflict.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss defense industrial implications of the Supreme Court’s rulings against most of President Trump’s tariffs and his reaction to impose an additional 15 percent tariff across the board; prospect the administration will retaliate against European nations that shift rapidly increasing spending away from US weapons in favor of domestic ones; Canada’s new defense strategy; consequences of a possible Iran attack and Britain’s decision to deny US forces use of bases in UK and Diego Garcia; analysis of Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict enters its fifth year; a changing competitive US defense industrial landscape; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling against the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify tariffs; outlook for ending the Ukraine war as Washingon increases pressure on Kyiv as Russia touts $14 trillion in business for America; in advance of his trip to Beijing, President Trump said he’s talking Xi Jinping about US arms sales to Taiwan; the confirmation by a US official that China appears to have conducted an unground nuclear test in 2020; Japan and South Korea make good on their promises to invest in the United States in exchange for lower tariff rates; Washington’s efforts to improve relations with India and make new friends in South and Central Asia; the president’s “Board of Peace” and the future of Gaza; after massing the biggest US military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion, Trump gives Tehran an ultimatum to make a nuclear deal in 10 days or “really bad things will happen;” Britain balks at letting US forces using bases in the UK and Diego Garcia to strike Iran as the president criticizes London’s decision to turn over control of Diego Garcia to Mauritius; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu pushes for a pardon for a corruption charges as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the next government should “encourage migration” of Palestinians living on the West Bank.
How should the US Air Force design itself to meet today’s challenges – and tomorrow’s? Tim Walton and Dan Patt of the Hudson Institute have a new report out with answers, and we’ll take a good look at it. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his commentary in The Hill, “America is dangerously unprepared for a GPS attack,” including how the current network the nation depends on for its military and economic security is under “duress;” the variety of threats its faces from jamming, cyber, spoofing as well as physical damage; how to create a new systems by leveraging 5G investment as well as thoughtful spectrum allocation; and the Trump administration’s approach to cyber security.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the Munich Security Conference; what transatlantic cooperation will look like as Europe works to decouple from its historic dependence on the United States; Canada’s new defense industrial strategy from buying 75 percent of its weapons from the United States to directing 70 percent of military purchases to domestic firms with the goal of increasing exports to 50 percent; outlook for reconciliation 2.0 as President Trump abruptly opposes the funding maneuver; what Amentum, Parsons and SAIC say about the future of the services market; Mike Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of defense for industrial base, addresses the Hudson Institute; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street had it’s worst week since November on a tech selloff even as new federal data showed lower than expected inflation and better than expected jobs growth; despite tensions with Washington, Ottawa put a down payment on the next 14 F-35 Lightning II fighters on top of the 16 jets on order as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks alternative options; as the Munich Security Conference convenes French President Emmanuel Macron calls for Europe to become more globally competitive, British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer seeks a multinational defense initiative with Europe and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explores joining France’s nuclear deterrent; Macron works to savage the Franco-German SCAF program by convincing Dassault to be more accommodating as Germany’s aerospace industries association BDLI hopes two versions of a common SCAF can be built — one for Germany, the other for France; importance of defending commercial airports from drones; India’s HAL out of the fighter business save for the Light Combat Aircraft; and takeaways from Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss impact of a looming shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security as Democrats block funding; prospects for another defense reconciliation package; House passage of federalized elections and measure to halt Trump’s Canada tariffs; what’s next after a federal judge blocks the Pentagon’s efforts to punish retired US Navy captain and current Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly for participating in a video advising troops to not follow illegal orders; a Munich Security Conference where French President Emmanuel Macron make the case for a more globally competitive Europe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will underscore a new era in international relations; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth skipped the NATO defense ministerial where Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby framed his Washington’s vision for the alliance as NATO adopted a new command structure and Arctic strategy; the White House imposes a firm deadline on Ukraine to end the war and hold elections by June or lose all US support; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s landslide victory; China sentences Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison; Taiwan’s Lai Ching Te’s warning that if China invades his country, an empowered Beijing will seek other territories it claims; the revelation that Chinese warships sailed 100 kilometers off Australia’s coast in December and Japan’s arrest a Chinese fishing boat captain for ignoring calls to stop for an inspection; US forces seize another Venezuelan tanker in the Pacific; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump as more US forces mass in the Gulf to support a possible Iran attack as Washington and Tehran talks continue; and Israel’s efforts to annex the West Bank.
The US Air Force is changing the way it does acquisition – or the Department of Defense is changing the way the Air Force does acquisition. Either way, we get details and insight from The Honorable Andrew Hunter, the previous Air Force acquisition executive, along with his (surprising!) wish list. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary; outlook for peace as Washington’s presses Kiev to hold elections by May 15 or risk losing US support; US efforts to strike $12 trillion in economic deals with Russia and whether that will prompt Moscow to align with Washington against Beijing; the impact of the US trade deal with India that requires New Delhi to end Russian oil purchases on Moscow’s finances; potential successors to Zelenskyy should elections happen in May as planned; and Ukrainian membership in the EU.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Pentagon’s acquisition reform efforts, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming list of contractors deemed to be performing poorly; the Trump administration’s investment stakes in key suppliers; new strategic minerals stockpile; agreements with Lockheed Martin and RTX to bolster missile production; President Trump’s call to drop the long-standing US requirement that nations that buy American weapons check with Washington before transferring them to a third party; and outlook for global defense and aerospace supply chains as nations scramble to bolster their domestic weapons development and production capabilities.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an rocky week on Wall Street; the Trump administration’s $12 billion “Project Vault” effort to create a strategic minerals stockpile to reduce dependence on China; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s list of poorly performing defense contractors; the administration charters Erebor Bank with $635 million in capital to support defense and tech startups; RTX agrees to the Pentagon’s seven-year deal to invest its own money to boost increase Tomahawk cruise missile output from 60 per year today to 1,000 a year, triple the SM-6 air defense and strike missile production to 500 weapons, and AMRAAM air-to-air missile rates from 1200 to 1900 annually; Russia’s efforts to shadow European satellites; takeaways from the Singapore airshow including Airbus and the Singapore Air Force receive the first automatic air-to-air refueling certification for the A330 Multirole Tanker Transport aircraft, Singapore to buy four P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Indonesia buys M346 trainers but it’s fighter modernization is uncertain, and Uzbekistan orders Embraer’s KC-390; Boeing consolidates 787 jetliner work in South Carolina, moving 300 jobs from Washington the the palmetto state; and Democratic lawmakers want an investigation into SpaceX’s links with China.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss outlook for continues Department of Homeland Security funding after lawmakers end another partial government shutdown; efforts to secure another big reconciliation measure for defense; President Trump’s threat to sue his own Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh if he doesn’t cut interest rates after replacing current Chairman Jay Powell in May; implications of Texas elections that saw Democrats perform well in districts that Trump won by double digit margins; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “naughty” contractors list; analysis of the administration’s new National Defense Strategy; Washington’s discordant approach to Europe where US officials promise financial support for right-wing think tanks as “resistance” to centrist governments while also pledging partnership on strategic minerals; the Pentagon resumes military cooperation with Russia as Trump seeks a new nuclear deal with Moscow and Beijing as Vladimir Putin demands Britain and France be added to talks; a second inconclusive round of talks US-Russia-Ukraine talks; what we know about the administration’s new trade deal with India; Trump changes course and backs Britain’s decision on transferring ownership of the Chagos Islands that’s home to the strategically important base at Diego Garcia to Mauritius in exchange for a 99-year lease; the administration’s drive to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran; and the latest on Israel’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The US Air Force faces a lot of questions, and the service’s thought leaders came together in Washington last week to work through them. We have a readout from the conference organizer, Mitchell Institute Executive Director Doug Birkey. And a busy week in airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the second annual Apex Defense conference last week in Washington.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy and whether it addresses the challenges the United States faces specifically the threats posed by China and Russia, how it will be perceived by friends and foes, whether it justifies $1.5 trillion in spending, Golden Dome, cyber security, and industrial strategy.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a down week on Wall Street; President Trump’s selection of Kevin Warsh to replace Jay Powell as the Federal Reserve chairman; after two decades of negotiations, the EU and India strike a trade deal that encompasses some 2 billion people; after threatening Canada with 100 percent tariffs if it makes a deal with China, Trump warned Britain against drawing close to Beijing as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the Chinese capital to reset relations and boost trade ties; the president’s call to decertify the Bombardier Global Express business jet and impose a 50 percent tariff on the planes after falsely accusing Ottawa of failing to certify US-made Gulfstream aircraft; the new Dutch government’s “freedom tax” to boost defense spending; France rejects Eutelsat’s planned sale of its ground antennae business to the private equity firm EQT as Paris tells government employees to stop using Zoom in favor of European systems; French IT firm CapGemini’s decision to sell its US unit — CapGemini Government Solutions — for working for ICE and a lack of transparency into the American subsidiary’s operations; Boeing, Crane, Hexcel, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, and Textron report earnings; and Boeing reveals another $600 million charge on its KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft for the US Air Force.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss prospects for a government shutdown as Democratic leaders protest the Trump administration’s heavy-handed crackdown on illegal immigration in Minnesota and elsewhere; lawmakers consider impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for her agency’s aggressive tactics and misleading public statements; Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilan Omar becomes the latest lawmaker to be attacked; administration’s efforts to access state voter data in Minnesota as a condition to withdraw federal agents or the FBI raid to seize voter information from Fulton County, Ga.; the president and his sons file an unprecedented $10 billion lawsuit against the Treasury and the IRS seeking damages after a contractor leaked Trump’s and other tax returns during his first term; the president says he will impose new 50 percent tariffs on Canadian business jets as he also threatens Britain against closer business ties with China as Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Beijing to deepen trade ties; Trump says Vladimir Putin has agreed to suspend attacks on Ukraine during a snap of brutally cold weather as Washington reportedly is again pressuring Ukraine into ceding territory to Moscow; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s stance that European leaders are “dreaming” if they think they can defend Europe without the United States; after two years of talks, the EU and India strike a free trade deal; Xi continues his crack down on senior military leaders; and what’s next Trump threatens Tehran with a large armada weeks after Iran’s leaders killed more than 6,000 to crush nationwide demonstrations.
Disruptive warfare is a new concept to counter traditional ideas of mass with technology and unconventional strategies and tactics. How does it work, and what does it mean for airpower? We get answers from Michael Stewart, former head of the Navy’s disruptive capabilities office and one of the architects behind the Hellscape defense concept. And we have this week’s airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US Army’s sustain and support forces operating in highly contested future conflicts.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the biggest challenges to the defense supply chain and how artificial intelligence combined with thoughtful policy changes can help the Pentagon shape stockpiles of systems and parts that will be in highest demand well ahead of a conflict.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the prospect of another government shutdown in the wake of the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis; analysis of the defense appropriations conference report that added $8.4 billion to the administration’s $838 billion Pentagon budget request; the odds that President Trump will get the $1.5 trillion for defense he wants; the long-awaited National Defense Strategy; US Army priorities; a roller coaster week that started with the president vowing up to 25 percent tariffs on Europe unless Washington got control of Greenland that ended with a “framework” agreement to bolster NATO’s Arctic security as Trump responded to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s landmark address with a pledge to impose 100 percent tariffs if Ottawa strikes a trade deal with China; bolstering US defense industrial capabilities and how Pentagon leaders need to think about “shareholders” in the space; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a roller coaster week on Wall Street that saw a drop after President Trump’s threat to launch a trade war against Europe to acquire Greenland and a rebound after he said he would neither attack Greenland nor impose tariffs to get it but instead opt for a “framework” deal to bolster Arctic security; after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the rules-based world order guaranteed by America is over and it’s time to plan for what’s next, the president said he would impose a 100 percent tariff on all Canadian goods if “Governor Carney” strikes a trade deal with China; Danes vow to boycott American products as France turns to industrial giants like Renault to bolster drone production as Paris plans a $40 billion boost in defense spending; Sweden’s leading pension fund pares down US treasuries from $8.8 billion to $7.7 billion during 2025 on worries about American political risk and whether other nations will follow suit given Washington’s dependence on borrowing to make fiscal ends meet; the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy; Congress’ $838 billion appropriations measure that boosts defense spending by $8.4 billion including some $900 million for the Navy’s FA-XX future fighter and demand for greater transparency into the Golden Dome missile defense system; India inches closer to a deal with Dassault for 114 Rafale fighters; Babcock and QinetiQ issue trading statements; and leading firms like GE Aerospace, Teledyne, and others report earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss appropriations measure that boosts Pentagon funding by $8.4 billion to $838.7 billion; outlook for a second reconciliation package to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion; lawmakers fail to stop US troops deployment to Venezuela; analysis of President Trump’s remarks at the World Economic Forum including that he won’t invade Greenland nor impose tariffs on European nations; whether his rhetoric and actions during his first year in office have done irreparable damage to the NATO alliance; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s watershed address; lessons China is learning from the turmoil that’s prompted Western leaders to increasingly court Beijing, including the Starmer government’s recent decision to allow a giant new Chinese embassy in the heart of London; Taiwan’s $40 billion plan to boost defense spending stalled by partisan parliamentary infighting; whether Iran’s leaders will face new protests after brutally crushing massive recent demonstrations; and Israel’s latest actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Congress’s new appropriations report includes news for the Golden Dome air and missile defense system. At the same time, US allies are rethinking their commitment to help the US defend itself. And what about Greenland? We get into the details with Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of President Trump’s drive to gain ownership of Greenland from Denmark and why it would be wiser for Washington to exercise it’s rights under 1951 and 2004 to increase American force posture on the world’s largest island as well as garner access to its natural resources; whether NATO will be able to survive an unprecedented crisis where one member nation wants the territory of another; lessons being learned by America’s allies and adversaries; whether there is negotiation trade space to defuse the crisis; anticipating Trump’s next demands; how long it will take the Europe to break its economic and military dependency on America; and the prospect that GOP lawmakers will alter the president’s agenda.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s bumpy week on weaker than expected bank results and investor worries about private credit and tech markets; the Trump administration’s investigation into Federal Reserved Chairman Jay Powell; President Trump’s imposition of 10 percent tariffs on the eight nations that sent troops to Greenland at Denmark’s request on a training exercise as he continues to demand the US acquire Greenland, prompting nation to consider activating the European Union’s trade bazooka that wasn’t used during last year’s tariff talks; what happens if Washington escalates by degrading or incapacitating US-made hardware now in NATO service to prevent European nations from responding to Greenland, and what capabilities Europe would have at its disposal to defend itself against Russia and other threats if American equipment is rendered inoperative; the EU’s trade deal with South American Mercosur nations creating a free trade zone of more than 700 million people; under pressure from Washington, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Beijing to strike an “strategic partnership” as other European leaders visit China to advance their trade interests; frustrated with France and Dassault, Germany decides to leave the SCAF program to develop a new generation of manned and unmanned combat aircraft as Airbus considers next steps with in partnership with Saab or find a way to join the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Program; the Pentagon’s $1 billion investment in L3Harris Technologies’ new missile solutions business and its solid rocket motor capabilities, clearing the way for a direct US government investment across supply chains deemed critical; and Boeing ended 2025 scoring more orders than Airbus and delivering 600 jets, short of the European firm’s 793.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss progress on appropriations to keep government open after existing funding expires Jan 30 and prospects for another shutdown; GOP senators vote against limiting President Trump’s hand in Venezuela; Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet with Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers as Trump says Washington will acquire the world’s largest island; France, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK deploy personnel to Greenland at Denmark’s invitation to prepare for Operation Arctic Endurance; the EU strikes free trade deal with South American Mercosur nations creating an economic block of some 700 million people; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit China to bolster trade with the country’s second largest trading partner as it’s leading trade partner the United States continues to apply unprecedented economic pressure on Canada; Washington’s new trade deal with Taiwan reducing tariffs on Taipei from 20 percent to 15 percent in exchange for $250 billion investment by Taiwanese companies in the United States; and the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown that left thousands of protestors dead or executed appear to have quelled demonstration that Trump said he’s considering supporting through military action.
In a week when airpower news came from every angle, Becca Wasser was on top of it all. She leads defense research at Bloomberg Economics, and we cover operations, force posture, industry, and UAS with her. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a report he co-authored with David Byrd as a roadmap to help Australia better defend itself, “Pickets, Pouncers, and Protectors: How the Australian Defence Force Can Use Uncrewed Systems for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence,” and a policy memo with Dan Patt, “Adapting to Win: Using the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office to Pioneer a New Approach to Military Acquisition;” and a look at the Apex conference agenda and speakers. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Aerospace Report is an SNA media partner and our coverage at the symposium is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the geopolitical implications of the Trump administration’s muscular foreign policy from its Venezuela operation to threats of military force against Iran and Greenland; whether a 50 percent increase in US defense spending to $1.5 trillion is feasible; how the president’s executive order on dividends, share buybacks and executive compensation can be enforced; Lockheed Martin’s tentative seven-year deal with the Pentagon to invest in capabilities to dramatically increase Patriot air defense missile production; and a look at the week ahead, including the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium. We are an SNA media partner and our coverage of the conference and tradeshow are brought to you in part by Lockheed Martin.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s strong start to 2026 although President Trump’s executive order on dividends, share buybacks and executive compensation hit defense stocks before they rebounded on the president’s announcement that US defense spending would increase 50 percent to $1.5 trillion; Lockheed Martin’s tentative agreement with the Pentagon to invest billions to dramatically ramp Patriot missile production as Trump criticizes RTX for not reportedly making a similar deal; Britain and France commit to supporting Ukraine with troops to enforce a ceasefire as Russia fires a conventional version of its nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile into Western Ukraine; implications of US rhetoric to use force to take Greenland from Denmark in the wake of the US operation in Venezuela despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling US lawmakers that America wants to buy the world’s largest island from Copenhagen; Washington approved the sake of P-8 anti-submarine aircraft to Denmark as France makes good on its pledge to replace aging American radar planes with new Swedish ones, Austria turns to Italy for new trainers, and Israel expands its F-15 fleet with new EX jets from Boeing; Alaska Airlines orders 110 Boeing 737 Max jetliners including Max 10 jets — the largest model of the popular aircraft — that were just cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to move into the second phase of certification; US operations in Venezuela and seizing the country’s sanctioned shadow tanker fleet illustrates the continuing utility of manned military rotorcraft; and takeaways from Bank of America’s annual defense and aerospace conference.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s proposal to boost defense spending by 50 percent to $1.5 trillion as he demands Pentagon contractors struggling to deliver on weapon programs stop share buybacks and dividends; how the administration’s operation to to apprehend Nicholas Maduro, demand to benefit from Venezuela’s oil and mineral riches and “right” to take Greenland from Denmark will impact US power worldwide; whether NATO matters enough to deter Washington from moving on Greenland as the administration withdraws the United States from 68 UN and international bodies; outlook for Ukraine war Kyiv suggests Moscow has fired a nuclear-capable missile to shape peace talks as a Russian ship reportedly carrying nuclear reactors to North Korea’s submarines sinks off the Spanish coast; whether growing demonstrations over the past weeks will end theocratic leadership in Tehran; tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen; and Israel steps up efforts to seized land from Palestinians in the West Bank.
Lieutenant General (ret.) Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute, joins us with the latest on Venezuela, airpower in the National Security Strategy, and a season of change in the U.S. Air Force. And Bank of America’s Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein on the new executive orders limiting defense corporate buybacks and dividends. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss why the Pentagon’s software development approach is broken at a time when software will be increasingly critical to capabilities and how to reengineer the system to deliver better capabilities at scale and speed. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on the Ukraine war as the conflict prepares to enter its fifth year; the frontline as both sides are increasingly exhausted by the conflict; update on peace talks and prospects for ending the war; the increasing use autonomous systems driven by artificial intelligence; whether lessons from the war are being lost as innovation cycles accelerate; Vladimir Putin’s drive to bolster Russia’s economy in 2026 as Volodymyr Zelenskyy taps his intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov to replace Andrei Yermak as his chief of staff; whether the war still matters to Washington; and how Vladimir Putin will interpret the Trump administration’s decision to apprehend Nicolas Maduro and claim rights to Venezuela’s energy resources as well as rhetoric that America has a right to seize Greenland from Denmark.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the a strong 2025 on Wall Street and what it means for the coming year; the implications of the Trump administration’s ouster of Venezuelan strongman Nicholas Maduro; stalled talks to end the Ukraine war as the conflict rages on; commercial aircraft production as Boeing delivered 493 jets and Airbus delivered 793; a look ahead to the big defense and airspace stories of 2026; and what to expect at Bank of America’s annual defense and aerospace conference this year in New York.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the week — and the year — on markets as AI, aerospace and defense spending drive investors; the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act; European governments’ two-year, $105 billion interest-free loan to help Ukraine keep fighting Russian aggression as Vladimir Putin makes clear he’s not interested in compromise and amps up his muscular rhetoric; the future of the SCAF program as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet to decide the future of the program to develop new manned and unmanned combat aircraft; the US Navy’s decision to ask HII to build by 2028 a naval variant of the company’s successful National Security Cutter developed for the Coast Guard to demonstrate the new ship, then competitively contract yards to mass produce it; Boeing asks the Federal Aviation Administration for an emissions waiver to continue building existing 777 freighters after 2028 given a compliant version of the plane won’t be ready until after the deadline; the US government’s admission of responsibility in the deadly crash between a US Air jetliner and a US Army helicopter that killed 67 in January over the Potomac River off Reagan Washington National Airport; and a review of the big stories of 2025.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss passage of the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act For the 65th year in a row, congress passed and the president signed the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act as lawmakers work appropriations to keep the government running after current funding runs out late next month; President Trump’s decision to use a $2.4 billion in military housing funding for a $1,776 one-time “warrior dividend” bonus for troops to thank them for their service on the nation’s 250th birthday; European nations agree to extend a $105 billion, two-year loan to Ukraine after failing to unlock frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv as Russia ramps up its rhetoric; a week after Washington lifted some sanctions on Belarus as part of a deal to release political prisoners, Minsk said it would host Russian long-range hypersonic missiles; frustrated with the progress on trade talks, Washington suspends a $41 billion tech deal with Britain signed this summer; the White House approves more than $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan as it also okays the sale of NVIDIA H200 chips to China; Japan deploys radar units to Kitadaitōjima island to monitor Chinese military activity; former Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai was found guilty of violating both China’s new national security law and a colonial-era sedition measure; Beijing backs UAE’s claim over three Gulf islands drawing Tehran’s ire; two gunmen shaped by ISIS ideology attacked a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi beach, killing 15 and wounding another 40; Israel conducted strikes against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in South Lebanon; and our year in review.
A busy year in airpower ends, but there’s more to come. We look back and forward with John Tirpak, eminence emeritus of Air and Space Forces magazine, and Stephen Trimble, defense editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower!Powered, as all good things are, by GE.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss prospects to end the fighting in Ukraine as Western powers including the United States suggest security guarantees in exchange for Kyiv renouncing NATO membership as Russia rejects foreign troops on Ukrainian soil and continues to demand Ukraine hand over all of Donbass; the dynamics on the battlefield as Volodymy Zelensky visits Kupiansk that Russian forces say they occupied and how Ukrainian forces continue to defend Pokrovsk; whether the Vladimir Putin’s regime is as vulnerable as Western analysts suggest; Kyiv’s use of unmanned craft to strike Russia’s “shadow fleet” at sea and a Kilo-class conventionally powered submarine in Novorossiysk; stories in 2025 that didn’t get the attention they deserved; and the storylines to track in the coming year as the Ukraine war entered its fourth year.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the House’s $900 billion version of the National Defense Authorization Act; what’s next for US Navy shipbuilding now that the service has cancelled the Constellation-class frigate; the big events of 2025 that will shape 2026; and a look at the weeks ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a week on Wall Street; the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act; implications of US efforts to push Ukraine to ceasefire that now appears to include Kyiv giving up on NATO membership in exchange for Western security guarantees; outlook for the SCAF next-generation air program as French, German and Spanish defense ministers meet in advance of meeting next week between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz; the GCAP consortium’s invitation that Canada join Britain, Italy and Japan in developing a family of next generation air systems; Boeing closes its $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems as the company’s Air Force One program is delayed another year to mid 2028 and the Federal Aviation Administration reviews the proposed angle of attack alert system for 737 Max 10 jets; SpaceX prepares its IPO the company could be working $800 billion; and JP Morgan Chase hires Berkshire Hathaway’s Todd Combs and recruits veteran advisers including Jeff Bezos, Michael Dell, Ford CEO Jim Farley, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and retired Gen. Dave Petreaus to oversee bank’s $1.5 trillion Security and Resilience Initiative investment fund.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss passage of the House’s version of the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act that includes $8 billion more than the administration requested as the Senate decides against extending Obamacare subsidies raising the prospect of another government shutdown in January after the current continuing resolution that ended the last record shutdown expires; Ukraine’s partnership with European allies to blunt US demands that Kyiv meet Moscow’s demands by handling over the whole Donbas to Russia as President Trump steps up his attacks on Europe as “weak” and “decaying” in the wake of his National Security Strategy that made clear Washington sees European allies as a bigger threat than Russia; Germany’s drive to become Europe’s largest army and France’s army chief says the nation must prepare itself to sacrifice its children to defend itself as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Europe is Russia’s next target within five years and nations should prepare for war on a scale not seen since World War II as Britain’s attack subs suffer from low availability; China and Russia work together in air and naval maneuvers aimed at pressuring Japan and the United States as Washington approves the export of NVIDIA’s H200 chips to China; the Lowy Institute’s latest Power Index that finds China, North Korea and Russia have risen in the ranks as America has declined; and the 40th Australia-US Ministerial that says “full speed ahead” on the AUKUS partnership.
This week, it’s China, China, China. How has the pacing threat changed in 2025, and what’s ahead in 2026? We hear from Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, about systems, strategy, and more. Plus a bumper crop of #airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book — “The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance” — the nature of the threat posed by China to focus modernization efforts; lessons of the past to help America bolster its industrial capacity; importance of leadership and sufficient funding; grading the Trump administration’s effort to accelerate the delivery if needed capabilities at scale; and role of the entire industrial ecosystem including allies and partners in delivering more capabilities, more quickly. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new paper he coauthored with his colleague Cynthia Cook — “Putting the Industrial Base on a Wartime Footing” — including past spending cycles, survey of defense spending by US allies and adversaries, and what Washington must do if it’s rhetoric is to turn into reality.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead. Members of team Dr. Dov Zakheim and Chris Servello join to discuss the recent Reagan National Defense Forum.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers’ frustration with the administration’s boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO’s conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump’s pressure on Japan’s hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that’s angered Beijing, the decision to not sanction Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin’s trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers’ frustration with the administration’s boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO’s conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump’s pressure on Japan’s hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that’s angered Beijing, the decision to not Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin’s trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
Silicon and Sanctuary: From the F-47 to a comeback for hypersonics, it’s been a big year for airpower technology. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue’s Applied Research Institute, rates 2025’s developments and picks some technologies to watch in 2026.And in this holiday season, we learn about a small church with big meaning for the United States Air Force and Britain’s Royal Air Force, with The Venerable Dr. Giles Legood, Air Vice-Marshal and Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the RAF. Plus a few headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the 26-02 brigade certification rotation last month at the National Training Center where the 1st Cav’s novel waves-based approach to create advantage in highly contested future battlefields, whether in Europe, Asia or elsewhere, was tested under operational conditions.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US drive to end the Ukraine war; whether a deal will fracture the NATO alliance; European support for Ukraine should Washington decide to partner with Moscow; impact of European Central Bank’s decision against being a “backstop” on Ukrainian use of 140 billion euros in seized Russian assets; the impact of the corruption scandal involving those close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Russian claims to have taken Pokrovsk from Ukrainian forces; and whether Ukraine is delivering as much pain on Russia through strikes on energy and shipping as Russia is on Ukraine through massive air strikes targeting civilians.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a Wall Street ended a short trading week up on expectations of another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve and strong Black Friday growth; Trump administration’s push to pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal that would be good for US and Russian companies; Europe seeks ways to defend itself and its interest without Washington’s help; the race to return the flight control software on 6,000 or half the global Airbus A320 jetliner fleet to an earlier version that’s less susceptible interference from solar flares; Poland’s decision to pick Saab’s A26 submarine over five competing European and Korean designs as its next submarine under a 2.5 billion euro program for three boats that fall under the EU’s 50 billion euro SAFE loan program for new weapons; whether Canada will pick ThyssenKrupp or Hanwha for its patrol submarine project for up to 12 conventional attack boats; the British Army’s decision to again halt use of its Ajax family of vehicles by General Dynamics after crews complained about being sickened by severe noise and vibration; and whether the Trump administration’s operations in the Caribbean will be a boon for defense startups as both the Wall Street Journal and Reuters detail the challenges faces by Silicon Valley startup Anduril.
Secretary Hegseth has proposed a new way for the Air Force to buy its most complicated systems. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall joins us to break it down, and examines defense reform generally. And what’s the latest with the Golden Dome missile defense project? We’ll get answers from Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Plus a few headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from this year’s gathering in Nova Scotia that puts democracy at the center of security; the 30-nation survey of global security trends that’s a key feature of the annual gathering; top threats; international perceptions of the United States, Canada, China, Russia and Israel; sentiments on compulsory military service; and themes in the his third book — co-authored with John Ibbitson — “Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk.”
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s effort to pressure Ukraine to accept Russia’s terms to end the ongoing war or risk losing US support; how the pressure campaign on Kyiv is driving allies and partners to accelerate efforts to reduce their dependence on Washington and US systems; whether Ukraine can satisfy its needs especially if US support ends abruptly; Rheinmetall and Renk capital market’s days; a banner year for initial public offerings, spin offs and a changing defense market; takeaways from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ report “Deep Precision Strikes: Europe’s Quest for Long-Range Missile Capabilities;” and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a dismal week on Wall Street over worries about the economy, AI and whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates; the implications of the Trump administration’s pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace deal that would mean Kyiv accept all of Russia’s demands or risk losing all US support; France’s pledge to sell Ukraine up to 100 Rafale fighters by Dassault as Washington sells 48 of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II to Saudi Arabia; Rheinmetall’s capital markets day; takeaways from a busy Dubai Air Show; and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy call that travelers to be more civil to usher in “a golden age of travel.”
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss congressional dynamic as lawmakers vote to release Epstein files as they advance NDAA and appropriations and debate the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies; redistricting starts to turn against the Republicans and the House descends into disarray; the 28-peace plan Washington appears to have crafted with Moscow to end the Ukraine war without consulting with Kyiv that satisfies Russia’s demands and comes as Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces his worst corruption scandal and the US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Gen Randy George visit to Ukraine this week as Russian forces advance on Pokrovsk; Poland’s accusation that Russian agents tried to sabotage Warsaw-Lublin rail line and western security services try to convince Azerbaijan to hand over Yaroslav Mikhailov, a Russian who is accused of engineering the bombs that made their way onto DHL logistics aircraft; Chinese pressure on Taiwan and Japan as Washington announces arms sales to Taiwan and India; Japan’s first sale of a weapon system to the United States; China’s attempt to fill the void left by the US skipping COP 30 in Brazil and and the G-20 in South Africa this weekend; President Trump’s praise for Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed bin Salmaan at the White House as the nations sign trade deals and the sale of nearly 50 of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lighting II fighters that have prompted concern in Israel as its forces launched a new round of air strikes in Gaza.
Uncertain budgets. Acquisition reforms. Government shutdowns. What’s an industrial base to do? Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning, one of Washington’s most astute observers of government, is right in the middle of that storm. He tells us about it all. And we have headlines from a wowza week in airpower. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s fight to defend Pokrovsk as Russian forces increase attacks to take a town seen as key to controlling Donbas; how Moscow is changing tactics to increase battlefield gains, including targeting Ukraine’s energy grid; how Ukraine is responding at the tactical level at the front as well as strategically with deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure; Washington’s strategy to end the war and how Europe is stepping up; and Moscow finally stands up its unmanned systems force.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s defense acquisition reforms; what can be bought commercially to address military needs and what has to be developed; role of government funding in bolstering production capacity; outlook for US defense spending and global defense cooperation; the transformation of Leonardo DRS on his watch; and how politics in Washington have changed over the past decades. Lynn’s tenure will end at the close of year when he will be succeeded by John Baylouny, the company’s chief operating officer.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss progress on the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations now that the US government shutdown is over; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s comments last week critical of heritage contractors and his desire to buy 90 percent of what the service needs through commercial sources; implications of NATO and Britain moving away from special mission US aircraft in favor of European options; Germany’s rising defense spending as well as takeaways from Hensoldt, Renk and other German firms; likelihood US will strike Venezuela; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s mixed week on concerns the Federal Reserve might not cut interest rates as expected in December; the end of the US government shutdown ends with a continuing resolution through January that included included funding to develop Boeing’s E-7 for the Air Force over the Pentagon’s objections; President Trump’s decision to back away from the food tariffs he imposed that have sent prices for soaring as his administration finalized trade deals including with Switzerland; the US drive for NATO adoption of the E-7 as an E-3 AWACS replacement collapses as Britain decides against renewing its lease for three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft as London eyes Hensoldt’s Pegasus; Columbia’s decision to buy Gripen jets from Saab for $3.6 billion; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s statement that defense contractors saying they “conned the American people and the Pentagon” and says that he wants to buy 90 percent from commercial vendors and 10 percent “in the worst of cases” from specialist firms; the increasingly acrimonious squabble between Dassault and Airbus over leadership of the Franco-German next-generation SCAF family of air systems; the decision by Boeing machinists in St Louis to end the company’s second longest strike; the concern by US intelligence officials that F-35 Lighting II fighter technology might leak to China if Washington sells the Lockheed Martin jets to Saudi Arabia; themes for this year’s Dubai Air Show; BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce’s market statements and Hensoldt’s capital markets day.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the longest US government shutdown in history that ended with a new continuing resolution, but will only span until January when the mayhem could begin all over again; appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act move ahead; another open House seat; the State Department’s decision to designate so-called “antifa” groups in Germany, Greece, Hungary and Italy as foreign terrorist organizations; Russian forces advance in Ukraine and strike the nation’s energy infrastructure as Ukrainians brace for the worst winter since the war began nearly four years ago; Britain reportedly curbs some intelligence sharing with Washington over the Trump administration attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific it claims are narcotraffickers; tensions between China and Japan rise over Taiwan; Australia and Indonesia prepare to sign a defense treaty; and in Gaza Hamas continues to hand over the bodies of Israeli hostages as China and Russia push back on the US effort to garner United Nations support for President Trump’s peace plan for the region.
Can automation actually replace pilots? A top general says one pilot is enough for lengthy global bomber missions. Bomber expert Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute looks at what the idea is and whether it’s a good one, and covers other significant issues in the bomber force. And we have this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the end of the longest-ever US government shutdown and the prospects that another one in late January after the continuing resolution adopted by lawmakers expires; impacts of the shutdown that will linger for years and months, including on uniformed and civilian workforce; the win for Boeing’s E-7 radar plane that was the only defense progam included in the CR; update on Golden Dome; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive to revamp the Pentagon’s entire acquisition system; and what’s in the reconciliation package.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping drive to revamp the Pentagon’s acquisition architecture to accelerate the fielding of capabilities that address operational problems, adopt more commercial products that address military needs, scale production of weapons and systems, and increase sales to allies and partners.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next now that lawmakers are moving to end the US government shutdown; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s address last week revamping the Pentagon’s acquisition architecture accelerate the fielding capabilities; what has to happen for the reforms to succeed; Venezuela and Russia’s battlefield gains in Ukraine; analysis of recent earnings including Hensoldt, Rheinmetall and other firms; issues to track in 2026; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s worst tech sell off since April; the longest US government shutdown as the Trump administration cuts flights; the Supreme Court hears the constitutionality of the president’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s acquisition reforms to accelerate development of new capabilities; Germany’s rearmament including new helicopters, night vision gear, weapons and interest in four more P-8 maritime patrol planes from Boeing as the first of eight already ordered jets is delivered; Berlin and Paris say they will determine the fate of SCAF next-generation combat aircraft program by the end of the year; the Pentagon clears hurdles to allow Saudi Arabia to order as many as 48 F-35 Lightning II jets by Lockheed Martin; Hensoldt, Leonardo and Rheinmetall report earnings; and the UPS MD-11 crash in Louisville that killed 12 and left more than a dozen injured after the plane’s left engine fell off on takeoff.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the longest US government shutdown; President Trump’s call that senators break the filibuster to end the closure as Democrats have a banner Election Day; the Senate votes on a new war powers resolution as the administration hints at military action to topple the Maduro government in Venezuela; Russian forces advance toward Pokrovsk seen as key to controlling Donetsk; takeaways from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visits to Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia where he met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun as the president continued to comment on Xi Jinping, a Taiwan invasion and nuclear testing in the wake of his trip to Asia last week, and saying American forces would take action in Nigeria to stop what he called mass killings of christians by Islamist militants even though there appears no evidence of such sectarian violence; Hegseth’s meeting on Friday with top defense and aerospace executives to unveil his new acquisition reforms to more quickly field new weapons; Saudi Arabia wants F-35 Lightning II fighters as Mohamed bin Sultan to Washington next week; and the legacies of former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at age 84 and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who said she would retire in 2027 after more than four decades in the House.
From CCA engines to hypersonics and basically everything in between, Rolls-Royce is building off a storied past with an eye on the future. John Kusnierek and Kaare Erickson, Senior Vice Presidents of their LibertyWorks technology operation and strategic campaigns respectively, tell us what they’re doing and how they do it. And of course, this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE! (They make engines too.)
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss last trade truce between the United States and China and how it will impact technology exports including advanced chips Beijing seeks and Washington has sought to deny; how America and its allies should work together to create a secure tech ecosystem, including chips and rare earths; and the challenges associated with building nuclear submarines for Korea in the United States.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Vladimir Putin’s new “super” weapons including use of new intermediate-range missiles that have been used in Ukraine as well as the announcement that two new nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable weapons have been tested — a new cruise missile and large torpedo; how they work and how they could change deterrence as well as the fight in Ukraine and elsewhere; how these systems can be countered; how the introduction of the Extended Range Attack Munition developed by the US Air Force for Ukraine will change the war; how Russia is changing its tactics to target Ukrainian energy and power grids; and analysis of President Trump’s order that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the week on Wall Street during a strong earnings season; President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping trade truce; Trump’s pledge to help South Korea develop and build nuclear powered submarines in America and promise to resume nuclear testing after Vladimir Putin said Russia had successfully tested two nuclear powered nuclear weapon; the contours of the administration defense acquisition reforms; Airbus improves margin performance as Boeing announced a $4.9 billion charge on its long-delayed 777X jetliner program as the government shutdown hurts new jet certification and its St Louis workers remain on strike; Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury tells Dassault CEO Eric Trappier to get out of the SCAF next-generation fighter aircraft if the French company doesn’t like terms agreed when the program was founded; Kongsberg said it would spin out its marine business; Leonardo DRS’ Bill Lynn and Textron’s Scott Donnelly retire; and the first flights of two new aircraft — Anduril’s YF-44A unmanned aircraft and Lockheed Martin’s X-59 Quesst to demonstrate technologies to mitigate the noise from sonic booms for a new generation of supersonic aircraft.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US government shutdown and when it might end; analysis of President Trump’s Asia trip including his meetings with China’s Xi Jinping, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung; Trump’s pledge to equip Seoul with nuclear attack submarines; the confusion caused by Trump’s order that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing after a nearly 3-year hiatus and whether the move enhances US deterrence against adversaries as Russia boasts about two new nuclear-powered weapons — a cruise missile and 100-knot torpedo; how the Extended Range Attack Munition, developed by the US Air Force for Ukraine and with a range of more than 400 kilometers, could change the course of the war as Russia is reported to have fielded a new intermediate range conventional ballistic missile; and the outlook for the Gaza ceasefire.
Major General Mark Mitchum has headed the Air Force’s Integrated Capabilities Command (Provisional) since its inception. As the Air Force moves its duties to a new organization and MajGen Mitchum concludes his career, we’ll look at what the effort to reform the Air Force has achieved, where it has yet to go, and what’s next for one of the service’s deeper thinkers. And this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book, “Navigating Technology and National Security: The Intersection of CFIUS, Team Telecom, Al Controls, and Other Regulations,” that surveys America’s export control history for lessons to shape controls that are more effective against China and a new generation of technologies.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s rapid evolution since its founding in 2021; it’s self-learning AI technology that taught itself how to fly and execute air combat that was tested in a Gripen fighter by Saab as well as the Europa collaborative combat aircraft; lessons from the Ukraine war including development of the HX-2 aerial vehicle in partnership with frontline troops; the SG-1 Sea Glider autonomous underwater vehicle; the future of autonomy and human oversight over AI-enabled systems; the company’s distributed manufacturing approach and role in the surging production worldwide; and its growth strategy. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; Venezuela war watch as Washington sends a super carrier to the Caribbean; takeaways from third quarter earnings reported by prime contractors, supplier firms as well as services companies; his US-China trade talks could change rare earths availability as leading firms like Lockheed Martin and Leonardo DRS warn of impacts; outlook for Pentagon spending; takeaways from the Depuy Institute’s Historical Analysis Conference; and a look at the week ahead.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street on expectations that low inflation figures will prompt Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again; President Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in South Korea to defuse trade tensions as Trump breaks off talks with Canada and Singapore’s prime minister warns of a messy post-American world; implications of Beijing decision to stop chip exports back to Europe after the Dutch government decided to take control of Nexperia, a Dutch chip maker with a Chinese parent company; Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to merge their satellite businesses to create a more capable European competitor to SpaceX; Ukraine’s decision to buy up to 150 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden’s Saab; Washington sanctions Russian oil but denied Tomahawk cruise missiles, prompting Kyiv to use British Storm Shadow weapons to strike a Russian chemical plant as the first Extended-Range Attack Munitions developed for Ukrainians forces by the US Air Force are slated to arrive next month; JPMorgan Chase’s decision to invest $1.5 trillion in US national security over the coming decade, from startups to heritage firms, factories and infrastructure, and workforce; and General Dynamics, GE Aerospace, Hexcel, Lockheed Martin, MTU, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Safran, Textron, Teledyne, and Thales earnings.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next for what already is the second longest shutdown in US history; the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the nomination of former GE Vice Chariman Jeff Bornstein as Pentagon comptroller; President Trump’s decision to sanction Lukoil and Rosneft a days after his planned meeting with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war fizzled; the failed EU effort to shift Moscow’s frozen assets to Ukraine, but successful new sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet; Kyiv’s decision to buy 150 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden’s Saab; the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing as Chinese officials implement the kind of global standards normally imposed by the United States as Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet in Korea; the president’s rare earths agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; the warning by Singapore’s prime minister that the transition to a post-American world will be messy as Trump ends trade talks with Canada and moves closer to war with Venezuela; Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan’s first female prime minister; and Vice President Vance visits Israel to support a shaky Gaza ceasefire as Israeli lawmakers voted to annex the West Bank, a move that Trump said would never happen.
Systems Engineering Darin DiTommaso lifts the covers on how they work and some of the innovative engines for vehicles -- from CCA to hypersonic -- that are on the way. And this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; the impact of Pentagon and Army acquisition reforms aimed at accelerating fielding of capabilities and reducing their cost; the resurgence of the Lead Systems Integrator approach to vest greater control with industry as government workforce is trimmed; the Army’s drive to put soldiers at the heart of shaping future capabilities; after a legacy of abortive land vehicle modernization efforts, how the service can ensure that the XM30 program is a success; and roles that only the government can play in the defense industrial ecosystem. Our coverage of AUSA is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the upcoming meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest and how it will impact the Ukraine war; how Kyiv can continue striking deep into Russia without US Tomahawk cruise missiles; an update on the ongoing ground war; whether Ukraine would be able to supply billions of dollars in military equipment to the United States without undermining its ability to right for its survival; the European consensus that troops in Ukraine will be necessary despite Moscow’s opposition to the move; and whether NATO’s response to Russia’s recent string of provocations is sufficient to keep deterring Moscow.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; the Treasury Department’s September statement and Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments on defense industry share buybacks; Trump-Putin meeting and impact on Ukraine war; prospect Washington would buy Ukrainian drones and other weapons; US military operations in the Caribbean; takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s conference and tradeshow, the Wharton Aerospace meeting, and the defense edition of Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event in Washington; and a look at the week ahead. Our AUSA coverage was sponsored by Lockheed Martin and we are a proud media sponsor of the defense edition of the Aerospace Event.
Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s strong close despite trade worries and bank losses; US government shutdown outlook; President Trump’s planned Budapest summit with Vladimir Putin derails Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s push for Tomahawk cruise missiles to continue Ukraine’s momentum on strikes against Russia; industrial implications of proposal that Washington buy $50 billion in Ukrainian drones and other equipment for the US military; worry that a scattershot US negotiating approach and Beijing’s success in substituting lost American business has increased the confidence of Chinese officials who are no longer cowed by what they increasingly regard as Washington’s empty rhetoric; Honeywell says the avionics supply chain is improving as Safran sees it catching up on engine delays; reports the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Boeing to increase 737 production next month; talks next week to end the strike at Boeing’s St Louis plants; and takeaways the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and tradeshow, the Wharton Aerospace conference in DC, and Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event in DC where we are a media partner.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next as the US government shutdown enters its third week; President Trump imposition of new sanctions on China as Beijing increasingly demonstrates that it’s no longer cowed by Washington; as the president weighed sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for use against Russia, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew to Washington to make the case for US Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike Russia, the president had a call with Vladimir Putin and agreed to meet the Russian leader soon in Budapest, in a move that European leaders worry will undermine support for Ukraine; Sanae Takaichi tries to form Japan’s new government; Trump’s authorization of CIA cover action in Venezuela as US strikes against Venezuelan watercraft continue and US Southern Command Commander Adm. Alvin Holsey resigns over how the campaign is being waged; the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas goes into effect with hostages and prisoners exchanged, even as Israeli leaders threaten to withhold aid after the militant group failed to turn over all Israeli hostage remains it claims remain entombed by air strikes and would take time and heavy equipment to retrieve; Trump’s Sharm El Sheikh summit; and the indictments against former National Security Adviser Dr. John Bolton and Carnegie Endowment analyst Dr. Ashley Tellis who are accused of improperly possessing and disseminating classified information.
Aerospace’s top analysts came together this week for a full day of presentations, discussions, and forecasting at the annual Aerospace Event. Our team, all of whom were on stage at the show, will break down what they heard and what it means. Plus AUSA highlights and this week’s headlines in airpower, Powered by GE!
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of the government shutdown on the company; lessons from the Ukraine war; how to accelerate the acquisition system to field capabilities more quickly; defending against everything from hypersonic missiles to drones; command and control; outlook for the H-60 Blackhawk including the new unmanned variant of the ubiquitous battlefield helicopter; international partnerships; and what to expect at this year’s Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and tradeshow. Our AUSA coverage is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss defense and aerospace stock performance on Wall Street and in Europe; the air travel outlook as the US government shutdown derails the transport system as Delta projects robust holiday season; China’s clamp down on rare earths as Washington threatens 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods; Denmark’s decision to buy another 16 F-35 Lightning II fighters from Lockheed Martin and considers P-8 Poseidon patrol planes from Boeing; the Pentagon’s decision to clear the Navy to pick whether Boeing or Northrop Grumman will build the service’s new FA-XX superfighter; the implications of the $6.1 billion deal by President Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb for 11 large icebreakers for the US Coast Guard, with the first four to be built in Finland and the remainder made at two yards in America; Indian pilots demand that the 787 be grounded to investigate the emergency power system on the planes; the explosion at the Accurate Energetic Solutions plant in Bucksnort, Tenn., as the Pentagon demands a sharp increase in weapons production; and what to expect at the defense edition of Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event in Washington, DC, where the Defense & Aerospace Report is a proud media sponsor, and both AeroDynamic Advisory and Bank of America are founding partners.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the continuing US government shutdown as Democrats make their case why closing was the right thing to do to protect health care for millions of Americans; Russia continues its provocations against Europe and NATO as the Ukraine war grinds on; details about the administration’s National Defense Strategy surface during John Noh’s confirmation as the deputy assistant secretary of defense of IndoPacific affairs; Washington and Beijing close in on a trade deal as China clamps down on rare earths exports; Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States conduct exercises as China and Malaysia conduct theirs; the hard line LDP President Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister; and the deal brokered by President Trump to end the Gaza war on its second anniversary moves ahead with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hostages and prisoners to be exchanged over the coming days as the president suggests he might go to the Middle East.
AeroVironment has been making unconventional systems for decades. But now they have a new name and a new portfolio. What’s it like to bring a legacy company into the new tech world? Chief Growth Officer Church Hutton has the answers. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Bill Alderman of Alderman & Company, a boutique firm specializing in aerospace and defense mergers and acquisitions, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of the US government shutdown on small companies across the sector and how soon before the closure becomes painful; how personnel cuts impact the contracting and regulatory oversight ecosystems; growth areas in the budget; what thoughtful supply chain management means as the Pentagon seeks to accelerate production of weapons large and small; the new administration’s approach to merger and acquisition approvals; and the implications of the US government taking ownership stakes in companies that accept Pentagon investment funding.
On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper, a retired US Army colonel who is now the director of national security studies at the Association of the United States Army’s Land Warfare Institute, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the expected messages that Army leaders will delivery at the association’s annual meeting and tradeshow next week in Washington, DC; the programs the force will need to execute operations worldwide; learning the right lessons from the Ukraine war as well as from the Cold War, Afghanistan and Iraq; keys countering thoughtful and agile adversaries; novel approaches to fighting in highly contested battlefields; why size matters for military forces in an era when conflict could both erupt quickly and escalate rapidly; and why precision and good leadership are vital. Our coverage of AUSA is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown and how long it will last; how this showdown might be different than earlier ones; why Wall Street’s reaction is muted; interesting the latest government data; how messaging the meeting President Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could impact on programs and allied cooperation; takeaways from AeroVironment’s investor day; developing a drone supply chain that’s free of Chinese components; KBR’s spin; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s rally to new highs even as US jobs growth continues to slow and Washington shuts down for what could be a protracted closure; German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ comments that Berlin will play a bigger state role in the nation’s defense industries; Poland’s planned record bond sales to address mounting debt; Russia’s continued provocations including closing Munich airport twice in 24 hours; the CA-1 Europa unmanned combat aircraft by Germany’s Helsing; what a transition to full-rate production mans for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lighting II fighter; Thailand order for Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker and Transport Aircraft and Indonesia’s purchase of T-50 aircraft from Korean Aerospace; the drop in Palantir stock after a Reuters report that the Army command and control system the company is developing with Anduril has security flaws; GE Aerospace’s share price drop after labor deal as investors wait for the terms that will end the nine-week strike by Boeing machinists in St Louis; the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to return some certification duties to Boeing that were taken away from the company in 2019 after the crash of two Max jetliners as the company admits the 777x jetliner will be delayed until 2027; and Play Airlines becomes the second Low-cost Icelandic carrier to fold in six years.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how long the US government shut down will last and the political dynamics that will shape its length and contours as the Trump administration uses the crisis to punish its enemies and fire more government workers; President Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign against the military brass at an unprecedented meeting of senior uniformed leaders in Virginia that was as much Hegseth’s drive for a new warrior ethos as to define himself as the president’s successor and continue driving a wedge between senior military leaders and their more troops; the US strategy in Asia the administration continues to develop its national security and defense strategies and tapped former Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Kenneth “Cruiser” Wilsbach as the next Air Force chief of staff; Russia’s continued drone flights over Europe — including from a cargo ship — threats to undersea cables and ever bigger attacks on Ukraine as the White House now says it will provide Ukraine with targeting data to strike deep into Russian territory as some worry the disclosure is more about pressuring Moscow rather than helping Kyiv; Japan and Australia’s announcement of deeper defense ties as Tokyo and Canberra worry about US reliability in the region; Washington’s strategic pact with Qatar; Europe’s “SnapBack” sanctions on Iran; and the president’s 21-point plan to end fighting in Gaza. central to which is Hamas laying down its arms.
We’ve heard the case for making the US Air Force bigger. But a couple of defense thinkers have a new report on how it can operate better. Do the ideas hold up? What gets cut? The Hudson Institute’s Bryan Clark joins us to explain. And we’ll have this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference Jan 27-28, 2026, in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Dr Keith Dear, the founder and CEO of British AI firm Cassi, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the speed with which AI is evolving; how society and militaries need to prepare for an artificial general intelligence age; the importance of sovereign AI capability; role in military operations; importance of human control over autonomous weapons; and more. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Maj. Gen. Tom Feltey, the commander of the US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine war lessons that are helping shape the future of ground combat and his force; how to fight on an increasingly transparent and highly contested battlefield; the transition from a brigade- to a division-centric force; capabilities needed to fight in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific; the importance of modernized version of existing platforms like the M1 tank to a new generation of capabilities like the MV-75 tilt rotor and MX30 combat vehicle; role of small, medium and large unmanned vehicles in the air and on the ground; the importance of better coordinating firepower of greater precision, mass and layered range; and the logistical approach needed to sustain US and allied forces under fire.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of what could be a prolonged government shutdown should President Trump and congressional leaders not be able to strike a deal; the president’s shift on Ukraine and whether Europe can deter Russia without the United States; prospect of military action against Venezuela and drug operations in Latin America, and how criminal organizations could respond against the United States and its interests; takeaways from the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber conference and tradeshow; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street ended the week slightly down as a protracted US government shutdown looms; President Trump reversed course saying that with European help he now thinks Ukraine can win back its territory, suggesting America won’t block assistance to Kyiv as Moscow ramps up its attacks; France latest debt downgrade as the French, German, Spanish and Belgian effort to develop a new generation of combat aircraft hits its latest snag — as an increasingly frustrated Germany reconsiders its participation, Dassault’s CEO Eric Trappier again makes clear Berlin is welcome to leave the program, a stance that Hensoldt CEO Oliver Dörre said he found “bizarre,” but added that the sophisticated avionics his company and Spain’s Indra are developing for the SCAF program would find other buyers; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s proposal to revamp the US H-1B visa process that allows skilled foreign talent to work in America would cost $100,000 — up from a few thousand — and whether it will achieve the aim of deterring skilled immigrants from coming to the United States and if so, where they talent will flow; Boeing and its unionized St Louis workers will meet next week to discuss ending the nearly two month strike; and news from the Air Force Association’s otherwise quiet Air Space and Cyber conference and tradeshow including Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney’s small jet engines for unmanned collaborative combat aircraft, the acceleration of Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider bomber program, and Air Force interest in a stealthy next generation tanker, if the service can find the money to develop and buy it in the wake of pressing ahead with the F-47 fighter program led by Boeing.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the near certainty of a government shutdown on Sept 30 after President Trump cancelled a planned meeting with the Senate and House monitory leaders; the president’s about face on Ukraine at the UN, saying he now thinks Kyiv can take back all its territory from Russia; European leaders made clear that any future Russian incursions into their airspace will be met with force as Russia’s ambassador to France threatens Europe with war if Russian planes are attacked; German officials said two of their military satellites were tracked by Russia; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gives US US military commanders 96 hours to convene in Virginia for a meeting in part to discuss the administration’s upcoming National Security and National Defense Strategies; four Japanese fighter planes arrive in Europe to support NATO on the first ever deployment of its kind; Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese to visit Washington Oct 20; the implications of Britain, France and nation’s worldwide recognizing a Palestinian state as Israel presses ahead with its operation in Gaza.
The Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference is where airpower headlines come from. We get into the future of air mobility with Lockheed Martin, counter-UAS details with Honeywell, and more. Powered by GE!
Dr. Jim Lewis, a distinguished fellow with the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, and Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as well as a Cyberspace Solarium Commission senior adviser, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Russia’s recent cyber attacks on European airports as well as drone attacks and fighter incursions on NATO members; how allies must respond; outlook for TikTok in the United States; and reauthorization of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report the co-authored with Kate Johnston and Greg Weaver — Understanding Russia’s Calculus on Opportunistic Aggression in Europe — including the core role of opportunism in Vladimir Putin’s strategic approach to undermine Russia’s adversaries; the reality that NATO nations may be forced to defend the alliance without help from the United States should a crisis in the Indo-Pacific force Washington to shift focus from Europe to Asia; capability areas where the alliance’s European members rate well and where more work is required; how Europe can step up capabilities indigenously especially if America decided against selling weapons to bolster its own depleted stocks; how NATO must respond to Russia’s mounting provocations and how it can respond when US support is now conditional; roles China, Iran and North Korea can play to advance Russia’s interests in Europe; and need to support Ukraine and critical role Kyiv can play in bolstering European capabilities.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another record setting week on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve cut borrowing rates as expected over worries about the US jobs market; a Financial Times report that a week after British, Italian and Japanese officials hinted that there could be room for Germany and Spain in the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Program, Germany is considering dropping out of the SCAF program to develop a new family of air systems over frustrations with France and its leading contractor Dassault Aviation; a report in The Atlantic that Denmark decided to pick Europe’s SAMP-T air and missile defense system over the US Patriot system in part because Washington lost interest in the deal to bolster its own depleted weapons stocks; Rheinmetall’s acquisition of the military arm of shipbuilder Lürssen; Ankara’s interest in US fighter aircraft as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepares to visit the White House on Sept. 25; the vote by Boeing’s unionized machinists in St Louis to approve a contract proposed by the union that the company already rejected; and the legacy of aviation legend Sergei Sikorsky, son of helicopter inventor Igor Sikorsky, who passed away on Sept. 18 at age100.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate’s decision to put consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act on hold as the House Appropriations Committee developed a seven-week stopgap funding measure to avert a government shutdown that is looking increasingly likely; the House’s new committee to investigate those who investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection; the Senate’s “nuclear option” to confirm 48 of President Trump’s nominees; the president becomes the first elected official ever to be hosted twice by a British monarch, reaffirming the special relationship plus economic deals, but little progress on Ukraine; as the administration refines its National Security Strategy to prioritize homeland defense and reduce US forces in Europe, Washington continues to stall NATO action against Russia after its drone attacks on the alliance as Japan deploys fighter planes to support NATO; while in London, the president also said that he wants the United States to take back Bagram Air Base in Kabul; expectations as Trump spoke with Xi Jinping on Friday morning after the White House blocked $400 million in military aid to Taiwan and members of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board met with Taiwan’s defacto ambassador to the United States, Alexander Yui; Beijing’s annual Xiangshan Forum as China warns Papua-New Guinea against signing a security pact with Australia; ongoing US Navy operations against drug runners in the Caribbean; America’s decision to back away from Syrian Kurds as Israel backs Syria’s Druze community; the mutual defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia; and Israel’s operations in Gaza as well as in the West Bank as a Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu seeks autarky in defense equipment.
What will USAF leadership say at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference? What won’t they? And just what is going on in the Air Force, anyway? We preview this year’s show with Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute and Air and Space Forces magazine’s John Tirpak. Plus this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Luke Savoie, the president and CEO of Elbit America, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the Pentagon is moving to accelerate the delivery of capabilities; the keys to agility and speed; the prospect that the US government will acquire stakes in contractors if they accept Pentagon development funding; the company’s top markets; the future of border control systems and technologies; how to integrate border control technologies with the administration’s top priority Golden Dome air and missile defense system; merger and acquisition outlook; and what to expect at both the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber tradeshow and the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss details of Russia’s drone attacks on Poland, Romania and Moldova — the first and largest such attack against the alliance; how the alliance can respond given President Trump’s conditioning of US support on all alliance members agreeing to halting energy purchases from Russia and imposing penalties on China; the changing nature of Russia’s ever larger attacks on Ukraine; the joint Russian-Belorussian Zapad 2025 exercises and how Moscow and Minsk are working to improve capabilities; whether the exercise is cover for potential future action against NATO given how Russia used past Zapad exercises to pre-position forces and equipment for the 2022 attack on Ukraine; the implications of US military observers at Zapad; and whether Washington’s engagement with Minsk will change Belarus’ alignment with Russia.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street gains ground on expectations the Federal Reserve will cut borrowing rates next week on a shaky jobs market; Denmark picked Europe’s SAMP-T air and missile defense system over the US Patriot system as part of a wider air and missile defense upgrade worth $9 billion; Boeing’s unionized machinists in St Louis rejection of the company’s latest offer to end a month long strike; low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines order for 50 Embraer E195-E2 jetliners in a $4.4 billion deal . . . the arrival of two Northrop Grumman B-21 bombers at Edwards Air Force Base for flight testing; and takeaways from the world’s biggest defense show, the DSEI exhibition in London; including how US companies are increasing cooperation with global partners like cooperative venture between Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ Falcon Works to develop innovative new unmanned systems, and Global Combat Air Program led by Britain with Italy and Japan suggests there would be room for Germany and Spain on the program to develop a new sixth generation air system should the countries — already frustrated with France’s hold on the SCAF program — what to jump ship and be part of a more collaborative effort.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss House’s $892 billion version of the National Defense Authorization Act as the measure heads to the Senate as fights over a continuing resolution and a government shutdown continue to loom; the assassination of far-right influencer Charlie Kirk becomes the latest act of American political violence; Russia launched some two dozen long-range drones at a base in Poland that’s key to supporting Ukraine, Moscow’s first direct attack on the alliance as Warsaw called for Article 4 consultations and Russia stepped up attacks on Ukraine; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes his first call with China’s Defense Minister Adm Dong Jun during which he stressed America does not seek conflict in the Indo-Pacific, but will defend its interests; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said America will split profits from Japan’s investment in America 50-50, but after Japan earns back its $550 billion, Washington will get 90 percent of profits and Tokyo just 10 percent; after arresting 475 at a joint Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, the administration was prepared to release 300 South Korean workers, but said they could stay in the United States if they helped train American workers; and Israel launched an air strike on Hamas’ office in Doha, involved in Gaza negotiations, but despite worldwide ire Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu demanded Qatar either expel or bring to justice Hamas officials otherwise Israel would.
With a new Chief of Staff inbound for the US Air Force, we assembled a team of airpower experts to lay out a day one agenda for getting the service from today to tomorrow. And we’ll have the latest from the world’s largest defense exposition -- along with this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report podcast, sponsored by Elbit America, Dr Kelvin Hamilton of FlareBright, GOS-free drone navigation firm and Toby Townrow of UK sovereign UAV-maker Drone Evolution join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what makes the small, innovative companies different from their competitors, scaling to deliver capabilities more quickly, accelerating the process and more from the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London. We are partnered with DSEI’s parent Clarion Defence on the annual Apex innovation conference in Washington Jan. 27-29, 2026.
On this week’s Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, James Hackett, the head of defense and military analysis at the International institute for Strategic Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the updated report he co-edited — “Progress and Shortfalls in Europe’s Defence: An Assessment.”
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a Wall Street rally despite weaker than expected jobs numbers and hiccups with their disclosure; Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s hosts Vladimir Putin and Narenda Modi in Beijing as three decades of US effort to woo India and drive wedges between Beijing and Moscow collapse; Russia’s targeting of EU President Ursula von der Lyen’s plane with GPS jamming signals as French President Emmanuel Macron brought together Ukraine’s allies to craft a plan to support the country; reports of a TNT shortage because of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the global rearmament drive it’s sparked; whether the Fitch ratings agency’s decision to downgrade Poland over fiscal concerns could undermine the country’s role and ambition as a European defense leader; Norway’s decision to pick Britain’s Type 26 frigate by BAE Systems over Fincantieri’s Constellation-class, Naval Group’s Admiral Ronar’c, and Thyssen Krupp’s Type 127 ships, joining Australia and Canada as export customers for the new antisubmarine warship; Babcock Marine’s investor day; the US Navy taps Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, and Northrop Grumman move head in the service’s program for an autonomous strike aircraft as Lockheed Martin is tapped to develop the command system for the new planes; Government Accountability Office’s latest report criticizing late deliveries of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter; Peru’s interest in Saab’s Gripen fighter and Global Eye radar plane; GE Aerospace’s $300 million investment in electric aircraft-maker Beta Technologies; and what to expect at the 2025 edition of DSEI tradeshow next week in London.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Congress’ return to Washington as government shutdown worries mount; the National Defense Authorization Act moves from the Senate to the House; Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst decision to retire; Texas, California and Missouri redistricting moves; how lawmakers and industry view the prospect the Trump administration will acquire stakes in defense contractors; the administration’s deployment of naval forces to the Caribbean that launched the first of what officials says will be more strikes on drug runners; China hosts leaders from two dozen nations seeking to thwart US power worldwide and the significance of Xi Jinping holding hands with Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi; French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Ukraine’s European allies in Paris to discuss peacekeepers in the country as Russia continues to reject the prospect of troops on Ukrainian soil; and Israel continues its Gaza occupation despite opposition from the country’s top security officials.
U.S. Naval aviation is rebuilding its decks. In a rollicking conversation, former Director of Air Warfare, Nimitz skipper, and current Tailhook Association chairman RAdm Mike “Nasty” Manazir gets into the details on F/A-XX, F-35, MQ-25, and the whole future of Naval aviation. It’s fun and deeply informative. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report podcast, sponsored by Elbit America, Scott Sloan, the president of Stratascorp Technologies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his commentary on the AFCEA website — “Data Won’t Solve Everything, But It Will Help: Interdepartmental data-sharing could be a game-changer for the future of the maritime industrial base workforce” — how to leverage data to more thoughtfully address workforce challenges; the importance of structuring data collection systems with sharing in mind; engineering data systems to ensure collaboration across government and industry; roles of artificial intelligence and machine learning in data collection and analysis; how to scale recruiting beyond the maritime industry to also include air, land, space, and cyber fields; opportunities and challenges as the Trump administration implements the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification approach to improve cybersecurity.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s proposal that the government take stakes in defense contractors as it did in chip-maker Intel and why state ownership of US defense contractors would be problematic; the outlook for US-India strategic and industrial cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi literally holds hands with China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the wake of US tariffs imposed on New Delhi; prospect of US military action against drug cartels in Caribbean and Latin America as American warships increase their regional presence; Norway’s decision to adopt Britain’s Type 26 by BAE Systems as its next surface combatant; the US budget outlook as investors return from summer holidays as Washington prepares to run out of money at the end of the month; takeaways from the National Defense Industrial Association’s annual Emerging Technologies Institute conference in Washington last week; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street flat week as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the Pentagon is considering stakes in major defense contractors that he said were “basically an arm of the federal government;”a federal appeals court rejected President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs on nations worldwide as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the ruling would be a dangerous diplomatic embarrassment and the president said returning the $96 billion raised since April would plunge the nation into depression; the administration slaps tariffs on goods of $800 or less; Trump continued his attacks on the Federal Reserve; the prospect that Washington will back Russia’s proposalChinese forces serve as peacekeepers in Ukraine; the French government teeters on the verge of collapse as Safran says it will develop a new fighter engine with India; Rheinmetall considers buying shipbuilder Lürssen; General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ YFQ-42A — the company’s entry into the US Air Force’s competition for its first increment collaborative combat aircraft — made its successful first flight near Edwards Air Force base in California; and Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy for a second time in a year.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s statement that the administration would take stakes in defense and aerospace firms; what’s next for ending the Ukraine war a week after President Trump hosted key meetings; Russia launched its largest attack in a month with a strike just 50 yards from EU and British Council offices in Kyiv as European governments work to increase support for Ukraine; Washington continues to move toward normalizing relations with with Russia as the Wall Street Journal reports energy deals have been discussed including Exxon reentering a cooperative venture with Rosneft; the administration’s drive to fire top intelligence officers specializing in Russia; South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s White House meeting that put shipbuilding at center of US-Korea alliance; China prepares for its 80th anniversary Victory Day celebration with Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Masoud Pezeshkian; Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles visited Washington to schedule a meeting between his boss Anthony Albanese and Trump; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Tokyo as Washington and New Delhi conduct remote 2+2 talks; GOP senators’ Taiwan visit; France, Germany and Britain’s call on the UN to implement “snap back” sanctions on Iran for violating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; Israel presses ahead with operations in Gaza including two strikes on a hospital that killed five more journalists and 15 others in an attack that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he regrets and will be investigated.
The Army’s MV-75 tiltrotor has been moving fast -- quietly. Design is almost 90% complete, and a second generation is in the works. And how did they get to skip Milestone A? We take a newsy deep dive into that program with the Army program manager, Col. Jeff Poquette, and Bell vice president Ryan Ehinger. Powered by GE!
Jeff Bialos, a former deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial policy who now heads the defense practice at the Eversheds Sutherland law firm, Dr. Jerry McGinn who also served in the Pentagon’s Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy office and now leads the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Bryan Clark who leads the Center for Defense concepts and Innovation at the Hudson Institute think tank joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s that the administration is considering stakes in US defense and aerospace contractors; the Pentagon’s new acquisition approach to more rapidly develop capabilities to address joint force operational problems; and the abrupt resignation of Doug Beck as the head of the Defense Innovation Unit as the Defense Department reorders its innovation ecosystem.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for peace between Ukraine and Russia in the wake of President Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin in Alaska and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as allied leaders in Washington; status of the fighting as Russia continues to creep forward; how Ukraine manages to slow Russian advances as well as stop and push back significant incursions; whether the notion of granting Russia’s demand for all of Donbas will lead to a lasting peace or merely pave the way for a third Russian attack; and what shape a peacekeeping force might take as the president suggests openness to supporting allied troops in Ukraine as well as US air power as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Kyiv to discuss a peacekeeping role.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense industrial impact of stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia; the outlook for European defense despite capitulation on tariffs and former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s pessimism about Europe as a global power; civil-military relations as armed National Guardsmen are deployed to US cities; scaling drone production; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another record week on Wall Street as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says an interest rate cut might be needed as the jobs market slows in the wake of the Trump administration’s economic policies; President Trump continues his battle against the Fed demanding that governor Lisa Cook resign, driving the dollar down and gold up; Canada’s drops 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on US goods to curry favor with Washington that continues to impose high trades taxes on its northern neighbor; the EU signs a tariff deal with Washington as former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi argues the capitulation marks the end of the EU’s vision of itself as a global power; Switzerland’s decision to reconsider its acquisition of F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft in the wake of 39 percent US tariffs; the Congressional Budget Office’s conclusion that higher trade taxes could cut the national debt by $4 trillion over the coming decade; the administration’s 10 percent ownership stake in Intel and a cut of profits from Nvidia’s AI chip sales to China; the Pentagon’s decision to revamp how it creates requirements and oversees programs to accelerate the fielding of needed joint force capabilities even as some worry this might vest the ability to create requirements with industry; Britain’s air defense missile order from MBDA; striking Boeing St Louis machinists remain decision to resume negotiations on Monday.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the Trump administration’s increasingly muscular intimidation moves including the FBI raid on former National Security Adviser Dr. John Bolton’s home and the National Guard deployment to Washington; the civil-military implications of the moves; the Pentagon’s forced retirement of US Air Force chief Gen. Dave Allvin; what’s next for Russia’s war on Ukraine after President Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin as well as Volodymyr Zelenskyy and allied leaders; outlook for peace and security guarantees for Ukraine; how China is viewing Trump’s Ukraine negotiations and rhetoric; Beijing’s increasingly aggressive intimidation efforts against Manila; in the wake of US tariffs and sanctions New Delhi moves to warm relations with Beijing; despite mounting international mounting pressure, Israel moves to occupy Gaza City as it seeks to relocate Gazans to South Sudan as a massive new settlement is authorized to split West Bank in two to prevent the future creation of a Palestinian state.
As the US Air Force gets ready for a new Chief of Staff, the Mitchell Institute is about to publish what they’re calling the Mother of All Reports, laying out ways ahead for the service’s readiness, operations, force mix, and more. It’s author, retired colonel JV Venable, explains it all. And, yes, airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Podcast, sponsored by Elbit America, Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new report for the Center for Naval Analyses — “Hacking and Firewalls Under Siege: Russia’s Cyber Industry During the War on Ukraine (https://www.cna.org/reports/2025/08/Hacking-and-Firewalls-Under-Seige.pdf)” — the nature of the cyber war between Russia and Ukraine; the role of Russian state, corporate and general public actors in advancing Moscow’s tactical and strategic aims from offensive cyber actions to hacking and information operations; the government’s role in controlling these actors; how many have been sanctioned; the impact of Kaspersky’s role in support of the Russian government and how that’s impacting the company’s global business; analysis of Russia’s “Secret Blizzard” operation against foreign embassies by exploiting a Microsoft vulnerability; cyber lessons from Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia; and happens to efforts to counter Russian in cyberspace when Washington normalizes relations with Moscow.
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference January 27-28, 2026, in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts & Technology at the Hudson Institute, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss agenda for the second edition of Apex conference seeks to find solutions to the eight hard operational problems the United States and its allies face by bringing together senior military, government, industry and thought leaders. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, joining Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian are Dr Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to discuss what’s next after President Trump aligned with Russia’s Vladimir Putin after their summit in Alaska and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders arrive in Washington to discuss ending the war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses summit takeaways on defense sentiment; up and downside budget and policy risks for contractors; analysis of the Pentagon’s program acquisition costs and budget details released last week; trade and tariffs; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a flat week on Wall Street as inflation continues to rise as higher baseline tariffs are passed along to consumers; the Trump administration gives China another 90 days to strike a deal; President Trump hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska, siding with the Russian leader’s call for peace talks rather than a swift ceasefire to allow Russia’s forces to claw back territory from Ukrainian territory as the president again calls on Kyiv give up territory for peace; furious with Trump’s tariffs, sanctions and courting of Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived calls for domestic manufacturing of everything from computer chips to aerospace and defense goods; Washington’s 39 percent trade tax on Switzerland impact the country’s aerospace sector and jeopardizes Geneva’s decision to buy F-35 Lightning II fighters; Poland’s decision to upgrade its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters; Boeing workers at the company’s St Louis operation remain on strike; a strike grounds Air Canada flights; worries that Spirit Airlines and other low cost carriers are doomed; Spike Aerospace move to refine its S-512 supersonic business jet; and Airbus’ A320 is poised to surpass Boeing’s 737 as the world’s most produced passenger jetliner.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another up week on Wall Street even as President Trump escalated his trade war leveraging America’s economic power to force nations that haven’t yet agreed to baseline tariffs to do so, including on Switzerland impacting the gold market; after Washington slapped heavy tariffs on India to sanction New Delhi for buying Russian oil — as part of a drive to pressure Moscow to end the Ukraine war — India’s defense minister cancelled his visit to Washington as news reports suggested US arms purchases may be in jeopardy; the claim by India’s air chief, Air Chief Marshall AP Singh, that the country’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missiles downed five Pakistani fighters and a large aircraft that was downed at a range of 300 kilometers; how long it will take to resolve the strike by Boeing’s St Louis machinists a week after rejecting the company’s contract offer; Spain’s decision for more Eurofighters rather than the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the F-35 Lighting II to replace aging Harrier jump jets for its carriers; the partnership by L3Harris and Joby Aviation to develop autonomous hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for military applications; and what to expect from the meeting between Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects the American president’s suggestion Kyiv cede territory for peace.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the geopolitical implications of President Trump’s tariff war escalation on trading partners; use of US economic might to force Russia to make a peace deal ending the Ukraine war; prospect of talks between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin and what to expect if the two leaders meet; Washington’s heavy sanctions on New Delhi with a heavy sanctions for violating US and EU sanctions on Russian oil as furious Indian leaders consider ending US weapons purchases; Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russia’s refineries as existing sanctions continue to weaken the Russian economy; Australia’s decision to pick Japan’s Mogami-class frigate as its next major surface warship in a $6.5 billion deal that would be the biggest Japanese export contract since World War II; Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders agree to a US-brokered deal that gives Baku the transit corridor through southern tip of Armenia it has long sought but with 99-year US economic development zone in Armenia’s Zangezur region; developments in Lebanon and Iran; and analysis of Israel’s plan to occupy all of Gaza starting with Gaza City to defeat Hamas before handing it to Arab forces and Germany’s decision to block export of German arms to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
Time to kick back and review where US airpower stands, especially the US Air Force. And it’s air show season, so the perfect guest for both is Doug Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, also a Collings Foundation insider and just back from Oshkosh. Plus headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how to improve defense cooperation with Taiwan to prepare for the kind of embargo and blockade scenarios Beijing has been practicing; whether the Trump administration will continue its support for Taipei given Washington last week blocked Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te from transiting the United States to visit Paraguay; how to address gaps and seams in the US-Japan alliance; worries across Asia in the wake of the Trump administration’s rhetoric toward Europe; what to expect from the upcoming National Security Strategy and Force Posture Review; the impact of personnel cuts on US cybersecurity; and look at recent congressional budget moves and their impact on naval power.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Richard Danzig, the 71st Secretary of the US Navy and Rand Corporation trustee; joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new report for the think tank — “Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and National Security: The Fierce Urgency of Now;” how to think about AI; the nature of the competition between America and China; importance of speed in developing AI and operationalizing it; applications for which AI is best suited; role of AI in improving cybersecurity across the defense enterprise; the importance of AI talent in government and how the technology can compensate for not enough skilled people; the role of humans in overseeing AI; concerns that AI is oversold and that a bubble is building on capital markets that might burst; and notion of ethical use of AI among great powers.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a down market on tariff concerns and sharply reduced US new July jobs numbers — as well as downgraded May and June figures — revised to reflect the impact of President Trump’s trade policies; the implications of the president’s decision to fire Dr Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics charged with generating objective labor data; the tariff outlook as Washington and Beijing continue to negotiate a trade deal and Trump announced South Korea accepted a 15 percent tariff and gave Mexico 90 more days to make a deal, but hit Canada with a 35 percent trade tax, Switzerland with 39 percent, and Brazil with a 50 percent trade tax to punish the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsenaro who launched an insurrection to try to remain in power; European leadership criticism of the EU’s decision to accept a 15 percent tax on its goods sold in America; the president’s decision to hit India with secondary sanctions for buying Russian oil in violation of US and international sanctions as he increases pressure on Moscow to end the Ukraine war; a look at earnings as AerCap, Airbus, Boeing, Hensoldt, HII, L3Harris, Leonardo — and Leonardo DRS — Rolls-Royce, Safran, Teledyne, and Textron; and the outlook as Boeing machinists at the company’s St Louis operation consider their next labor contract. The program was recorded before unionized St Louis machinists rejected Boeing’s contract offer and voted to strike.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian the Senate remains in session to markup the defense appropriations bill; moves to block members from trading stock but exempts President Trump and Vice President Vance; twice rejected Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposals to restrict arms sales to Israel; confirmed political appointees but Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan briefly blocked Adm. Darryl Caudle from becoming the next chief of naval operations demanding the long-closed Adak Naval Air Station be reopened; South Korea accepted 15 percent tariffs ahead of Trump’s Aug. 1 deadline as the president slapped higher tariffs on nations worldwide including 35 percent on Canada, 39 percent on Switzerland, and 50 percent on Brazil to punish the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsenaro who launched an insurrection to remain in power; Mexico’s 90-day extension to make a deal; France and Germany frustration with EU for failing to fight a 15 percent tariffs; Trump’s demand Russia and Ukraine strike a peace deal in 25 days and imposition of secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil; the proposal by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, for $54.6 billion in aid for Ukraine; with the Talisman Saber military exercise underway in Australia and Singapore, Washington blocked Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te from transiting the United States enroute to Paraguay to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing; and growing international pressure on Israel over growing starvation in Gaza as the Arab League pressures Hamas.
Electra is a fascinating company that straddles the line between traditional aviation and advanced air mobility. Their hybrid, quiet, ultra-short-takeoff aircraft are finding interest from the US military. We learn more from Donn Yates, their head of government markets. Powered by GE!
On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on the Ukraine war, how both sides are advancing drone technology, tactics Russia is using to claw back territory despite high casualties, prospects for peace as President Trump gives both sides 25 days to make a deal, whether US will sanction Russia and whether sanctions will drive a change in Moscow’s strategy, growing US interest in adopting Ukrainian drones shaped by wartime experience, role of autonomy and swarming technologies on the battlefield, the wider international and domestic implications of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unpopular effort to shift now-independent anti-corruption authorities to his control, how NATO can deter a country that has absorbed 1 million casualties and keep fighting, how high casualties are shaping the political dynamic in Moscow, threat of new secondary sanctions on India for trading with Russia, and Ukrainian public sentiment on continuing the war.
On today’s Technology Report podcast, Dr. Jim Lewis, a distinguished fellow with the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s new strategy to maintain America’s artificial intelligence lead against rising competitors; status of the Stargate Project AI effort launched by the administration in January; whether cuts to technology investment accounts impacting US government, academic and industry research will undermine efforts to preserve America’s technological leadership; data rights in an AI age; quantum computing and communications as the US Air Force prepares to launch Boeing’s X-37B spaceplane on it’s eight mission to test laser communication and quantum positioning technologies that are jam proof; China’s hack of Microsoft’s SharePoint servers that hold top secret US data including from the National Nuclear Security Administration that oversees America’s nuclear weapons; the administration’s cybersecurity strategy and how cuts across government will impact security; and an analysis of the latest version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification that will soon be adopted by the Pentagon to improve industrial base cybersecurity.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Washington’s trade deals with Japan and the European Union that would see an increase of baseline tariffs increase to 15 percent; President Trump’s assertion that European nations would buy “hundreds of billions of dollars in US defense products;” analysis of US and European second quarter 2025 earnings; takeaways from House Armed Services Committee’s acquisition reform hearing; some thoughts on drones, counter drone and affordable strike as well as AI; upcoming analytical projects; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss new records on Wall Street as Washington strikes a tariff deal with Japan that raises baseline tariffs to 15 percent as a similar trade deal with the EU looms; the trade deal between Britain and India Booz Allen Hamilton, Dassault, Hexcel, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, MTU, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Textron, and Thales report second quarter 2025 earrings; Southwest CEO Bob Jordan’s statement that he expects the company’s 737 Max jets to be certified later than expected sometime next year as Boeing prepares to report earnings next week; the German government considers buying a stake in vehicle maker KNDS; Turkey’s decision to acquire up to 40 Eurofighter jets; the Trump administration’s 10-year, $151 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense program — now officially known as SHIELD or Scaleable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense — and the cause of the growing number of near misses between US commercial and military aircraft.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the furore over whether to release convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s records again upended Congress as the Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., abruptly adjourned the house as appropriations, another continuing resolution, rescissions, reconciliation, the NDAA and the prospect of a government shutdown looming; President Trump announces a tariff deal with Japan and as talks with China and the EU move ahead that likely will result in higher baseline trade taxes; as allies work to support Ukraine, tensions in the country rise over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s move against anti corruption authorities as Russia presses an offensive that continues to advance; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders department leaders to stop engaging with think tanks; and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as starvation spreads and the president’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff breaks off talks in Qatar saying Hamas isn’t interested in a deal and an Israeli cabinet minister says the campaign is an effort to empty Gaza of Gazans.
What’s the latest with the Golden Dome missile defense project? How has Ukraine’s experience influenced US air defense thinking? And what is mesh sensing? We get answers to those questions from Dr. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower, and the inside skinny from the Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report podcast, sponsored by Elbit America, John Cofrancesco, the cofounder of Applied AI Company and American AI Logistics, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how AI can help companies better compete for bulk government contracts; how the technology can help the government make better decisions more quickly while also reducing headcount; the latest on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification as the Pentagon implements the novel approach to increase cyber security; and whether recent Trump administration moves to eliminate layers of cybersecurity personnel will undermine broad efforts to improve national cybersecurity.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s popularity six months into his new administration; international sentiment toward the United States; how Trump drives the global conversation at home and aboard; whether shifts in international perceptions about the United States will shift permanently during the second Trump administration; prospects for Democrats in 2026 as the party struggles with its post-mortem of the 2024 election; and how Trump’s rhetoric has reshaped Canadian perceptions and the Carney government’s domestic agenda.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another bull-market high on Wall Street; President Trump’s demand the EU accept 15-20 percent minimum tariffs by Aug. 1 as Brussels prepares to retaliate with higher taxes on American aircraft, bourbon and cars; the US administration says it’s netted $64 billion in tariff revenue since the start of the year; Embraer’s warning that new taxes would increase regional aircraft unit costs for aircraft sold in America by $9 million; despite economic worries, Delta and United announce soaring profits and reinstate their bullish air travel guidance; GE Aerospace and Saab earnings as defense and aerospace firms prepare to follow suit; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and President Trump says he will sell weapons to NATO nations for shipment to Ukraine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Republicans’ move to rescind $9 billion in approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting; the House Armed Services Committee’s NDAA markup as the Senate Armed Services Committee filed their version of the bill; President Trump’s decision to sell arms to NATO members that would pass the weapons to Ukraine and 50-day deadline to make a peace deal otherwise Moscow would face stiff primary and secondary sanctions; the meeting between British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; France’s new national security strategy; the de-escalating US-China trade war as a possible summit looms; Japan’s Defense White Paper ahead of important Upper House election Sunday; China-Australia trade ties as war games and defense pressures mount; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s eroding coalition; Israel’s strikes on Syria to prompt the country’s interim leader to protect the country’s Druze minority; and the rising death toll in Gaza rises as a Hamas deal remains elusive.
With a fleet of 160 fighters, the French Air and Space Force maintains global presence while demands increase. How do they do it, and what’s next? We get the answers – along with fascinating details of French space policy and activities – with France’s fighter aviation chief, Brigadier General Pierre Gaudilliere. Plus top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report, sponsored by Elbit America, Michael Greenman, the senior manager for cloud solutions at enterprise software firm Deltek, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next as Pentagon prepares to implement the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification process to bolster US defense industrial base cyber security.
Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on the Ukraine war as President Trump agrees to sell weapons to NATO nations to better support Kyiv and warns Moscow that severe sanctions will be imposed by the United States in 50 days unless a peace deal is struck; the evolving nature of the drone war between Ukrainian and Russian forces that include using fishing nets to block small air vehicles; how Ukraine is using UAVs to intercept other UAVs; and analysis of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new “drone dominance” strategy.
On today’s Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s abrupt threat of against higher tariffs on the EU, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and others unless they accept his trade terms by Aug. 1 and its impact on the Defnese and aerospace ecosystem; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “drone dominance” guidance and whether it will accelerate the fielding of novel unmanned capabilities; what the unfounded priorities lists submitted by the US military services to Congress say about the administration’s budget; what to expect this week from appropriations hearings; second quarter outlays; what it will take to quadruple production of PAC-3 air and missile defense weapons; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another record Wall Street hit another high on Nvidia’s $4 trillion valuation; President Trump’s pledged to hit the EU and Mexico with 30 percent tariffs until they — and other countries like Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil — agree to his demands by Aug 1; efforts to establish a global free-trade system that excludes the United States; Britain and France strike a historic nuclear cooperation agreement to protect Europe without the United States; Europe’s MARTE program to develop a new tank; Dassault makes clear for the latest time that it and it alone will lead the French, German, Spanish and Belgian SCAF program to develop a new family of combat air systems; Denmark orders more F-35 Lighting II fighters from Lockheed Martin on the heels of Britain’s order for 10 more jets under it’s umbrella commitment to 138 of the stealthy planes; Peru’s decision to buy 24 Gripen E/F jets from Saab instead of Dassault Rafales or Lockheed’s F-16V; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “drone dominance” guidance that would accelerate US unmanned efforts by allowing field grade officers to buy unmanned systems; US military services ask Congress to fund programs that weren’t supported by the administration in its recent budget request; and interim findings by investigators probing the Air India crash that found pilots briefly cut off the fuel flow to both of the jet’s engines leading to the crash of the heavily loaded 787 jetliner, killing 260.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense implications of Republican passage of President Trump’s signature legislative agenda that cuts taxes and benefits but also increases the debt as lawmakers seek two more reconciliation packages over the coming years; the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump to unilaterally shrink the government workforce; the president ratchets up his tariff war threatening nations with punishment unless they agree to his terms, straining US relationships worldwide; frustrated with Vladimir Putin, Trump pledges more weapons to Kyiv as Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to an unprecedented nuclear pact to respond to “extreme threats” to Europe without US help, a combined joint force, weapons collaboration and immigration; Secretary of State Marco Rubio vows to trim his “bloated” department by 15 percent as he makes his first trip to Asia to attenuate the backlash from his boss’ tariffs, including assuaging Australian concerns over the Pentagon’s AUKUS review; despite punishing air strikes, the Houthis sink two cargo ships; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is seen in public as evidence mounts that Iran has retained its nuclear stocks; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu makes his third visit to Washington.
It’s a pretty sure bet that the future of airpower is increasingly uninhabited. Dr. Caitlin Lee of the RAND Corporation has six propositions to consider when trying to understand where we are with UAVs, and we’ll go through them in detail. And a lot going on in this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Ben Barry, a retired British Army brigadier who is the director of land warfare studies at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his recent report, “Defending Europe Without the United States: Costs and Consequences;” how quickly Russia will be able to reconstitute its forces and pose a threat to NATO; what Europe has to do to build the capabilities to defend itself without relying on the United States; the critical role of more than 128,000 American military personnel in Europe; where member nations will find the $1 trillion they will need; coordinating industrial capacity to deliver needed systems; whether Europe can support Ukraine in the event Washington pulls the plug on Kyiv; whether there are a opportunities for US companies and more cooperation in the short and longer term; outlook for the Ukraine war; and case for tanks and attack as well as transport helicopters even in a highly kinetic battlefield environment.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Bran Ferren, the cofounder and CEO of the Applied Minds consultancy, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the merits of bringing interdisciplinary to problem solving; the need for the United States to adopt disruptive thinking to countering adversaries like China rather than playing their numbers game; how to drive innovation; why America has tracked the China threat in particular but failed to better prepare for it; why the Pentagon needs a variety of acquisition approaches with differing speeds depending on what’s being acquired; and enduring lessons from mankind’s greatest achievement, the Apollo moon landings.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and its implications for defense; the ongoing defense budget process; takeaways from the budget documents that the administration has rolled out; the importance of looking at the recent Israel-Iran war as an event in a continuum of conflict between the two nations; recaps of the NATO Summit in The Hague and US Army Vice Chief Jim Mingus’ address to a AUSA-CSIS; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another record Wall Street week on strong employment despite tariff turmoil as Congress hands President Trump a legislative victory that will increase US debt by more than $3 trillion dollars that in turn has contributed to the weakest dollar since the financial crisis of 1973 with the greenback down 10 percent; the administration hinted at a series of tariff deals, including with Europe that would see baseline tariffs increase by 10 percent, but that news that is causing friction among European members with France’s industry and energy minister Marc Ferracci calling on union leaders to reject a deal that would force Europe to live with higher baseline tariffs; a fiscal drama in London as Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer’s administration is forced by its own party to backtrack on benefits cuts, cause another bond crisis; China went on a charm offensive in Brussels, Berlin and Paris where Wang Yi also candidly admitted that China can’t afford for Russia to lose in Ukraine; Washington halts aid to Kyiv by falsely claiming US weapons are running out as Germany negotiates with Washington for more weapons for Ukraine, including two Patriot batteries and interceptors as Russia steps up strikes; Germany’s outspoken chief of defense, Lt. Gen. Alfons Mais, is sacked for being too blunt as Berlin prepares to order 1,000 new tanks and 2,500 armored fighting vehicles; a banner week for Airbus that sold more than $12 billion in new jets to Malaysia’s Air Asia; Embraer nails a $4 billion order with SAS for 55 jets as Air France KLM takes a 60 percent stake in the carrier; and Bombardier scores a big order with an unnamed customer.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a record week on Wall Street as President Trump announced a trade deal with China that convinced investors of declining tariffs risks, even as the president ended tariff talks with Canada and continues to pressure Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to resign from his post for refusing to make steep interest rate cuts; outlook for defense spending as Congress continues to deliberate reconciliation, appropriations, the NDAA as well as rescissions package as lawmakers push back on the president’s big beautiful bill; a successful NATO summit as the alliance agrees to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defense and another 1.5 percent on national security infrastructure even as the Pentagon continues to weigh troops cuts from Europe; and Babcock reports full year 2025 results.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Republican opposition to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as GOP leaders prepare to adopt unprecedented budget gimmicks to pay for the increasingly unpopular legislation; reconciliation, appropriations, the NDAA and rescissions; what’s next for Iran’s nuclear program after 12 days of hostilities that including US bombers striking Tehran’s nuclear sites; Iran’s vow not to return to the negotiating table despite Washington’s call for more talks; NATO leaders’ strategy of lavishing praise on the US president to curry favor and stall the withdrawal of American forces from Europe; Xi Jinping decides to skip the annual BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro prompting questions why the Chinese leader would miss such an important gathering; what’s next in Gaza as Israel continues strikes and constricts aid; and the national implications of Democratic Socialist-candidate Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral primary.
Just when people were saying the future of air power was small, distributed systems like UAVs, the US struck Iran’s nuclear program infrastructure with an old-fashioned manned penetrating bombing raid. Which future is it? We ask two experts: retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the planner behind Operation Desert Storm, and Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn of the Center for a New American Security. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Technology Series, sponsored by Elbit America, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next in the wake of the war between Israel and Iran that included US air strikes; how Iran might retaliate, including in cyberspace, and whether the administration’s cybersecurity cuts will jeopardize America’s ability to defend critical infrastructure; the implications of US strikes that damaged, but not destroyed, Iran’s facilities; lessons from the conflict; analysis of the administrations plans to cut cyber and science; and a look at defense spending as the NATO leaders convene in The Hague of this year’s alliance summit.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, André Loesekrug-Pietri, the director of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative, joins Defense & Aerospace Reporter Editor Vago Muradian to discuss JEDI and how it aims to serve as Europe’s advanced research projects agency to improve both economic competitiveness as well as military capabilities. Our coverage of the Paris Air Show was sponsored by Alderman & Co.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and what’s next; potential unintended consequences of the attack as well as how it will play with President Trump’s supporters as well as military members; whether the strikes bolstered Washington’s credibility or undermined it; what to expect from the NATO Summit in The Hague that convenes tomorrow; a look at the administration’s 2026 defense spending request; update on budget expectations as Congress continues to deliberate reconciliation, the National Defense Authorization Act, and rescissions; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a down week on Wall Street with modest losses; the Federal Reserve suggested rate cuts; the United States joined Israel in attacking Iran, mobilizing good old-fashioned heavy air power with 125 aircraft involved including B-2 bombers dropping 14 30,000-pound bunker buster weapons — each Spirit can carry two of the Boeing weapons — against Tehran’s nuclear sites including the deeply buried Fordo facility; the administration’s 2026 defense budget request; Paris Air Show takeaways as Boeing and GE have a muted week in the wake of the Air India tragedy before the show with the American jet-maker opting against making announcements; Airbus disclosed orders with AviLease, Poland’s LOT, Saudi Arabia’s startup Riyadh Air, Vietnam’s VietJet and others ordering new planes; Embraer sells more commercial aircraft as well as KC-390 tanker-transports; France considers buying Global Eye jets; and some between Dassault and Airbus over the new phase of the French-German-Spanish-Belgian program to develop a new next generation family of combat aircraft.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Reconciliation and Senate rescissions as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee; two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot and two are killed; Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks as Jerusalem presses ahead its drive to destroy Tehran’s nuclear capabilities through air attacks and troops on the ground; after initially demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” President Trump has said he’s given Iranian leaders an “ultimate ultimatum” to give up its nuclear aspirations while still weighing whether US forces should join Israel in strike; America is the only nation with the capabilities to bomb Iran’s deeply buried sites, but doing so might cause nuclear contamination; at the G7 meeting in Canada, Trump again sided with Russia as leaders prepare to converge on The Hague for what will be an abbreviated NATO summit during which the US president is expected to announce the withdrawal of some American troops from Europe; the US Indo-Pacific Command raises its threat level as two Chinese aircraft carriers operate together in the South China Sea; as Britain’s HMS Prince of Wales also is operating in the region; and the president cleaned the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel after demanding the US government hold a “golden share” in the new entity.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics chief Greg Ulmer joins us with fresh insights on the futures of F-35 (Block 5!), NGAD (more!), F-55, airlift, and more. Plus airpower headlines, including fussin’ up at the FCAS Ranch. Powered by GE!
On today’s program from the Paris Air Show, sponsored by Alderman & Co., Steve Parker, the interim head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what winning the US Air Force’s contract to develop the manned-fighter element of the Next-Generation Air Dominance program — dubbed the F-47 — means for the company, the investment required to win, how the company worked to bound troubled programs and get them back on track, implications should the E-7 airborne warning and control aircraft be cancelled as proposed by the Trump administration, Golden Dome, the F-15EX, FA-XX and the prospect of more F/A-18 Super Hornet jets, and the export outlook in the wake of President Trump’s rhetoric and imposition of tariffs.
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dr. John Nagl, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who is now a professor of Warfighting Studies in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations at the Army War College, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to analyze the US Army's lessons learned from the Ukraine war and the service's new Army Transformation Initiative, an update on efforts to better prepare the force for war in the Indo-Pacific and Cold War lessons worth relearning, attributes that should shape the Army's next tank and ground vehicles, and more.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss Israel’s attack on Iran and whether the long-planned strikes will stop Tehran’s drive to acquire nuclear weapons; the trade deal between Washington and Beijing; the budget outlook as lawmakers build a national budget, and what happens if efforts to craft a reconciliation package fail; takeaways from hearings including on the F-35 Lightning II; additional thoughts on Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web attacks on Russia; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a flat week on Wall Street as Israel attacked Iran vowing to destroy Tehran’s nuclear program and Tehran responded with large-scale missile barrages on the Jewish state; analysis of a sophisticated attack that included stealth, conventional and unmanned aircraft including modifications to the F-35 Lighting II fighter than increased the jet’s range, eliminating the need for aerial refueling; US and Chinese negotiators agree to give American industry access to China’s critically important rare earths in exchange Washington capping tariffs at 55 percent; an Air India 787 jetliner crashed killing 241 of the passengers onboard — one passenger survived — as well as 33 on the ground, a tragedy that changed the dynamics at the Paris Air Show that convenes tomorrow at the legendary Le Bourget airfield outside the French capital; the Pentagon is reviewing the agreement among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to develop nuclear powered attack submarines; and what to expect at this year’s Paris Air Show.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss uncertainty in Congress as reconciliation, the Trump administration’s rescissions request, authorizations, appropriations and markups move ahead; President Trump deploys 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA amidst largely peaceful protests against the administration’s deportation policies; American and Chinese negotiators agree to allow the US access to critically important rare earths as tariffs on China will be capped at 55 percent; the Pentagon reviews the agreement among Australia, Britain and the United States to cooperate on nuclear attack submarines; Russia surges drone attacks on Ukraine as it masses forces for a major offensive to retake territory; talks to craft a ceasefire increasingly diminish as Russia concludes it can win the war; Washington withdraws US diplomats from Iraq as Israel is imminently expected to attack Iran as the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency declares Tehran in breach of nonproliferation obligations as Iranian officials vow to expand their nuclear program.
Whether your plane is hypersonic, stealthy, or rocket powered, he knows the science behind it. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue’s Applied Research Institute, gets technical with us. Plus many airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Wes Rumbaugh with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the think thank’s recent conference — America’s Golden Dome Explained — on what we know about President Trump’s effort to establish a national air and missile defense system over the United States, how much the network would cost, how effective it would be, the challenges ahead and role of allies in the effort.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jeb Nadaner, the senior vice president of government relations at Govini who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy during the first Trump administration, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administrations focus on defense industrial strategy; how to ensure success including by extending the tenure of program managers; the role of both heritage and new economy contractors in delivering new capabilities quickly and at scale; role of the government in software development; and getting the most out of the Defense Production Act.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the latest from the Hill as lawmakers grapple with reconciliation, the NDAA and appropriations, a rescission package from the Trump administration, as well as hearings and the Senate Armed Services Committee’s reconciliation markup; the implications of the acrimony between President Trump and Elon Musk, and the outlook for SpaceX; a deeper look at Golden Dome in the wake of a major CSIS conference; takeaways from Oshkosh’s investor day; important historical lessons from France before World War II; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an up week on Wall Street as the relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk ended acrimoniously after the world’s richest man blasted the president’s big beautiful bill of legislative priorities, vowing to use the fortune he used to help Trump get elected to punish lawmakers who voted for it as president in turn vowed to punish Musk through his government contracts and other means if he does so; the outlook for SpaceX and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in the wake of the breakup; the Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup of the reconciliation measure that includes big news for military programs; the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent; new regulations on unmanned systems and supersonic flight over the United States; Britain’s most consequential Strategic Defence Review in decades that pledges higher defense spending to boost nuclear capabilities, attack subs, combat aviation, ground and joint warfighting; French concerns that high debt will curb more military spending; and Chinese efforts to curry favor with Europe with preferential access to rare earth elements and ordering hundreds of new Airbus jetliners.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that’s in peril as senators worry that tax cuts will increase the debt as the Congressional Budget Office warns that the debt will increase by another $2.4 trillion; Elon Musk called the spending plan a “disgusting abomination,” prompting a flurry of insults between the president and the man who helped getting him reelected as the world’s richest man turned his sights on Republican leaders; reconciliation, the NDAA, appropriations as well as he administration’s rescission and more detailed budget plans; the White House’s decision tap US Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich as NATO’s next Supreme Allied Commander Europe, signaling America will keep the top military job in NATO; Britain’s Strategic Defence Review that proposes more spending for nuclear weapons, doubling the attack sub fleet, buying more F-35 fighters, improving ground forces and jointness; Ukraine’s daring attacks on Russia’s strategic bombers and Kerch bridge; the consequential Shangri-La dialogue including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning about the threat posed by China; elections change the political dynamics in Seoul and Warsaw; Gaza descends further into chaos as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says that Israel needs to wean itself off US weaponry.
There’s fast, and then there’s hyperfast. Hermeus is developing a hypersonic transport for the U.S. Air Force, and they took a big step recently with the first flight of their proof-of-concept plane. Founder and CEO A.J. Piplica joins us with the inside story. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this special edition of the Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Tim Walton of the Hudson Institute, Air Power Podcast co-host JJ Gertler and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attack on strategic bomber bases across Russia; the lessons from from the attack that are applicable to US forces; how to secure American bases at home and abroad; and learning from China’s use of large unmanned aircraft to carry large numbers of smaller unmanned craft to swarm targets.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how Ukraine executed “Operation Spider Web” drone attack on strategic bomber bases across Russia; implications of the attack and whether it changes the increasingly grim outlook of the war as Russia masses forces to take Sumy; the growing scale of Russia’s missile and drone attacks on Ukraine; whether the US has enough air and missile defense weapons remaining to give Kyiv to blunt the assaults; what to expect from Washington as President Trump criticizes Vladimir Putin but declines to penalize him; the Senate’s new Russia sanctions package; Ukrainian and Russian representatives meet in Istanbul; how after three years of war Ukraine can put enough pressure on Russia to help end the war; and what Karol Nawrocki’s election in Poland means for Warsaw’s support for war.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the US defense budget outlook that could include a big jump in spending that flattens; the complex dynamics between the administration and Congress; the impact of tariffs and how nations like China will retaliate; takeaways from IISS’ Shanghai-La Dialogue; Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attack on Russia’s bomber bases; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a rocky week on Wall Street that ended with the best month since 2023; President Trump doubles tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent and curbs aerospace, chip, and chemical export as well as educational visas to China; whether this is a negotiating tactic born of frustration with slow talks between Beijing and Washington or the latest effort to decouple the world’s two leading economies; investors’ “TACO” mindset and the reality that despite a chaotic approach the administration has increased tariffs; the Senate pushes back on the House’s reconciliation package; newsflow from the IISS’s annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that China could attack Taiwan at any time and call that allies spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, and French President Emmanuel Macron and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas’ view that a partnered China and Russia constitute a major threat to the global rules-based order that must be countered, and Indian defense chief Gen Anil Chauhan’s acknowledgment that India lost fighters in its recent conflict with Pakistan but learned lessons from the experience; Saab’s capital markets day; the latest on the administration’s Section 232 trade investigation; and King Charles’ historic address opening Canada’s new parliament.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s take on the House’s massive reconciliation package; President Trump’s block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president’s frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world’s two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he’ll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu’s renewed threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration’s move to curb reporters’ access to the Pentagon.
We’re used to thinking of UAVs as throwaway systems, but when they cost 20 or 30 million dollars apiece, that changes the approach. Travis Sharp of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has a new study out on the long-term costs and issues of operating collaborative combat aircraft, and we dig in. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dave Mroczka, the president and chief executive of the innovative firm AI Strategy Corporation, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s 9-Hi technology that uses artificial intelligence to help the military services dramatically reduce the time it takes to develop both requirements and make acquisition decisions, accelerating the delivery of capabilities that in turn helps avoid the costs associated and perils of prolonged delays in decision making, especially for companies trying to navigate the “Valley of Death.”
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the House’s reconciliation package and defense budget outlook, President Trump’s priority Golden Dome system and companies that stand to benefit, takeaways from hearings including the F-47 program and whether the Air Force would benefit from Block 80 F-16s now destined for export, data rights and whether the ability of the military services to repair the equipment they own, Europe’s ability to defend itself without help from the United States, and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street reaction including a drop in bond markets the House passed the massive reconciliation package to deliver President Trump’s tax cuts; the president’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on EU goods and 25 percent tax on Apple products unless the company shifts production to America; the Golden Dome missile defense system that will cost $170 billion over the coming three years and be led by the vice chief of space operations, Gen Mike Guetlein; the president is said to be serious about his plan for a twin-engine F-35 Lightning II dubbed the F-55; what’s next now that the US Air Force has accepted a Qatari 747-8 jet for use as a presidential transport; the UK-EU deal on trade and security; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s demand that American companies be allowed to compete for European contracts as nations scramble to spend more to bolster capabilities after Washington moves to reduce focus on Europe; and after a two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin, Trump decided to leave Moscow and Kyiv to strike a peace deal.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the reconciliation package narrowly passed by the House that has bond markets worried that US debt is poised to grow; President Trump taps the vice chief of space operations, Gen Mike Guetlein, to spearhead the Golden Dome air and missile defense system that will cost some $170 billion to establish over the coming three years; the US Air Force takes possession of a Qatari Boeing 747-8 jet that will be converted by L3Harris into a presidential transport; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan; after a two-hour conversation, Vladimir Putin convinced Trump to walk away from Ukraine talks; Iran doubts a deal with the United States labeling Washington’s denuclearization demands as outrageous; the UK and EU agree strike a trade and security deal; the changing face of nuclear deterrence in the Indo-Pacific; the launch of North Korea’s second big destroyer goes badly; two Israeli diplomats are gunned down outside a Jewish museum in Washington; Israeli forces end an 11-week total blockade of aid to Gaza as Bibi Netanyahu launched a massive new offensive to take the entire Palestinian exclave; and Israeli troops fire warning shots at European diplomats in the West Bank.
Naval aviation has been busy, with real-world operational experience in the Red Sea, the Med, and elsewhere while they welcome and adapt to a new generation of aircraft carrier. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzalotta, the commander of Carrier Strike Group TWELVE and Captain Dave Dartez, Commander of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT, from aboard CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford, with the latest on airpower from the sea. Powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dr. Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon industrial affairs chief who is now with the American Enterprise Institute and the Silicon Valley Defense Group, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the problems with the US export control system and how the International Traffic in Arms Regulation should be updated; industrial impact if allies and partners shy away from purchasing US products that have long been market-leading thanks to quality, competitive pricing and security guarantees from Washington; the role lawmakers can play in reforming a system that became steadily more risk averse over the decades because of increasingly stringent congressional oversight; the outlook for AUKUS; and the logic of the Commerce Department 232 investigation on the national security implications of commercial aircraft, parts and jet engine sales.
On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Dan Driscoll, the 26th secretary of the United States Army and Gen Randy George, the service’s 41st chief of staff, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the Army is redirecting 8 percent of its budget each year for the coming five years to new priorities, how many more cuts in existing programs will be needed to achieve Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goals, the need for greater efficiency and to stop buying systems that are no longer needed, learning the right lessons from the Ukraine war, understanding the nature of possible conflict in the Indo-Pacific, how to speed acquisition of key systems like the MV-75 tiltrotor as well as land and weapon systems, role of heritage and new defense economy firms in more quickly addressing Army needs, why shrinking the force is a bad idea, the impact of staffing the Golden Dome air and missile defense network, and more.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss Moody’s decision to downgrade US debt as lawmakers work to further cut taxes that could trigger further downgrades; the budget scenarios to watch as some even in the Trump administration talk about budget numbers that are “all over the place;” analysis of the arms deals the president announced during his visit to the Gulf; how America’s approach to arms exports should change; the impact of scaling mass on the US defense industrial base; takeaways from the weekend’s elections in Poland and Romania as well as talks to end the Ukraine war; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a strong week on Wall Street ends in record territory; as lawmakers squabble, Moody’s becomes the third American ratings agency to downgrade US debt; the outlook for tariffs as President Trump declares victory over China; after his swing through the Gulf, the president touts $3.6 trillion in deals, including investment in the United States, new commercial aircraft orders and military sales; after again criticizing the F-35 Lightning II fighter, Trump said a new twin-engine version of the plane, the F-55, would be developed and the F-22 Raptor would be upgraded to a “super” version; US air traffic control is under the gun as outages at Newark International Airport and elsewhere delay flights and undermine public confidence as the administration prepares to make layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration; and takeaways from BAE Systems’ capital markets day and Bank of America’s industrials, transportation and airlines conference.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Republicans on Capitol Hill publicly squabble about how deeply to cut Medicaid to cover tax cuts; US and Chinese negotiators strike a 90-day pause on the steepest tariffs; the ceasefire between India and Pakistan; days after floating the idea of accepting a $400 million 747 jet from Qatar as a future Air Force One, President Trump visited the Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE where he struck deals and met with Syria’s new leader, lifted sanctions, and delivered a message to Iran; Russian premier Vladimir Putin skips planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul meeting that would have been the first direct talks between the leaders in years; Taiwan reports five instances of undersea cable damage this year, compared with three in past years; and Israel Defense Force leaders worry Gaza may be sliding rapidly toward an even bigger humanitarian disaster as air strikes resume.
The U.S. Government has initiated an investigation to determine whether imported commercial aircraft and engines harm US national security. How do they threaten airpower? Aerospace guru Richard Aboulafia and noted trade attorney Jeff Bialos join us to explain it all -- plus E-7, that Qatari 747, and more. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report, David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s approach to bolstering the US printed circuit board industry; impact of tariffs and thoughtful policies on bolstering the entire PCB ecosystem; role of Congress; impact of science and technology funding cuts; and striking the right regulatory balance that protects the environment while allowing necessary facilities to be built more quickly.
Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s “skinny budget” request; whether internal cost cutting moves will free enough resources to underwrite major programs; potential risks with the Army’s recent tradeoffs; the legacy of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency; what the Golden Dome air and missile defense system will mean for the Space Force; and impact of general officer cuts.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss when the Trump administration will disclose the details of it’s “skinny budget” request as congressional oversight committees start hearings; whether the so-called Department of Government Efficiency will have have a positive lasting impact in driving necessary and overdue reforms; nuances and takeaways from the latest conflict between India and Pakistan; changes in warfare as reflected at the SOF Week 2025 conference and tradeshow; what the nomination of industry veteran Jeffrey Bornstein as DoD comptroller; Vice President Vance’s different tone at the Washington edition of the Munich Security Conference; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an unusually quiet down week on Wall Street; India and Pakistan’s military strikes and ceasefire; expectations as US and Chinese trade negotiators convene in Geneva after Washington strikes a preliminary deal with London to ease tariffs, a template, officials say, for future deals to put pressure on Beijing; IAG buys 53 new big jets from Boeing and Airbus for $10 billion; the Commerce Department’s investigation into the national security implications of buying foreign-made aerospace components and jet engines; the German, French, Polish and British leaders’ visit to Kyiv where they announced a 30-day ceasefire with Russia starting on Monday; the Army’s decision to retire AH-64D Apache helicopters in the scout role as well as Grey Eagle and Shadow drones, and the GE’s new T901 engine; Hensoldt, Leonard, MTU, Rheinmetall report earnings; takeaways from the Milken Institute Global Conference; and Stratolaunch’s successful tests of its Talon-A2 reusable hypersonic test vehicle.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate and House response to President Trump’s proposed $1 trillion defense budget; whether lawmakers are ready to push back against the president; the outline of a trade deal with the UK as US and Chinese negotiators prepare to meet in Geneva; DoD seeks to cut four-star ranks by 20 percent; India and Pakistan trade strikes two weeks after 26 Indian tourists are killed by Pakistani terrorists in Indian-controlled Kashmir; Frederick Mertz becomes Germany’s chancellor and makes his first trip to Paris to talk about improving European security; Russia prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a Victory Day parade that includes Xi Jinping as Ukraine makes clear it can’t guarantee that attacks won’t happen; CIA’s former director of operations says the Biden administration gave Kyiv enough aid not to lose but not enough to win; Trump halts attacks on Houthis pending talks; Israel and Syria engage in talks as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says all of Gaza will be captured as reservists are recalled for a massive new offensive.
The US is building new generations of aircraft, but how much good are they if their bases can’t survive attack? Tim Walton of the Hudson Institute and CNAS’s Tom Shugart have a new report on just this topic, and they join us to get into the details of base vulnerability and defense. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report, Joe Kochan, the chief executive officer of the National Spectrum Consortium, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the importance of better management and sharing of limited spectrum for national security needs, how President Trump’s top priority “Golden Dome” air and missile defense network will impact the spectrum, investment in new technologies to get more from limited bandwidth, the best model for government-industry cooperation, and Congress’ role in shaping the future of an ecosystem vital to economic prosperity and national defense.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss reconciliation, the Trump administration’s “skinny” $1 trillion defense budget request, prospects the measure will pass Congress given the White House’s proposed $164 billion in proposed discretionary spending cuts, the importance of soft power investments including the Voice of America, Rafio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia in countering Russian and Chinese disinformation worldwide, aid programs to advance US interests, and an update on the Ukraine war.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the Trump administration’s proposed $1 trillion “skinny” budget request; gauging tariff impacts as President Trump constantly shifts his stance; transformation at the Pentagon as Army shifts resources; outlook for Ukraine war; takeaways from Modern Day Marine; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another up week on Wall Street allowed investors recoup losses since President Trump’s unprecedented tariffs, but strategists warn conditions for sustained growth don’t exist; the administration proposed “skinny budget” to boost defense spending by 13 percent to $1 trillion; China’s openness to tariff talks as Britain’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves calls on Washington to make a deal; frustrated Boeing’s delays on new Air Force Ones, Trump asks L3Harris to convert a former Qatari royal family 747-8 as an interim measure; Washington approves a $350 million deal with Ukraine for F-16 maintenance and training as the CIA’s former director of operations Ralph Goff says that the Biden administration gave Ukraine enough weapons not to lose but not enough to win against Russia; Airbus, AeroCap, Albany International, Bombardier, Crane, Garmin, HEICO, HII, Howmet, Leonardo DRS, and Rolls-Royce report earnings; Boeing’s decision to sell its Jeppeson unit to Thoma Bravo and what it means for the commercial airplane giant’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems; and a $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia as the president prepares to visit Riyadh, Qatar and the UAE.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s proposed $1 trillion defense budget — a 13 percent increase over current spending — that according to a Bloomberg report prioritizes the Golden Dome missile defense project, shipbuilding and nuclear modernization, border security and a 3.8 percent military pay raise; House deliberations on $150 billion defense reconciliation package; Trump’s declining popularity and it’s impact on GOP lawmakers; continued disarray among Democrats; Trump’s decision to fire National Security Adviser Tim Waltz and replace him with Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who will perform both jobs as Waltz will become America’s next UN ambassador; China’s decision to accept US offers to negotiate on tariffs, but ask White House to ease 145 percent customs duties on Chinese goods as a good will gesture; Washington and Kyiv finish a rare earth elements deal with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledging that Ukraine will remain sovereign and prosperous and that Russian entities that participated in the war wouldn’t be rewarded; opposition to Trump propelled Mark Carney to victory in Canada and may help Antony Albanese stay in office in Australia; Britain’s Reform Party takes historically Labor seat in by elections; Israel’s two strikes on Syria; and the deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas oil complex.
The US Air Force is building an uninhabited future with its collaborative combat aircraft. There’s been a lot of focus on their capabilities and procurement, but not so much on how to keep them effective in the fight. Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute, joins us to fill in that critical blank. Plus other headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Former acting Navy Secretary Tom Harker and retired Rear Adm. Christian “Boris” Becker who led the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, now senior advisers with Pantheon Data, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the commentary they co-wrote with Pantheon Data CEO Kris Kenefic, — “The Need for Decision-Making Speed: Leveraging Enterprise Data for National Security” — on how to speed acquisition of data and AI capabilities that can help commanders with everything from faster and better decision-making to accountability; impediments to change; how to accelerate the acquisition process; and keys to ensuring cybersecurity.
On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss that latest on the Ukraine war including Moscow’s drive push Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk region; the evolving use of unmanned systems as both sides try to out innovate the other; why Vladimir Putin proposed a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire after President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Russia’s unchanged aims for the war, despite talks with Washington and Kyiv; prospect that fighting will cease anytime soon; whether Ukraine — working with Europe — can stand on its own if Washington “walks away” from talks as well as material and intelligence support; Ukraine’s role in Europe drive to rapidly rearm; why Russia’s recent air attacks on Ukrainian cities have been increasingly successful; and how long before Russia resets its forces as Moscow retains the same designed on its neighbors’ territory.
On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the $150 billion House Armed Services Committee’s reconciliation package that will be deliberated this week that prioritizes ships, missile defense and autonomous systems; implications of tariffs across the defense industrial base; takeaways from earnings reports last week; outlook for combat aircraft programs like the B-21 Spirit bomber as well as F-35 Lightning II and the Navy’s FA-XX future fighters; takeaways from the joint event by the Washington International Trade Association and the Asia Society; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s up week as President Trump backtracked on firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and that Washington was talking to Beijing on a tariff deal — China said no talks were underway — Deutsche Bank predicts a decade-long decline in the dollar as gold soars; a massive earnings week as Babcock, Boeing, GE Aerospace, General Dynamics, Hexcel, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Safran, Teledyne, Textron, and Thales report results; and how Europe’s ESG focus is impeding efforts to re-industrialize.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s endorsement of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the wake of additional revelations of using messaging apps for official business; the president’s shifting stance on tariffs and ousting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell after markets reacted furiously to his suggestion that the central banker’s tenure should be ended; how the shifts are being interpreted in Beijing, Brussels and elsewhere; China lifts sanctions on European lawmakers to warm ties with Europe; after heavy attacks on Ukrainian cities, Trump called on Vladimir Putin to stop attacks while his administration continues to pressure Kyiv to recognize Crimea and other occupied territories as Russian otherwise America would walk away from peace negotiations; Vice President Vance visits India as the administration orders US diplomats to avoid events commemorating the end of the Vietnam War; and claims by Ronen Bar, the former chief of the Shin Bet, Israel’s interior security force fired by Bibi Netanyahu that the prime minister wants to turn the country into a police state.
The US Air Force continues to reshape itself to meet today’s challenges – and tomorrow’s. Major General Mark Mitchum is riding point on developing and delivering capabilities to the force as commander of the Integrated Capabilities Command. He brings us up to date on what’s been achieved and what’s next. And, of course, headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and Bill Alderman of Alderman & Company, a boutique firm specializing in aerospace and defense mergers and acquisitions, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s executive orders on reforming defense acquisition, defense acquisition and a maritime strategy; how such orders shape the actions of smaller firms in the aerospace and defense industrial base; the outlook for military spending and whether higher material costs in the wake of the president’s tariff decisions could undermine the Pentagon’s buying power; how big contractors squeeze their smaller suppliers in the name of “partnering for success,” and how the big-small dynamic is changing; the inability of US leaders to think strategically, for example, on building rare earth mineral capacity; and more.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the answers to the three questions that will shape what US defense looks like in 2028; the outlook for ending the Ukraine war; the world economic outlook as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hold their spring meetings in Washington; whether it matters that the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia expires in less than a year; what to expect from first quarter earnings reports this week; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another down week for markets as President Trump predicts tariffs deals with the EU, China and others after a brief tussle with Fed Chair Jerome Powell that jolted markets; Beijing stopped accepting Boeing jetliners as analysts debate what’s next for the global aerospace and defense economy; Korea says it wont fight the president’s tariffs rather will change its own as a sign of its gratitude for all America has done for the country since the Korean War; whether Europe alone can support Ukraine if Washington walks away from Kyiv; Germany blocks Britain’s possible sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey to protest Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to jail his leading opponent, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu; and the abrupt departure of Lockheed Martin’s chief financial officer sparks speculation whether other changes may be coming at the top of the world’s leading defense contractor; and a look ahead to first quarter 2025 earnings.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s prediction — over lunch with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni — of trade deals with the EU, China and other nations to avoid the tariffs he paused last week; the suspension of three of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staffers for reportedly leaking classified information; Russia’s attack on a Ukrainian church in Sumy on Palm Sunday that killed at least 36 and wounded more than 115; French President Emmanuel Macron’s meeting in Paris with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff to align American and Europe on an common approach to Ukraine; Xi Jinping’s regional charm offensive in the Indo-Pacific to take advantage of frustration with Washington that included 45 agreements with Vietnam alone; the New York Times report that Trump stopped Bibi Netanyahu from attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities in favor of negotiations with Tehran to end the country’s nuclear program; Israel’s Gaza strategy as demonstrations against Hamas mount; the future impact of the decision to keep two aircraft carriers supporting operations in the Middle East; and remembering the legacy of Richard Armitage.
A changing global military aerospace market requires a wise observer to explain. We went to the summit, Douglas Barrie, Senior Fellow for Military Aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, to bring some order to the chaos. He gets into Ukraine lessons, Russian and Chinese airpower, NGAD’s future, and more. All powered by GE Aerospace!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference April 23-24 in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts & Technology at the Hudson Institute, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the report he co-authored with his colleagues Dan Patt and Nadia Schadlow — “Ending Self-Imposed Scarcity: Exploiting America’s Commercial Strengths to Mobilize Weapons Production.” To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a commissioner on the bi-partisan, bi-cameral National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the commission’s final report released last week, “Charting the Future of Biotechnology.”
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Chris Servello, co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow last week; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the continuing defense and aerospace implications of President Trump’s pause on sweeping tariffs for 90 days as he ratcheted up taxes on Chinese goods; Beijing’s retaliation that includes restricting rare earth elements and permanent magnets; executive orders on US export control reform, a maritime strategy and acquisition and program reforms; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a roller coaster week for world markets as a selloff in US bonds prompted President Trump to pause for 90 days the tariffs he imposed last week; the 10 percent across the board tariffs as well as a 25 percent surcharge on steel and aluminum the president retained; China tariffs of about 150 percent and Beijing retaliation; the bond sell off as yields rose from 3.9 to 4.5 percent and what that means as Congress prepares to borrow more money as lawmakers seek to raise America’s borrowing to cover a massive tax cut package; Delta rescinded its guidance in the fact of uncertainty; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to cancel $5 billion in services contracts; the outlook for US services firms as the government workforce is culled; the administration’s move to halve NASA’s science budget; how US efforts to normalize relations and trade with Russia will impact aerospace markets; the British government’s decision to keep open a steel plant in Scunthorpe; Indonesia’s interest in partnering with Turkey on the Kaan fighter and a new submarine program; and Boeing NGAD investment in St Louis.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the crash in worldwide markets and the US bond market in the wake of President Trump’s tariffs; how an unprecedented US bond selloff and spike in US borrowing rates drove the president to freeze tariffs for 90 days, but raise tariffs on China and demand Beijing call him to make a deal; instead, China retaliated by imposing tariffs on American goods and blocking rare earth mineral exports, stressing they will win a trade war and any other kind of war with America; Republicans lawmakers are driving a $5 trillion tax cut package just as US borrowing rates are going up; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cancelled $5 billion in contracts and fired the commander of the Pittufik Space Base for allegedly criticizing Vice President Vance as the administration steps up secret planning to acquire Greenland; recommendations for Lt Gen Dan Caine as the Senate confirms the US Air Force officer as the nation’s next chairman of the joint chiefs; Ukraine surges war production and says it captured Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia; and Bibi Netanyahu visits Washington where he is pressured by Trump to not attack Iran and end the Gaza war and Israeli forces cut aid and work for drive Gazans out of the enclave.
Where do airpower, charity, and bourbon intersect? Retired E-2 Hawkeye legend Rear Admiral Scott Sanders has the answer. And CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako joins us with the latest on air and missile defense, especially Golden Dome. All powered by GE!
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Becca Wasser and Phil Sheers of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report they coauthored “From Production Lines to Front Lines: Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base for Future Great Power Conflict.”
Scott Forney, the president of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the electromagnetic catapults and advanced arresting gear developed and made for the first of the Ford class are being improved for subsequent ships; gauging the progress of Chinese efforts to field electromagnetic systems on their carriers; lessons from electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear that are improving other capabilities and products; the Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile; the partnership with RAFAEL to develop the Bullseye precision cruise missile that leverages of the Israeli company’s Icebreaker weapon; work the company is doing on fission power; role in the Trump administration’s “Giolden Dome” air and missile defense system; impact of Trump’s tariffs on performance and more.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss global market reaction to President Trump’s sweeping tariffs that are being compared by economists as the largest abrupt tax hikes since the Vietnam war if not World War 2; how aerospace and defense stocks fared as the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 10 percent of its value in two days driving markets to their worst day since 2020; despite a warning by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that nations not retaliate otherwise they would face higher tariffs, nations retaliated anyway including China that blocked rare earth exports to the United States; Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell dryly noted that tariffs risk higher inflation and lower economic growth; despite the loss of nearly $6 trillion in market value and damage to America’s reputation as a financial safe harbor, administration officials continued to make the case that the American economy was in tough shape and in dire need of shock therapy even though US stock values hit highs in February; JPMorgan estimated a 60 percent chance of recession this year with some economists worrying about a depression; as aerospace and defense suppliers scramble to cope with Washington’s new tax, Howmet was the first major aerospace firm to declare the tariffs a force majeure event and warn customers it might not be able to deliver as a consequence; and whether defense contracts would be spared from tariffs and how programs cots could be impacted.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Nick Waite, a director at Clarion Defence producing the Apex Innovation Conference April 23-24, 2025, at the Gaylord National Harbor outside Washington, DC, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the upcoming event from agenda and speakers to a discount for listeners of our show; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the strategic and defense implications of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs including that China was not deterred from imposing sanctions of its own on the United States; whether foreign defense and aerospace firms will grow their US industrial footprint; the changing nature of manufacturing and why returning the industrial workforce to past levels is implausible; the outlook for US defense spending as the Senate proposes $100 billion in additional funding over the coming years; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to skip the Ukraine Contact Group to attend Central American Security Conference; likelihood of US-Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the wake of recent news reports of impending attack and staging of B-2 Spirit bombers in Diego Garcia; what to expect from the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow April 7-9; and a look at the week ahead.***APEX Discount CODE for Defense & Aerospace listeners-- 25% off conference passes. Use code: DEF&AERO
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s tariffs on nations worldwide — driving markets to their worst day since 2020 — as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns nations not to retaliate otherwise they will face higher tariffs; president’s decision to fire three National Security Council staffers and NSA Director Gen. Tim Haugh and his deputy at conservative activist Laura Loomer’s request; Republican lawmakers near reconciliation measure to cut cuts and government spending as well as give the Pentagon more money; House Speaker Mike Johnson weakens his own grip on power over whether lawmakers with young children can vote remotely backfires; Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, speaks for 25 straight hours to inspire Democrats; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats revolt with ranking member Sen. Jean Shaheen, D-NH, overheard telling her Chairman Jim Risch, R-ID, she’s tired of Trump running the committee; days after his vice president lambasted Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland, Trump said he wouldn’t rule out force to take the island; as it pressures Ukraine, Washington hosted Russia’s sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev; Beijing tests a new amphibious capability as it stepped up wargames around Taiwan; and Israel takes more territory in Gaza as a new chief of defense staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir adopts a new strategy to take a hold territory but also play a direct role in humanitarian aid as Gazans protest Hamas and its brutality and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu continues efforts to subordinate the judiciary and security services.
It’s been a huge couple of weeks in airpower, with more coming soon. Boeing’s win in the Next Generation Air Dominance program is the biggest story, but there are so many more that we’re catching you up this week with a full All Wings Considered episode; Vago and J.J. break down all the stories and try to make some sense out of them. All powered by GE!
Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new budgeting tool developed by AEI and the Center for Strategic and International Studies to illustrate tradeoffs needed to achieve Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s demand that the military services redirect 8 percent of their annual spending to new priorities over the coming five years; partners on the initiative; whether defense spending will increase or whether the military services will have to make difficult tradeoffs; Hegseth’s demand that combatant commands and military services headquarters be streamlined; some ideas for Space Force headquarters consolidation that could be applied elsewhere; how to make thoughtful decisions in a zero sum budget environment; whether future efforts at reform will be harder to achieve if this administration’s drive for change fail; more thoughtful potential approaches to driving major change; and costs that might be imposed on the system by wholesale personnel cuts, retirements and other changes.
Jason Pak and Carl Poppe, the senior director and director of business development for land systems at Hanwha Defense USA who are both West Point graduates and retired US Army artillerymen, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the recent conclusion of the US Army’s trails as the service seeks a new, more mobile self-propelled howitzer; nature of the test conducted by the five entrants; how the Ukraine war has changed now land forces will use artillery; role of unmanned air systems to better direct and coordinate fires as well as technologies that will increasingly automate future howitzers and resupply systems; attributes of the the K9 Thunder howitzer and its K10 resupply vehicle; ways to increase artillery round production; integrating new munitions like long-range projectiles and better ballistics computers into future systems; the merits of wheeled and tracked self-propelled howitzers and Hanwha’s drive to develop a wheeled offering; and whether tariffs, retirements and personnel cuts have impacted program execution to date.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to budget and fiscal prospects as the Congressional Budget Office warns America will run out of money by September if not far sooner — depending on tax receipts; how the Trump administration’s intelligence assessment that puts transnational criminal organizations and terrorist at the top of the threat list could shape defense spending; impact of tariffs and calls for tariff relief from farmers that are leading exporters as well as other businesses hurt by crackdown on immigration; whether higher US tariffs will spark the American economic and jobs renaissance that the administration hopes; how allies and partners perceive this Trump administration from the last one; takeaways from last week’s shipbuilding hearing and whether Boeing or Northrop Grumman will win the US Navy’s FA-XX next generation fighter; Signalgate aftermath; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s down week on investor concerns about inflation and declining consumer confidence putting the Standard and Poor’s 500 on track for its worst quarter since 2022; budget officials warn the US government will run out of money in August unless Congress raises the debt limit; a week after President Trump taps Boeing as the winner of the manned combat aircraft portion of the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program, House appropriators propose cutting funding for the new program, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and the B-21 Raider bomber; the Washington Post reports the Trump administration is preparing to cut the federal agencies by between 8 and 50 percent as the General Services Administration targets top consulting and IT contractors; Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported cars; European governments continue to step up efforts to bolster defense capabilities even as Italy emerges as a possible spoiler; an inflection point for BAE Systems; RocketLab’s Neutron launch vehicle wins a Space Force contract valued at up to $5.6 billion; air travel continues to decline; and the US Navy’s prepares to announce whether Boeing or Northrop Grumman will win its FA-XX next generation fighter contest.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss an update on an appropriations measure and reconciliation package as US officials say America will run out of money in August; Maine Republican Sen Susan Collins sides with Democrats in arguing President Trump can’t pick and choose what to fund after Congress decides on appropriations; worried they might lose National Security Adviser Mike Waltz’s open congressional seat, GOP leaders have urged the White House to also rescind the nomination of New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik as America’s next United Nations ambassador; Trump imposes a 25 percent tax on all cars imported into the United States and threatens higher retaliation if Canada and the EU work together as Canadian officials warn the historically strong relationship with its southern neighbor will never again be the same; the White House continues to ratchet up pressure on Greenland sending Vice President Vance on an uninvited visit to the world’s largest island to make the case for annexation; Russia demands sanctions be dropped before it considers ending the Ukraine war; the EU taps France to help negotiate the end of the Ukraine war on Europe’s behalf as nations work to bolster spending; after America surrenders the airwaves and allies worry about Washington’s commitment to the Indo Pacific, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits the region and America deploys the new Typhon missile system to the Philippines; Beijing steps up its regional intimidation and the EU tries to expand its role in Asia; concerns about the future of Israel’s democracy as judicial changes raise questions about the future impartiality of the country’s high court; Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu ends its ceasefire with Hamas with a wave of strikes on Gaza and fires Mossad Director David Barnea; and worries that Washington is planning to strike Iran.
The Secret History: The big news of the week, the month, and perhaps the decade so far is Boeing’s F-47. We get its backstory today with two men who made the program happen – former Air Force secretary Frank Kendall and former Air Force acquisition executive Andrew Hunter. How does NGAD differ from F-22? What were the higher budget priorities that led to the NGAD pause? Was Boeing’s win winner-take-all? (No!) And lots more. Plus other airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference this April in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Chris Servello, the cohost of the Cavas Ships podcast and Defense & Aerospace Report’s editorial strategist, joins editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Apex conference’s program; and Doug Jankovich, the executive vice president at QinetiQ who leads the company’s AUKUS efforts, discusses the role the British-American firm plans in the Australia-UK-UK partnership; updates progress on the two major focus areas of the initiative, Pillar I to furnish Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and Pillar 2 that spans technological cooperation across cyber, AI, hypersonics, quantum computing; the key to moving fast to deliver capability including more easily moving key personnel among partner nations; the role of off-the-shelf and bespoke technologies; and the case for AUKUS as the Trump administration considers the future of the partnership.
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dr Harlan Ullman, a retired US Navy captain, strategist and chairman of the Killowen Group consultancy, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the commentary he cowrote with General the Lord David Richards, Britain’s former chief of defense staff — “Porcupine for Putin: How Europe Can Defend Itself Against Russia” that appeared in The Telegraph — why a porcupine strategy; the four chokepoints that need to be defended to thwart a Russian invasion; Europe’s window of action before Russia rearms; the capabilities needed to deter Moscow; drawing lessons from Ukraine; prioritizing unmanned capabilities that can be developed quickly and fielded in volume; the long-range strike weaponry; the importance of abundant war stocks; and the the role of British and French heavy units as a reserve force.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications that US tax revenue might drop by 10 percent or $500 billion this year in the wake of job cuts at the Internal Revenue Service; the difference between the absence of war and peace as US officials continue to negotiate an end of the Ukraine war; while US officials take Vladimir Putin at his word that he doesn’t want to take “all” of Europe, European nations move rapidly to bolster their sovereign capabilities; investment across Asia as nations worry they will be next to be abandoned by the United States was Washington pursues a “grand Bargain” with China; Hanwha sells stock and buys a nearly 10 percent stake in Austal; the US Air Force’s decision to award the manned combat aircraft element of the Next Generation Air Dominance program to Boeing over Lockheed Martin; what the decision means for Lockheed Martin’s outlook after decades as the world’s premiere maker of combat aircraft; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street fifth down week in a row as Congress avoided a government shutdown, but embraced a full-year continuing resolution; lawmakers work to cut taxes by more than $4 trillion as personnel cuts at the IRS raise concerns that US tax collections will decline by 10 percent; Trump administration budget cuts prompted consulting giant Accenture to issue a profit warning; European nations pledge massive defense spending increases with Germany promising to increase spending by $1 trillion to bolster capabilities; credit agencies worry whether European nations can sustain higher military spending through more debt; from the Oval Office, President Trump announced that the US Air Force picked Boeing over Lockheed Martin to develop and build the manned element of the service’s Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft dubbed the F-47; as passenger traffic declines, the British and German governments issue travel advisories to their citizens traveling to the US; a major fire London’s Heathrow Airport derailed flights worldwide; and takeaways from Bank of America’s industrials conference as well as Joanna Speed’s great Aerospace Event in LA.
The prime contractors that make airpower possible are built on a foundation of suppliers – and that foundation has been heavily challenged in recent years by shortages of people, unpredictable economics, and unexpected demand. We get a fresh view into the supplier world with Chris Celtruda, CEO of Chromalloy; Mesh Feigenbaum, managing Director of Engineered Metal Tech; and Industry analyst Jerry Lundquist of the Lundquist Group. Plus headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Congress averts a government shutdown and passes a full-year continuing resolution while continuing work on a reconciliation measure; lawmakers complain about the Trump administration’s proposed consolidation of combatant commands including handing NATO’s top military jobs to Europeans, but allow President Trump and Elon Musk to systemically gut government agencies; driven by Washington, Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire as Kyiv strikes Russian bomber base; historically, the first foreign trip by a Canadian prime minister is Washington, but this time, Mark Carney visited Paris and London as a French nuclear attack submarine visited Halifax; European leaders agree on a new defense strategy and plans to deploy up to 30,000 troops to Ukraine; Trump’s move to strike Houthis and plan an attack against Iran; Israel ends its ceasefire with Hamas with large scale airstrikes across Gaza as Egypt moves troops and tanks to the southern Gaza border to keep Gazans from fleeing into Egyptian territory; and America’s traditional allies in Asia move swiftly to mirror Europe in preparing for a future absent American leadership in the region.
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this special episode…ship collisions, political shipbuilding machinations in Congress and the White House, and where are the blueprints to repair US Navy ships? We dive into these topics and more with Sal Mercogliano and John Konrad, two of the best-informed commentators on the maritime scene. Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how President Trump’s actions are being regarded worldwide and in terms of America’s popularity; how different regions see the United States and whether the decline in popularity will reflect as a decline in influence; how Americans see his breakneck actions and how a large portion of the electorate appreciate that someone in elected office is actually doing what he would said he would do on the campaign trail; why Democrats strategy to leave the field to Trump or quarrel among themselves is a bad strategy; Canadian views on Trump’s drive to break the country’s economy to compel it to become America’s 51st state; and how the US president’ rhetoric has reinvigorated the popularity of Canada’s Liberal Party.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s retreat from 450 of the 500 square miles its forces occupied in Russia’s Kursk region; what’s next for the war as Washington pressures Kyiv to a ceasefire; whether Ukraine can survive without US aid and European support; prospect of European troops in Ukraine; whether Vladimir Putin can claim victory in Ukraine;; impact of the war on Russia and Russian support for the conflict; and the Trump administration’s decision gutting the Voice of America as well as Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s fourth down week in a row as President Trump says a recession may be possible before his politics improve the economy and escalates his trade war against Europe and Canada; Congress avoids a government shutdown. but faces a full-year continuing resolution; Canada’s new prime pinister, Mark Carney, asks his defense minister to reconsider the country’s purchase of 88 F-35 Lighting II fighters; as European nations accelerate efforts to build capabilities, interest in additional US weapons abruptly wanes; Portugal reportedly decides against F-35s and Turkey opts for Eurofighters; former Airbus CEO Tom Enders urges Europe to focus on autonomous drones rather than high end platforms to quickly improve capabilities in the face of threats from east and west; and what to expect at Joanna Speed’s annual Aerospace Event in Beverly Hills March 17-18, 2025.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s move to avoid a government shutdown as lawmakers continue to wrangle a debt and budget deal; how retirements, firing of probationary employees and a travel freeze will impact DoD programs as the department was already struggling to bring aboard a new generation of talent; the partnership between Trump and Elon Musk as the world’s richest man deposits another $100 million in the PAC the president has used to strong arm lawmakers; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to disband the Pentagon’s long-range strategy and forecasting organization, the Office of Net Assessment; the White House ends an 11-day halt on weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv agrees to Washington’s ceasefire demands but Moscow — seeing battlefield gains and a new ally in America — demands greater concessions to pause much less end the war; as Trump escalates his trade war with Canada and Europe, European interest in US weaponry drops with Portugal reportedly deciding against buying F-35 Lightning II jets from the United States; Israel cuts electricity and supplies to Gaza as the ceasefire that allowed hostages to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners expires; Senate and House retirements and remembering Alan Simpson, the former Republican senator from Wyoming.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX, the group that organizes two annual security conferences — the Halifax International Security Forum and the new HFX Taipei Forum — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how President Trump’s will impact US power, global influence and economic prosperity; whether Ukraine can survive against Russia without US help as Washington aligns increasingly with Moscow; how China regards the realignment; takeaways from the recent HFX Taipei Forum; prospect that democracies in Europe, North America and Asia will increasingly come together in a new bloc; whether the international institutions forged by the United States in the unique circumstances after World War II can be reinvigorated if Washington now chooses the undermine them; and why Canada and Canadians are so alarmed and offended by Trump’s rhetoric and actions.
Dr. Arun Seraphin, the executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense ecosystem the nation needs to more quickly equip the force; legislation that can help DoD accelerate the fielding capabilities; how to thoughtfully trim government labs and federally funded research and development centers; the importance of open architectures to help ensure a more interoperable force and challenges associated with adopting closed ecosystems; how much of the innovation ecosystem that’s blossomed across DoD in the wake of Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s founding of the Defense Innovation Unit; and the vital importance of robust national investment in education and technology across all disciplines to advancing national security.
The US Air Force convened a very senior panel to review its next generation programs. That panel has reported out in favor of Next Generation Air Dominance, but not Next Generation Aerial Refueling. Former Air Force Chief General John Jumper joins us to explain their work. And, yes, headlines. All powered by GE!
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s worst week since 2022 over tariff and inflation worries; President Trump doubled tariffs on China to 20 percent as he paused 25 percent tariffs on cars from Canada and Mexico; alarmed by Trump’s pro-Russian rhetoric and suspension of aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, European nations agree to surge defense spending to more than $900 billion over the coming four years; the fundamental shift in mindset as NATO members conclude that alliance may be dead as America commits superpower suicide; the Pentagon continues its budget drill to redirect 8 percent of savings annually over the coming five years as senior leaders and executives make their case for programs especially manned aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II fighter and the Next Generation Air Dominance Aircraft; the US Navy drops Lockheed Martin from the FA-XX program, tapping Boeing and Northrop Grumman to move to next phase of the effort to develop the service’s next-generation combat aircraft; Delta Airlines partners with JetZero to develop a new jetliner; and the second SpaceX Starship rocket in a row exploded enroute to orbit.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss growing concern of a year-long continuing resolution; the industrial impact of budget and program uncertainty especially on suppliers still recovering from pandemic impacts; takeaways from President Trump’s address to Congress; defense spending impact of $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, negative impact of economic uncertainty, IRS cuts and Trump’s acknowledgement that his policies likely will cause a recession before growth; administration’s decision to suspend US participation in NATO military exercises and prospect American troops will be withdrawn from Europe; some positives and negatives investors should consider as European defense spending surges; whether Ukraine can survive without US weaponry and intelligence support; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss lawmakers’ drive to target Medicare and Medicaid for savings as the US government rapidly runs out of money; President Trump takes a victory lap before a joint session of Congress and makes his case for tariffs, his approach to Ukraine and taking Greenland; after intensive counseling by his allies to swallow his pride, Volodymyr Zelenskyy moves to curry favor with Trump; as America cuts aid and intelligence to Kyiv, Britain and France work to shape a peace plan and European nations race to help Ukraine and bolster spending; Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison sells management of the Cristobal and Balboa ports on either side of the Panama Canal through 2047 to Blackrock for $23 billion; China vows to fight tariff, trade and “any other war;” Trump again threatens Hamas with annihilation as Washington negotiates directly with the terror group as Arab League nations craft their own peace proposal and rebuilding plan for Gaza, and Washington reaches out to Tehran for nuclear talks. This program was recorded on Friday morning before Trump threatened Russia with “large scale” sanctions after Moscow’s major attack on Ukraine.
We hopscotch the Air and Space Forces Association’s warfare symposium, bringing you up to date on the F-35 program with Lockheed’s Chauncey Macintosh and talking CCAs with Dave Alexander of General Atomics. Plus a review of the event with Air and Space Forces magazine editor Tobias Naegele. And, yes, headlines. All powered by GE!
Jeff Bialos, the co-chair of the Aerospace, Defense and Security Group at the Eversheds Sutherland law firm who served as a former deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial affairs, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort cut 8 percent a year for five years from current spending to pay for new Trump administration priorities; why the cuts are significant and threaten to undermine US capabilities absent additional spending; the reality that 25 to 30 percent more spending may be needed to modernize the force, improve readiness and bolster weapons stocks; industrial strategy recommendations at a time when administration leaders advocate for startups over heritage firms; clarifying the rationale for the defense industry consolidation in the wake of the Cold War; how supply chains became steadily more global; the defense trade impact of Trump and his team’s rhetoric and policies on Ukraine, Europe as well as allies and partners; and implications of tariffs and wholesale job cuts on program performance and costs.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the best way for the Trump administration to redirect between 6 and 8 percent of finding a year for five years to new priorities; what the administration should be prioritizing and where it can take more risk, for example, in Air Force nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and free-fall weapons; the continued need for manned combat aircraft and adding the Army and Navy to the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program; the wisdom of erecting a “Golden Dome” air and missile defense system over the United States; the problematic nature of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order that the National Security Agency stop planning and executing offensive cyber operations against Russia; the Trump administration’s betrayal of Ukraine and drive to end the war on Russia’s terms; whether Kyiv can continue to fight when Washington cuts aid and Moscow ramps up military pressure; prospect that Taiwan may be part of a “grand bargain” Trump seeks with China and how increasing defense spending to 3 percent of GDP could give Taipei a reprieve; the impact of the firings of top officers and who might replace Adm. Lisa Franchetti as Chief of Naval Operations after the service’s first female leader was recently sacked.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to global ramifications of President Trump’s unprecedented meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; whether Kyiv’s European allies will be able to support Ukraine as Washington shuts off aid and demands access to oil, gas and rare earth minerals; the US president’s meetings with French, British and other leaders; Pentagon sends a Stryker brigade combat team to the border and prospect of military operations in Mexico; DoD continues efforts to redirect spending and the impact of the cuts on the heritage defense industrial base; Elon Musk and his team continue cutting government jobs including soon at the Defense Department; prospect that more senior military officers will be fired; update on budget dynamics on Capitol Hill and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another down week on Wall Street despite a rally on Friday as investors try to determine the global economic and market impact of President Trump’s tariffs, policies and upturning US alliances; the military services continue efforts to free funding that the administration can use on its new priorities; uncertainty on Capitol Hill as a shutdown looms without clarity on defense spending; after clashing with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office over whether Vladimir Putin, Trump said “Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved” as officials said Washington would halt aid to Kyiv; Trump’s meetings with British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron; AerCap, Albany International, Embraer, RocketLab, and Rolls-Royce post earnings; Boeing demonstrates strong operational performance; and whether the Trump administration’s drive to cancel major weapons and reward unproven startups will impact heritage firms and reshape the US defense industrial base.
With the start of a new administration, airpower advocates are presenting their ideas for the future force. Retired Lieutenant General David Deptula, Dean of The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, joins us to detail that organization’s recommendations. And John Tirpak of Air and Space Forces magazine helps preview next week’s AFA Warfare Symposium. Plus, we have headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss GOP lawmakers move toward a budget resolution and reconciliation measure as defense hawks work to boost Pentagon spending; prospects fora full-year continuing resolution; the race to redirect 8 percent from DoD spending a year for five years to the administration’s new priorities; President Trump’s firings of the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, the former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Vice Chief of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife and the three military service judge advocates general; Elon Musk and his team continue to terrorize federal workers; Washington sides with Beijing, Pyongyang and Minsk by voting against a UN measure blaming Russia for the war against Ukraine as Washington extorts gas, oil and rare earths concessions from Kyiv without extending security guarantees; the suggestion that a neutral Ukraine will ensure peace; Trump’s bizarre Gaza video as the first phase of hostage and prisoner exchanges end between Israel and Hamas.
On today’s Technology Report, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s plan to build an “Iron Dome” over America to defend against air and missile threats; what would be required to protect the nation; what areas would be protected and where not; how much such a system would cost; how effective it would be; the tradeoffs Americans would have to make in terms of diminished connectivity as bandwidth is shifted from commercial wireless cell and data services are shifted to powerful air and missile defense radar installations nationwide; and how adversaries would adapt to these new defense systems, including through novel means of delivering nuclear weapons including long-range unmanned underwater systems.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the firings of top US military officers including the the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Air Force’s vice chief as well as three judge advocate generals; how the moves will impact the force as well as recruiting and retention; what to expect from retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as the nation’s 22nd chairman given his diverse background that includes service in the Air National Guard, as a fighter pilot, role in the counter-ISIS mission, the intelligence community as well as private industry and venture capital; industrial impact of the administration’s plan to redirect between 6 and 8 percent of spending each year for the coming five years to new priorities; how the administration’s betrayal of Ukraine and anti-Europe rhetoric will shape how allies and partners respond to Washington as nations work to establish a more than 700 billion fund for new weapons purchases and Germany privates considers the need for nuclear weapons; whether the White House’s purge of the civil service will distract intelligence and law enforcement personnel charged with keeping the nation safe from terrorist and other threats, precipitating a future tragedy; and a look at the week ahead.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon Europe and Russia chief during the Obama administration who is now the executive director of McCain Institute at Arizona State University, and Dr. Eugene Rumer, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia on the National Intelligence Council who is now the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s drive to end the Ukraine war including voting against a UN resolution blaming the war on Russia; how the betrayal of Ukraine and shakedown of Kyiv for its natural resources is resonating worldwide; how smaller nations can stand up to Russia and China without US help; worries across Asia as nations worry Trump’s “grand bargain” with China will jeopardize their security; takeaways from the HFX Taipei forum 20-21 Feb. in the Taiwanese capital; how Putin’s “win” in Ukraine change the Russian leader’s popularity at home; and an update on the war.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another tough week on Wall Street as investors grapple with President Trump-induced economic uncertainty over tariffs and inflation; worries about of a protracted continuing resolution, government shutdown or a debt default; the Pentagon drive to redirect 6-8 percent a year of funding over five years to new priorities; the firing of top including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Vice Air Force Chief Gen. Jim Slife are fired; DoD’s sacking of more than 5,000 workers; allies’ view of Washington after America’s rapid betrayal of Ukraine, partnership with Russia, and hardy criticism of Europe that have driven nations to bolster capabilities; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to resign in exchange for peace and Ukraine’s NATO membership as Kyiv prepares to grant half of its rare earth deposits to Washington; Airbus and BAE Systems results; Jeff Shockey’s abrupt departure from RTX to joining Boeing to run the beleaguered giant’s government operations; the fire that gutted leading aerospace fasteners maker SPS Technologies; and Trump’s interest in modifying a Qatari 747-8 as the next Air Force one until his real Air Force ones are ready.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s continuing demand for a “big beautiful bill” that includes all his priorities and the Senate passage of its version of the border bill without the massive tax cuts or other legislation the president wants; lawmakers seek to boost defense spending while the Pentagon presses military services to cut 6 percent a year over five years from their budgets that would be redirected to fund new priorities like border security, the Iron Dome air and missile defense initiative the border as well as unmanned systems, attack submarines and the strategic nuclear deterrent; in Riyadh, Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to betray Ukraine and rehabilitate Russia and its economy as Trump denounces Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an unpopular dictator who started the war, mirroring Moscow’s propaganda; Washington took on an even more Stalinist flavor as the administration suggested it has submitted to Congress a list of senior officers that would be fired including the Chairman, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army chief of staff, although sources said the list was “unofficial” and may have been floated as both a warning to those named and to distract attention after a bad week; European leaders met in Paris, vowing support for Ukraine and pledging to continue punishing Russia as faith in America as a reliable ally and global leader evaporates as many wonder whether Washington represents a threat; as America commits great power suicide, China mounts an aggressive PR campaign to paint the United States as an unreliable actor and pledges to fill the void left in the abrupt end American aid and leadership; what’s next as the bodies of dead Israeli hostages including two small children are exchanged and Washington sticks to its plan to depopulate Gaza and redevelop it.
A lot of eyebrows went up when the U.S. Air Force contracted with a company called JetZero to design the tanker of the future. In our 100th episode, JetZero’s chief operating officer, Dan DaSilva, joins us to discuss how the company got where they are, and where they hope to be going. And we have headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon Europe and Russia chief during the Obama administration who is now the executive director of McCain Institute at Arizona State University, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s drive to end the Ukraine war without Ukrainian or European participation, rehabilitate Vladimir Putin and sharply criticize allies; why “grand bargains” to mollify adversaries like Russia and China won’t stop their territorial or global power aspirations; how the strategy of appeasement will impact US relationships worldwide, especially in the Indo-Pacific; the reality that reverting from a rules-based order based on common values to one of spheres of influence and reciprocal tariffs will make the world poorer and increase the prospect of conflict; whether lawmakers will push back on Trump’s moves and rhetoric; and what to expect from the HFX Taipei forum 20-21 Feb. in the Taiwanese capital. The McCain Institute is partnered with HFX, annually awarding the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum. Awarded by Sen. McCain’s son, Jack McCain, the 2024 prize went to Russian democracy and rights advocate Vladimir Kara Murza who was jailed in Russia for two years, and the 2020 prize to former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an up market despite tariff threats and rising inflation that will forestall more interest rate cuts; President Trump and his team sent shock waves across Europe after announcing direct talks with Russia to end the Ukraine war without European or Ukrainian participation, promising to arm Kyiv in exchange for half its rare earth mineral deposits, rejecting AI cooperation with allies, and working to normalize hard-right parties; whether Europe can step up as quickly as needed to both support Ukraine and address its own weapons needs; Trump says he’ll strike a deal with China and Russia to halve US defense spending as Congress works to increase spending by $100 billion or more dollars over the coming years; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he’ll shift 8 percent of Pentagon spending to new priorities as he issued his 2026 budget guidance to the military services with savings to be found in “low impact, wasteful, DEI and climate programs,” anything related to the border is off limits as are nuclear attack submarines, large and small unmanned aircraft including the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, but manned planes like F-35 Lightning II fighters, aircraft carriers and even the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft could be targeted; US arms exports hit a record high, but as Hegseth pledges to reform the Foreign Military Sales system to foster more deals, some question whether allies who worry that Washington won’t back them might not keep buying; the administration tells US firms they won’t be punished if they bribe foreign officials; and what to expect as Airbus — and other European firms — report earnings next week.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a week that sent allies and partners scrambling as President Trump moves to end the Ukraine war, rehabilitate Vladimir Putin, support Kyiv only if it hands over right to half its rare earth mineral deposits, and his team encourages hard right parties in Europe; Trump’s suggestion that a deal with Russia and China would allow defense spending to be cut by 50 percent; 25 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel; after a few strong messaging weeks, the administration’s game slips; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive to reallocate 8 percent of the Pentagon budget for new priorities contained in his 2026 budget planning guidance to the military services that would protect border, strategic deterrent programs, nuclear submarine and unmanned efforts, but would target the F-35 Lightning II fighter and other manned platforms as well as Army programs to pay for the “Iron Dome” air and missile defense system; Callan’s four scenarios to consider in light of the current chaos; an update on the collision between USS Harry S. Truman and a the merchant bulk carrier Besiktas-M on the entry to the Suez Canal; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss efforts to raise defense spending by $100 billion; President Trump’s claim that billions in waste can be cut from the Pentagon as Elon Musk and the Muskovites set their sights on DoD; Trump proposed talks with China and Russia to allow Pentagon spending to be halved; Trump alarms America’s closest allies after disclosing a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin as the two negotiate ending the Ukraine war, rejecting NATO membership for Kyiv, pledging reciprocal visits and calling for Russia to return to the G7; Vice President Vance rips into allies at the Munich Security Conference; allies see Europe shielding Ukraine as Washington helps Putin get off the hook for a war he started that’s caused more than 1 million casualties and displaced millions more; a day after getting out of jail free, Putin strikes the sarcophagus containing the reactor at Chernobyl that exploded in 1986; US allies in Europe and Pacific consider new alliances of like-minded democracies to better defend themselves and preserve free trade; president says US businesses shouldn’t be constrained by laws against bribing foreign officials; King Abdullah visits the White House where he’s put in a tough spot by the President’s insistence that America would annex Gaza and force Jordan and Egypt to accept 2 million Palestinians who now live there; Bibi Netanyahu threatens to end the ceasefire and resume military operations; and America’s indo-pacific commander warns that Chinese war games around taiwan are now so incessant they could serve as a fig leaf for a military invocation of the island.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Richard Andres, a professor at the national defense university and the former adviser to the secretary of the Air Force and commander of US Cyber Command, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the report for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies he cowrote with former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Buzz Mosley, USAF Ret., and Mitchell’s Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF Ret.; why jointness has prioritized today’s readiness over strategic planning and the need to return more authority to the military services to accelerate innovation and program execution.
B-21, Sentinel, NGAD The US Air Force is modernizing almost every piece of hardware in its inventory. We get into details with the man who was deep into all those programs, former Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter. Plus airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman’s mark, the Trump administration’s effective messaging that bolstered the president’s popularity, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth actively shapes his narrative at the Pentagon, how the administration can avoid making cuts that only create bigger future headaches, impact of President Trump’s new steel and aluminum tariffs, analysis of defense and aerospace earnings and 10K reports, and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s down week as investors worried about tariffs and inflation; Babcock, Bombardier, HII, Kongsberg, Palantir, Saab and Transdigm either report or prereport earnings; Boeing increased delivery of 737 Max series jetliners to 40 a month from 35 a month last year as Airbus delayed proposal on hydrogen powered aircraft; under pressure from investors Honeywell will break up into three parts as did GE, but investors punished the conglomerate’s stock; Triumph Group will be acquired by Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners in a $3 billion deal; commercial passenger and cargo traffic are both up 10 and 11 percent respectively year over year; the US Marine Corps issued its long-range aviation plan that includes increasing orders of carrier-capable C-model F-35 Lighting II stealth fighters.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on appropriations, appropriations, reconciliation and debt ceiling discussions on Capitol Hill as the prospect of a year-long continuing resolution and a government shutdown loom; the Senate moves to clear more of President Trump’s nominees including Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services; Elon Musk and his small team move at lightning speed to siphon unprecedented amounts of personal and financial data from agencies under the guise of improving government efficiency and move to gut the US Agency for International Development, offer retirement packages across government including to the CIA’s entire staff and fire some 40 percent of FBI agents; the implications of USAID’s demise as China, Russia and autocrats rejoice; whether distracted intelligence, law enforcement, allies or senior leaders will result in a future terror attack at home or incident abroad; analysis of Trump’s statement that the United States will take over Gaza and relocate more than 2 million Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan and redevelop it; and what to expect at the upcoming Munich Security Conference as America’s closest allies increasingly question their relationship with Washington.
Air Force Global Strike Commander General Thomas Bussiere brings us up to date on B-21, Sentinel, and maintaining deterrence in an increasingly multipolar world. Plus airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the R1 Model by Chinese AI firm DeepSeek that sparked a market sell off on Wall Street; what makes it different from other AI models; how China used talent, technology and savvy thinking to compensate for technology restriction imposed on Beijing by Washington and its allies; why Chinese technology or military developments continue to surprise Western experts and what it says about US overconfidence; how better to control the flow of technology to China and whether there are lessons in the Cold War mechanisms like the Wassenaar Arrangement; whether President Trump’s $500 billion “Stargate” public private AI partnership is the right approach to better compete against China and advance American capabilities; the impact of Elon Musk’s drive to reorganize the US government at home and whether Trump’s muscular international rhetoric; and how the “grand bargain” Trump seeks with China could include handing Taiwan to Beijing.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Jim Jones, a retired US Marine Corps general who is now the president of Jones Group International after having served as the nation’s 22nd National Security Advisor, 14th Supreme Allied Commander Europe and 32nd commandant of the Marine Corps, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the stability of Iran’s leadership after Israel — backed by the United States — targeted Tehran’s Shia proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis; why the international community must exert concerted pressure on the regime and assistance to democracy minded Iranian groups; the argument for change given the current regime is committed to fostering regional instability; the role of military force in the change equation; lessons from Syria; whether President Trump’s acerbic rhetoric will alienate allies and partners; and the key role a new generation of small nuclear reactors could play in improving US deterrence and warfighting capabilities in the Indo-Pacific (https://defaeroreport.com/2025/02/03/why-micro-nuclear-power-plants-could-be-americas-secret-weapon-in-the-indo-pacific-and-beyond/).
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico — that have been suspended for a month — as well as 10 percent on China, with threats to impose new ones on the EU and UK; the near-term implications on inflation and costs on US consumers as well as long-term impact on reordering of global trade patterns; how efforts to aggressively cut US government could backfire; whether Wall Street is as susceptible to disinformation as other aspects of American society; the messaging and disinformation surrounding the collision between a US Army helicopter and an American Airlines jetliner that left 67 dead; a look at least week’s earnings reports by leading companies including Boeing, General Dynamicsk, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and RTX; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a brutal week on Wall Street as the market loses $1 trillion as shocked investors react to China’s DeepSeek AI and the Federal Reserve for the first time said it won’t continue interest rate cuts; implications of the worst US air disaster in 16 years as an US Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter collides with an American Airlines jetliner killing 67; President Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a 10 percent tariff on goods from China; analysis of 2024 earnings reported by Boeing, General Dynamics, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX; Lockheed’s aeronautics charge and Northrop’s second low-rate production contract for the B-21 Raider bomber; and King Charles changes the name of the Royal Navy’s last Astute-class submarine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s address after the worst US air disaster in 15 years that killed 67, blaming the tragedy on his predecessors and diversity programs; update on defense budget, reconciliation and debt discussions; Trump threatens the federal reserve and sows chaos in his second week by freezing government grants; his new defense secretary Pete Hegseth arrives at the Pentagon where he has eliminated diversity programs; Europe weights how best to deal with a second Trump term; Asia worries that Trump’s drive to change borders by acquiring Greenland and the terms under which the Ukraine war ends will shape Beijing’s approach as China seeks to redraw borders across the region; Israel exchanges prisoners as Hamas releases hostages and Trump urges Egypt and Jordan to accept Gazans as the Netanyahu government works to annex the strip; and Syria’s new leadership.
Force fields aren’t just the stuff of sci-fi; a company called Epirus is making them real. CEO Andy Lowery shows us a new kind of air defense. CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako on America’s Iron Dome. And we have headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference in Washington between April 23-24, 2025 — sponsored by Clarion Defence — Keith Flynn, the senior vice president for production at Anduril, and Dr. Zach Mears, the company’s senior vice president for strategy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the five-million-square-foot Arsenal I engineering, development and production facility in Columbus, Ohio; production schedules and recruiting talent; how the adoption of automotive mass production techniques can accelerate arms production; adapting systems design to ensure ease of production; working with a new administration committed to expanding and speeding weapons manufacture to streamline the process of building the new plant; navigating supply chain challenges and controlling cost through design changes and deciding what to buy from vendors and what to make in-house; and the supply chain and sales implications of tariffs and strained alliance relationship; and when to expect Arsenal II. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexevents.org
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, military strategist and land warfare advisor William F Owen — better known as Wilf Owen — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book “Euclid's Army: Preparing Land Forces for Warfare Today;” lessons from the Ukraine war; how to improve the lessons learned process to glean the right insights from conflicts; debunking the notion of “complexity;” putting the threat from drones in context and a case for the continued importance of tanks; and lessons from Israel’s wars on Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Houthis in Yemen.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration’s first week; Pete Hegseth as the nation’s 29th defense secretary; whether the chairman and service chiefs will lost their jobs or retire over the coming months; repercussions of Trump’s “aggressive” call with the Danish prime minister over Greenland, the Panama Canal and spat with Colombia over deportations; look ahead to earnings as Boeing pre-reports another $4 billion loss; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a strong week on Wall Street as investors work to determine the impact of Donald Trump’s policies a week into his second administration, from widely expected tax cuts, defense spending increases and war on migrants to what higher tariffs, trade wars and rising tensions with allies will mean including the president’s “aggressive” conversation over gaining ownership of Greenland with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederickson; as some worry Trump’s rhetoric could undermine US weapons sales worldwide Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz urges allies to curry favor with Trump by buying more US weapons; NATO considers sharing highly classified capability assessments with industry to speed weapons development; Boeing preannounces another $4 billion in losses as it prepares to report earnings; what Embraer’s next jetliner should look like; update on Blue Origin’s New Glenn and SpaceX’s Starship programs; and the industry-wide impacts of California’s devastating fires.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Donald Trump’s first four days since returning to the White House; analysis of his inaugural address that included a pledge that America would retake the Panama Canal; update on appropriations, debt ceiling and reconciliation negotiations; outlook for defense spending as both Freedom Caucus and GOP leaders press for $100 billion to more than $200 billion in additional defense spending over the coming five years; Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Russia over the Ukraine war and call for NATO nations to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP; the ceasefire in Gaza and the resignation of senior Israeli military leaders including Chief of Defense Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
He’ll always be the 26th Secretary of the Department of the Air Force, but now he’s free to speak his mind. An extended interview with Frank Kendall on the department he found and the one he leaves behind. A tour d’horizon of strategy, programs, budgets, and recommendations for his successor -- and be sure to hear his candid discussion of the situation in space. All powered by GE!
Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss why it’s important to ban TikTok, the supply chain questions raised by the Chinese social media app; what makes similar apps problematic from a security standpoint and what needs to happen to address known vulnerabilities; whether the sale of the US side of TikTok solves the problem; some cyber priorities for the incoming administration; why curtailing cyber regulation will undermine collective security at a time when adversaries are stepping up their cyber game and penetrating critical US and allied communications and other networks; how to counter Russian and Chinese operations to disrupt critical undersea infrastructure; and ways to increase the production of cyber talent.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s first day in office; messages from the inauguration, executive orders and actions since; the firing of Adm. Linda Fagan as US Coast Guard commandant and other senior military changes under guise of countering diversity, equity and inclusion; Trump’s comments about using force to take the Panama Canal, targeting drug cartels in Mexico, Greenland as well as tariffs on Canada and Mexico; the defense budget outlook as both GOP and Freedom Caucus members call for dramatic increased in the Pentagon budget of $200 billion or more over the coming years; outlook for shipbuilding expect at the Surface Navy Association’s conference and tradeshow; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street has a strong week as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House; with no debt ceiling increase the US Treasury starts extraordinary measures to stretch resources until Congress makes a deal to avoid default; defense outlays hit an all-time high with a nearly 10 percent year-over-year increase and prominent GOP lawmakers press for a $100-$200 billion increase in Pentagon spending; the Aerospace Industries Association expresses openness to working with the new administration on selective tariffs to redress trade inequities; Anduril picks Columbus, Ohio, for its new 5 million square foot “Arsenal 1” facility that will employ 4,000; some positive 737, 787 and 777X news for Boeing; and the number of parked narrow-body jetliners grows as cargo drops, but sidelined planes with Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan engines declines.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate confirmation of President-elect Trump’s cabinet appointments including Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence as Congress weighs appropriations, a reconciliation package and a debt ceiling increase; covering California wildfire costs; Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire that will see several hundred Palestinian prisoners traded from 33 Israeli hostages, half of whom are dead; why Republicans forced the resignation of Lockheed Martin’s widely respected head of government affairs; Ukraine war update and what’s next as Trump returns to office; Trump and Xi Jingping talk by phone before the inauguration; the revelation of Beijing’s new amphibious capabilities as Chinese planes and ships encircle Taiwan; the South Korea’s impeached President Yeon Suk Yeol detention; and President Biden’s legacy as he ends decades of service in elected office including his farewell remarks that warned of a “tech industrial complex” led by unaccountable billionaire oligarchs and undermines democracy.
We continue looking ahead to airpower issues in the coming year with Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security. And we have your airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference this April in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new report — Winning the Fight for Sensing and Sensemaking — why DoD needs a strategy to degrade China’s sensing as well as command and control; how China’s seabed to cislunar sensing networks compare to US capabilities; vulnerabilities of China’s networks compared to those of the United States; how the Pentagon should connect a counter-sensing and network disruption strategy with kinetic effects; the logic of being able to counter China’s sensing and sensemaking capabilities in peacetime; progress report on US efforts to counter China’s C5ISR capabilities; scaling cyber and electronic warfare capabilities and encourage new defense economy firms to the segment; and an update on planning for the Apex innovation conference. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Paul Lemmo, the vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors unit, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the company in two years went from contract signing to a successful live exo-atmospheric intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target for the Aegis Guam System that’s key for the defense of the key Pacific island; the key to delivering capabilities at speed, whether testing new missile defenses or new frigates; his unit’s role in developing radar and combat systems for Australian, Canadian and Spanish warship programs; global growth prospects while navigating trade and security challenges as a new administration takes office; partnering with suppliers to ensure access to systems and components vital to keeping programs on schedule; recruiting and retaining top talent in a competitive market; lessons from the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift program that demanded competitors share development costs; and his company’s unique ability to integrate complex sensor, combat and weapon systems.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the economic and geopolitical implications President-elect Trump’s comments on tariffs as well as the Panama Canal, Greenland and Canada; whether the comments will fuel higher inflation that will have to be factored into defense planning; Pentagon budget outlook as the outgoing Biden administration is reported to expected to ask for $1 trillion in 2026; cost of massive California wildfires and other climate-related disasters on federal spending; confirmation outlook for Trump’s nominees including Pete Hegseth as defense secretary as Senate hearings begin; takeaways from Israel’s Nagel Report that identifies Turkey as a threat and urges Jerusalem to reduce reliance on US as a security partner after a second Trump administration; BWXT’s acquisition of Kinectrics; what to expect at the Surface Navy Association’s conference and tradeshow; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a broadly down market on another strong US jobs report and growing concerns of more economic and geopolitical turmoil after Donald Trump returns to the White House whether imposition of tariffs or military action to take Greenland and the Panama Canal; Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warns European governments to prepare for “pronounced” and “very strong” tariffs from Washington as the jet maker promises production next year will hit the stunning pre-covid mark of 862 jets in 2019; how trade wars could complicate globalized commercial and military aircraft production likes whether jetliners or Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighters; whether for France’s new finance minister works to develop a budget that helps neither far left or hard right as Britain bond market becomes reminiscent of the 1970s; America’s out-going ambassador to Japan Rahm Emmanuel says share buybacks by US companies causes a bigger threat than China; Lockheed’s new Astris AI unit to help commercialize the defense giant’s AI technology; and takeaways from Bank of America’s annual defense and aerospace conference that we’ve been proud to be partnered on for the past 17 years.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships Podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson’s narrow reelection; status of reconciliation, appropriations and debt measures; new House and Senate defense committee assignments; President-elect Trump’s statement that he wouldn’t rule our force to take Greenland and the Panama Canal, and rename the Gulf of Mexico, and the message his comments and actions by lawmakers send allies and adversaries; implications of Trump’s willingness to resolve the Ukraine war over the coming six months rather than the day he retakes office; the latest disinformation lessons from unprecedented wildfires in California; top Biden officials travel to South Korea, India and Ukraine; Lebanon’s new government; Israel’s new strategy that labels Turkey an enemy and plans to reduce dependence on America after Trump’s term ends; and President Jimmy Carter’s lifetime of service.
We begin our look at the major airpower issues in the year ahead, and China’s Boxing Day surprise, with Lieutenant General Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. And we have a lot – a whole lot – of headlines in airpower.
We begin our look at the major airpower issues in the year ahead, and China’s Boxing Day surprise, with Lieutenant General Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. And we have a lot – a whole lot – of headlines in airpower.
On today’s program, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss China’s recent hack of the US Treasury Department on heels of Beijing’s penetration of major US telecommunications companies, what the Flax, Volt and Salt Typhoon attacks mean, what the attacks mean as China becomes increasingly risk tolerant in the nature and scope of its cyber operations, what has to happen to stop the attacks and reestablish deterrence, Beijing’s increasingly aggressive behavior as Russia adopts increasingly hybrid warfare techniques against the United States and Western nations, how to counter such hybrid tactics like destroying undersea infrastructure, jeopardizing air cargo carriers and targeted assassinations, the global implications of the incoming Trump administration’s approach to the Ukraine war and Taiwan, and what to expect at next week’s Surface Navy Association’s national symposium.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s latest offensive as Kyiv and Moscow jockey for position as the second Trump administration prepares to take office, whether Ukrainian forces can hold off Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s efforts to curry favor with Trump as he increasingly denigrates the President Biden as Kyiv and its allies work determine the incoming administration’s approach to the Ukraine war and Russia, the latest technological developments and more.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss newsflow during the holidays, prospect that nations forced to spend more on defense by Donald Trump will spend the increase at home rather than on US weapons, whether the world is a more dangerous place, the notion that we are in a defense spending “super cycle,” US defense spending outlook and prospect for reapportionment of resources among the military services, the Financial Times report that Anduril, Palantir, SpaceX and other defense tech firms are considering forming a consortium to better compete for DoD business, ensuring fairness in competitions between heritage and new defense firms, the big issues of 2025, and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss defense and aerospace stock performance and newsflow during the holidays, President-elect Trump’s call for NATO governments to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, Airbus delivers 765 jets to customers in 2024 as Boeing delivers 341 planes that was down from 513 in 2023, Financial Times’ report that Palantir, Anduril, SpaceX, and several other defense tech companies were planning a “consortium” to bid for DoD contracts, the Pentagon’s Lot 18 contract for another 145 F-35 Lighting II fighters valued at nearly $12 billion, Italy orders 24 more Eurofighter Typhoon jets to replace earlier model aircraft, Saudi Arabia eyes buying 100 Turkish Kaan fighter jets, China unveils two new combat aircraft plus two radar and command planes, and what to watch in 2025.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, our editorial strategist and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello looks back at the key events of 2024 as we look ahead to 2025; and Matt Warnick, the CEO of American Rheinmetall Vehicles, and Jason Atkinson, the CEO of Loc Performance, discuss the armored vehicle maker’s nearly $1 billion acquisition of the Michigan-based specialty company with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss aerospace and defense market performance as the Federal Reserved said it would pare back rate cuts, impact of continuing resolution turmoil fueled by Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Wall Street’s growing perception that Musk not Trump is the incoming president, how Trump’s warning that he wants Europeans to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense and how much of that increased spending will stay in Europe rather than flow to American suppliers, and a look at the events of 2024 that will shape the coming year from Boeing’s continuing challenges, Airbus failure to capitalize on its American rival’s woes, supply chain, Russia’s threat to Europe even if its war on Ukraine is paused, global trade and travel implications of economic warfare, Britain’s Strategic Defence Review, and predictions for 2025.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s torpedoing of a bipartisan spending measure of keep government open through March, prospects of a government shutdown through the holidays — potentially spanning through the inauguration — analysis of the key events of 2024 that will shape the coming year the coming year, and predictions for the United States, China, the Ukraine war, Syria and the broader Middle East.
What’d You Miss? We review 2024’s big airpower stories from the US and around the world with Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, and Aviation Week defense editor Steve Trimble. Plus the week’s top airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss key moments in Russia’s war on Ukraine during 2024; whether the end of the war in the coming months will come as a reprieve just as Moscow is feeling economic pressure and growing casualties, allowing it to recharge for its next confrontation with NATO; how the outgoing and incoming administrations are playing the roles of good cop-bad cop to end the war; implications of the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on Russia; the assassination of Russia’s nuclear and chemical forces chief Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov by Ukraine’s secret service; and what to expect from Moscow over the coming weeks as the prospect of the war’s end approaches.
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next April in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer and principle author of the 18 Theses — also known as The Defense Reformation — joined Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discusses his blueprint to revamp the US industrial base to boost innovation, agility and output at to help America better deter adversaries while it also better prepares for possible conflict, the core elements of necessary change, the biggest sins of the current system, enticing commercial firms to return to the defense market, leveling the playing field, importance of empowered individuals to drive change, getting Congress to embrace change including higher tolerance for risk, balancing roles for new and heritage companies whether in software or hardware, when a company is truly commercial and when not when doing business with the Pentagon and more. Our monthly technology coverage is brought to you by Clarion Defence and their Apex Conference. We are pleased to be partnered with Clarion to highlight Apex and bring you the types of conversations and issue coverage you can expect at the two-day event next April in Washington.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss political, market and international surprises in 2024 that will be consequential in the coming year; a look at the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations expectations; the IISS’ global outlook; the Washington International Trade Association’s take on Trump and tariffs; the Defense Innovation Unit and the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft; HII’s shipyard acquisition; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a mixed and bumpy week on Wall Street, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker’s decision to step down in January, Boeing’s decision to invest $1 billion to accelerate 787 Dreamliner production, defense spending implications of Moody’s decision to downgrade France’s credit rating after political turmoil in Paris, report that Donald Trump told Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet that he would cancel the F-35 Lighting II program that the defense giant flatly rejects, and update on the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Program, eight years after leaving the European Union Britain’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer met with European Council President Antonio Costa to deepen cooperation, and Hensoldt’s capital markets day.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the increasing likelihood that Donald Trump will garner Senate approval for his controversial nominees including Pete Hegseth at DoD thanks to muscular intimidation tactics directed toward lawmakers, analysis of the $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act that includes another big military pay rise, support for Ukraine and Taiwan and an end to covid vaccine mandates, an update on an appropriations measure to keep government running as another debt debate looms, what’s next now that militants backed by Turkey have ended Bashar al Assad’s brutal regime as the Syrian dictator flees to Moscow, outlook for Ukraine as Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, China stages a massive military exercise around Taiwan to protest Taiwanese president Lai Ching Te’s visit to Hawaii and Guam, South Korea still rocked by Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, Washington’s latest effort to help end the Gaza war, and what to expect at this year’s 125th Army-Navy game outside Washington.
Army Aviation director BG Matt Braman joins us with the latest on the senior service’s efforts to leave the ground with and without pilots aboard. Introducing the VH-75! And the week’s top airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s show, Jay Meil, the vice president for artificial intelligence and data analytics and the chief data officer at SAIC, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss US AI capabilities in comparison to adversaries and the key to remaining ahead in a global race, abilitiesm, what constitutes AI, how it differs from machine learning, better gathering in standardized and usable form the vast amounts of data the Pentagon produces, whether the DoD should be developing its own AI capabilities of become a smarter buyer of the technology from commercial industry, how to get AI to the edge and be usable in emission denied environments, and more.
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Young Bang, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics & technology, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the digital transformation of the force, areas for improvement as the second Trump administrations prepares to take office, delivering capabilities at the speed of relevance, lessons from the other military services to help the Army step up its digital game, addressing criticism of the software modernization memorandum issued earlier this year, concerns the service if more focused on process before it sets requirements for major systems, bringing together small start ups as well as heritage contractors to develop capabilities, and harnessing AI and preparing for a quantum computing future.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim and emeritus National Defense Industrial Association Chairman Arnold Punaro discuss key takeaways from the 11th Reagan National Defense forum; Building the Base podcast hosts former Navy Acquisition chief Hondo Geurts and Beacon Global Strategies’ Lauren Bedula discuss defense industrial themes at Reagan; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense implications of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and what’s next for the region, the NDAA, Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments at Aspen next week and what they mean for the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, defense mobilization, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss aerospace and defense stock performance on Wall Street and in Europe, Airbus’ delivery figures and whether 737 Max production remained stalled after a seven-week strike, a federal judge rejected Boeing’s $1 billion plea deal for misleading regulators leading to two deadly 737 crashes, Safran’s capital markets day, the US Air Force decision to leave the fate of the manned fighter element of the service’s Next Generation Air Dominance program to the incoming Trump administration, a week after Elon Musk criticized the F-35 Lightning II fighters Britain’s defense chief Adm. Sir Tony Radakin lauded the “power” of the stealthy jet noting Israel used them and low observable JASSM cruise missiles — fired from more than 100 miles outside Iran’s borders — to devastate the country’s air defenses, India’s interest in more Rafale fighters as Saudi Arabia also eyes the Dassault Aviation jet, and Sweden, Denmark and Ukraine order $2.5 billion in CV90 combat vehicles from BAE Systems.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Donald Trump’s top administration picks including Russ Vought at the Office of Management and Budget; Pete Hegseth’s prospects as defense secretary; whether “outsider” leaders like Steve Feinberg as deputy secretary, John Phelan as Navy secretary and Dan Driscoll as Army secretary can succeed without more traditional deputies; an update on the National Defense Authorization Act, appropriations and a continuing resolution as lawmakers map a major tax cut package; House Speaker Mike Johnson makes clear he won’t support more assistance for Ukraine as both the White House and European nations step up aid for an increasingly beleaguered Kyiv; Russia increases saberrattling with threats, exercises in the Mediterranean and Moscow’s top general calls his US counterpart for the first time in more than two years; South Kore’s President Yoon Suk Yeol comes under fire for declaring martial law; Trump’s vow to block Nippon Steel from acquiring US Steel; rebels in Syria take the country’s biggest city Aleppo and Hama as Georgia is roiled in antigovernment turmoil; Israel and Hezbollah strike a deal as operations continue in Gaza and the West Bank; and what to expect at the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend.
When Elon Musk declares manned military aircraft should be entirely replaced by drones, is he taking a step too far? Renowned aviation journalist and technologist Bill Sweetman joins us to look at whether the future is (or even can be) entirely uninhabited. And the week’s top airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s Technology Report, David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses proposed Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates legislation as part of the tax reconciliation package that would cut taxes on printed circuit boards and substrates by 25 percent, the case for supporting an industry that left the United States in search of lower production costs, and the association’s 2025 agenda; and Dr. Charles Middleton, the chief technology officer at Critical Frequency Design, discusses the role of photonics technologies that promise to revolutionize military communications, the company’s Free Space Optics (FSO) communications solution that was recently tested under the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s Silent Swarm 2024 exercise, the future of the technology, and the outlook of the company as it seeks to navigate the Valley of Death with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Barbara Matthews, a US Treasury Department veteran and first Treasury attache to the European Union who is the founder of BCM Strategy, discusses why the US dollar is the world’s reserve currency and the power that status confers, how the reliance on the dollar subjects the world to US laws and oversight, why allies and adversaries are interested in alternatives to the dollar that Washington has increasingly “weaponized” to influences friends and foes especially during the first Trump presidency, how the advent of new digital currencies and alternatives could undermine the power of the dollar and US influence, whether President-elect Trump’s threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on any nation that participates in a dollar alternative will stop such moves, what circumstances could drive allies to break from the dollar, and how the growing US debt and threats of default threaten the dollar with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Anlyses, discusses Russia’s grinding advance on Ukrainian positions in Kursk and Donbas and Luhansk, importance of Germany’s new $700 million pledge and US efforts to surge weapons to Kyiv, Vladimir Putin’s challenges as casualties mount and Russia’s economy falters, statements by leading European officials that Moscow may be behind the deadly crash of a DHL cargo plane over Lithuania, Putin’s call for a new Russian unmanned force, the unmanned air warfare lessons Syrian and other rebel groups have learned from Ukraine; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the “headline risk” that defense and aerospace firms will be subjected to in a second Trump administration whether from the president or his acolytes, impact of possible tariffs on companies in Canada and Mexico that are integral to the US aerospace and defense industrial base, what Trump’s personnel picks may mean, balancing manned and unmanned capability, the good and bad characteristics of the “tech bro” venture capital mindset, an update on the budget and appropriations as Congress returns to DC, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another week of gains on Wall Street, but worries mount as Donald Trump pledges to hike tariffs by 25 percent on Canada and Mexico and 10 percent on China, Elon Musk takes aim at the F-35 Lightning II fighter and argues it’s time that drones replace unmanned systems, the prospect of greater change at the Pentagon as the incoming administration taps outsiders with little defense experience for key jobs — like John Phelan, founder of the Rugger Management investment firm — as navy secretary, a Boeing 737 freighter operated by DHL crashed in Lithuania killing one and injured three as senior officials suggest Russia may be behind the incident, Emirates CEO Tim Clark expresses frustration over the five-year delay in the delivery of Boeing’s new 777X, MTU’s new 2025 guidance showing a strong engine aftermarket, takeaways from this year’s Atlantic Future Forum, and a look ahead to Safran’s capital markets day.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs and adviser on the annual agenda of the annual Halifax International Security Forum, discusses the results of the HISF-Ipsos Threat Index derived from polling 22, 000 people in more than 30 countries; and retired US Navy Adm. Mike Rogers, a former director of the National Security Agency and commander of US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses China’s Salt Typhoon attack on US and allied communications systems, the cutting of a fiber-optic cable between Finland and Germany, and takeaways from this year’s Halifax Forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of MccAin Institute at Arizona State University who helps pick the honoree of the annual John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service awarded each year at the Halifax International Security Forum, discusses takeaways from this year’s gathering, the importance of Ukrainian victory over Russia for democracies worldwide, the two leaders honored with the McCain Prize this year — Vladimir Kara Murza in 2024 for his courage against Vladimir Putin and former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen in 2020 for her stance against an increasingly belligerent China — the best outcome for Ukraine as Donald Trump vows a fast end to the war, the role of American leadership and a look ahead to Halifax organizers HFX’s conference in Taipei Feb. 20-21, 2025; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest on the transaction to a second Trump administration including possible deputy defense secretary picks including investor Stephen Fineberg and Anduril co-founder Trae Stevens, Elon Musk’s tweet that F-35 Lighting II fighter maker Lockheed Martin are “idiots” and that more armed drones are needed in the future, how the Department of Government Efficiency will deliver savings, the importance of process reforms over merely cutting workforce, the importance of cutting cycle times in executing big projects whether building the Pentagon or designing the iPod, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s new highs continuing a year’s long winning streak; Boeing job cuts as CEO Kelly Ortberg is quoted saying his staff spends more time arguing than strategizing how to beat Airbus; the US Air Force order for 15 more KC-46 Pegasus tankers that only entered full operational service in October; as the world ponders whether Donald Trump will continue to support Ukraine, Rheinmetall tells investors at its capital markets day that defense spending is on an upswing, Britain makes defense cuts, retiring 31 helicopters, Watchkeeper UAVs, and three Royal Navy ships; British and French authorities launch a bribery probe into Thales, worries that a Chinese cable-laying ship captained by a Russian may have cut a fiber optic undersea capable between Finland and Germany; and AeroVironment’s $4.1 billion of Blue Halo.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Dr. Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Donald Trump’s drive to continues to fill out his cabinet as he stalls the transition by refusing to fill out the necessary ethics paperwork, whether Congress will recess on Jan 20 to allow controversial nominees to take office for two years without Senate approval, after President Biden allowed Ukraine to fire US-made strike weapons into Russia, Britain followed suit and Ukraine fired 10 Storm Shadow missiles at Russian command bunker killing 18 Russians including a top commander and three North Koreans and wounding one of Pyongyang’s top commanders, Moscow’s amped up nuclear rhetoric and firing new medium-range conventional ballistic missiles at Ukraine, a Chinese cable ship is suspected of severing an undersea cable connecting Finland and Germany on Moscow’s behalf, Biden meets with world leaders including Xi Jinping, the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Sam Paparo issued warnings as India tested a new hypersonic missile, and the international criminal court issued arrest warrant for Bibi Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and Ibrahim al-Masri prompting fury in Washington.
With a new administration headed for power, we’re gathering recommendations for priorities in military aviation. This week, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies executive director Doug Birkey. A little bit of Antiques Airshow. And the week’s top airpower headlines. All powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to fire US-made precision missiles into Russia, Vladimir Putin’s escalating nuclear threats and increasing Russian sabotage operations including suspected cutting of undersea cable between Finland and Germany, recommendations for the new administration on cyber as well as AI and science investment, the need for a stand-alone Cyber Force, the wisdom of Taiwan’s recent statement it would buy US destroyers and F-35 Lighting II fighters to curry favor with President-Elect Trump, and the problematic nature of the incoming administration’s reported plans against senior military officers.
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next year in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, retired Adm. Sir George Zambellas, the Royal Navy’s 100th First Sea Lord who now advises small innovative companies, discusses lessons from the Ukraine war, a “Darwinian” approach to the development of cutting edge technologies including AI without artificial constraints, the need to envision how adversaries will weaponize breakthrough technologies, determining the right balance between manned and autonomous systems, preparing the force to better exploit AI and autonomous capabilities, how allies and partners can work together in more competitive environment and where mutual trust is weakened and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security discusses President Biden’s decision to allow Kyiv to use US supplied weapons against Russia steps up strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and 50,000 Russian and North Korean forces entr the fray, whether the new weapons will change the course of the war that’s expected to end the day Donald Trump returns to the White House, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz’s phone call with Vladimir Putin; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Trump’s picks for top jobs, the implications of the Department of Government Efficiency and deep cuts to spending as well as the federal workforce, takeaways from the Mitchell Institute’s Airpower Future Forum and the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s year-long surge that’s showing signs of slowing as worries about the Department of Government Efficiency to trim federal spending by $2 trillion a year hits services companies, incoming administration fills top national security jobs as focus shifts to key Pentagon management and acquisition jobs, allies adjust to the new reality as Taiwan says it will spend more on defense and buy US destroyers and fighter jets it doesn’t need to curry favor with the incoming president, what Friedrich Merz will mean for Germany and Europe as Olaf Scholtz’s “traffic light” coalition collapses, Boeing jet production resumes, activist investor Elliott buys a $5 billion sake in Honeywell and demands the breakup of the nation’s last big conglomerate, air cargo market softens as worries grow that economy will slow, and the number of parked jets waiting for Geared Turbofan updates increases to 729.
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…Euronaval 2024, Europe’s biggest naval exposition, was held over four days just outside Paris, Fance. Chris Cavas, along with Xavier Vavasseur of Naval News, were among 76,000 people attending the show, and we’ll dive into some of the highlights of what was on display and being talked about. Chris also interviewed the commander of the French carrier task group, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, about the upcoming multi-month Mission Clemenceau 25 deployment to the western Pacific.Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss Donald Trump’s cabinet picks including China hawks like Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as well as controversial picks like Tulsi Gabbard, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Fox host Pete Hegseth; whether House and Senate Republicans will agree to recess thereby allowing Trump’s nominees to take office without a conventional confirmation process; implications of proposed cull of senior military officers under effort to counter DEI and lack of “warrior” ethos; US allies and partners work to repostion themselves to curry favor with incoming administration including Taiwan’s preemptive proposal to boost defense including and buy US Aegis destroyers and F-35 fighters; Russia’s efforts to influence Trump; what’s next in the Middle East after Israeli leaders propose annexing of parts of West Bank and Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed bin Salman labels Israel’s actions as genocide and Qatar ends mediation role; and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Airpower begins with airmen. An innovative US Air Force Reserve artificial intelligence system gets the right people into the jobs where they are most needed. Brigadier General Mike McGinley joins us to explain how the system, called GigEagle, makes the military more effective. And we have the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Andy Green, the president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his business’ growth including $12 billion in orders this year as a leading maker of unmanned underwater systems, and top US government provider of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as Live, Virtual Constructive Training; importance of Mission Technologies HII’s future growth and to offset revised shipbuilding outlook; how AI, ML and LVC technologies are helping improve the company’s performance on ship design, construction and repair; hiring and retaining top talent to continue growth and executing on growing awards; and some recommendations for the incoming administration on how to streamline acquisition processes to field capabilities more quickly.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX — the organizer of the annual Halifax International Security Forum that brings to better government, diplomatic, military, economic and civil society leaders each weekend before Thanksgiving in Halifax, Nova Scotia — discusses the implications of the re-election of former President Trump; the importance of US leadership and the case against isolationism; why it’s vital the international community continue to support Ukraine in its fight for survival; why a loss for Kyiv would be globally destabilizing including encouraging China to attack Taiwan; the importance of allies and partners and whether tariffs and caustic rhetoric could undermine key relationships; the power of disinformation to mobilize voters and citizens; the need for US leaders to make the case why democracy, internationalism and importance of allies; and a look at the agenda of the upcoming forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss the Ukraine war as Russian redoubles efforts to make gains as President-election Trump vows to swiftly end the conflict, and whether Ukraine can survive without US assistance; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the impact of a new Trump administration on US national security, whether control of the White House and Congress increases the prospect for more defense spending or deep cuts as part of a government-wide effort to trim $2 trillion in spending, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss surging US markets Donald Trump’s election for a second term and another Federal Reserve rate cut as economists warn tariff wars would jeopardize a red hot economy; with Republicans in charge of the White House, the Senate and the House, rising hope that defense spending will increase significantly; worried about America’s reliability, Germany is considering killing its debt brake to boost military spending; in a signal of its own, Britain backs the Global Combat Aircraft Program with Italy and Japan even before it concludes its Strategic Defence Review; Boeing machinists return to work ending a seven-week strike as the company considers selling its Jeppesen navigation business; Bombardier, BWXT, Embraer, Hensoldt, Leonardo, Mercury Systems, Palantir, Rheinmetall, Leonardo post results as Rolls and Chemring issue trading statements; and Spirit AeroSystems warns that its future is in doubt.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Donald Trump’s election to another term, what the trouncing of Vice President Kamala Harris means for the Democratic Party, whether Trump’s second term will be more disciplined than his first, the outlook for defense spending with the Senate and House in GOP hands, allies brace for turmoil starting with Ukraine, whether Washington will force Kyiv to immediately end the war or adopt a longer-term lend-lease approach to support Ukraine, outlook for US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and Bibi Netanyahu’s even freer hand in the region as he fires his defense minister Yoav Gallant.
In this special program, the Defense and Aerospace Report team look at the effect of a new Trump presidency on defense, and point out some areas that could benefit from focus in the new administration. Powered by GE Aerospace!
Michael Bayer, a former chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Arnold Punaro, another former NDIA chairman and Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how to ensure a smooth transition from the Biden administration to a second Trump administration, how to get the mechanics right, budget process to keep government running, how Elon Musk could play an instrumental role in revamping government contracting processes to better and more quickly deliver needed capabilities at scale, and the prospect the incoming president may choose to sack senior military leaders and replace them with new ones better suited to executing the new administration’s agenda.
Sam Caucci, the CEO and founder of 1Huddle — an innovative workforce performance and training software — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how work is changing in the wake of the covid pandemic, employers’ demand that their workforce returns full time to the office, employees desire for greater flexibility to work remotely, using AI and other technologies as a training tool for civilians and military members, and the fundraising environment for new tech companies including New Jersey’s support for innovative firms.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine as Moscow celebrates its day of national unity, Russian battlefield gains as Ukraine increasingly struggles not to lose, whether Vladimir Putin will be satisfied retaking Donbas and Luhansk or will drive to Kyiv, Ukraine’s ability to stop Russia if a breakthrough happens, and how the outcome of the US presidential election will shape the Ukraine war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense implications of the US presidential election, a review of his November “scorecard,” takeaways from last week’s earnings reports and what to expect from companies disclosing results next week, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s bumpy week; investor questions on neck-and-neck US election and former President Trump as consensus winner; machinist union leaders back the latest offer from Boeing as the company raises $23.5 billion; AerCap, Airbus, Crane, and Leonardo DRS report earnings as HII announces $11 billion in new mission support contracts but lower than expected performance in its shipbuilding that combined with a fire at BAE System’s submarine yard at Barrow-in-Furness raises questions about plan to equip Australia with nuclear powered attack submarines; whether difficulties obtaining new subs could drive Australia to become first export customer for Northrop Grumman’s B-21 bomber as US Air Force considers buying more than 100 of the twin-engine jets; Canberra’s $14 billion plan to bolster domestic missile production; and market perceptions of startups like Shield AI.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the neck-and-neck US presidential race with days to go until the election; growing concern that Russia has turned the tables on Ukraine with 8,000 North Korea soldiers to help push Ukrainian forces from Kursk as the West runs out of weapons and interest in the war; Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s snap election backfires as the LDP loses ground; China’s publicly announces its first ICBM test in four decades as message to Washington that Beijing can reach US soil with its new DF-41 missile; North Korea also tested a long-range missile; Australia says it will improve its missile defenses; Israel attacks Iran’s air defenses and strikes its missile and drone industries as the war continues; and the LA Dodgers rout the NY Yankees in five games to win their eight World Series.
Since Gen. Mike Holmes retired as Air Combat Command chief, the Air Force has embarked on a broad re-optimization to better compete with other great powers, paused the main effort of its Next Generation Air Dominance project, and engaged in real shooting operations. We’ll get his views on the service today and its way ahead. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs who also advises on the agenda at the annual Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia every November, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how pollsters are calculating support for the candidates in the US presidential race, counting those that are hard to count like young voters or those who aren’t candid with pollsters, what’s driving the disconnect between the reality of a roaring US economy and the perception that it’s bad, voter sentiment worldwide as trends mirror those in the United States and more.
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next year in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Dr. Alexander Miller, the US Army’s chief technology officer and senior adviser for science and technology for Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the changes needed to better take advantage of rapidly changing innovation cycles, the future technologies that will have the biggest impact on warfighting, fielding what the Army needs more rapidly and in large quantities, how to the Army can benefit from commercial innovation and better harness car and industrial product makers to satisfy military needs at speed and scale, a more nuanced Ukraine lessons that are applicable beyond the context of the current conflict, whether the big problems posed by Chinese and Russian militaries have been framed to better guide innovation efforts to solve specific challenges, role of allied and partner S&T as well as industrial capabilities to equip US forces, and more. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses President Biden’s National Security Memorandum on AI; role of Russia, China and Iran in cyber and misinformation operations to shape the outcome of next week’s US elections; takeaways from his recent visit to Ukraine; outlook for both allied and US support for Kyiv, especially depending on who wins the White House; and the outlook for spending; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the impact Israel’s strike on Iran will have on defense sentiment; North Korea’s role in Ukraine; analysis of key themes from US and European earnings reports last week; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the end of Wall Street’s winning streak; Boeing’s union rejects the deal brokered by the company and labor leadership, prolonging the strike that’s crippled production as the jetmaker also says it’s considering selling part of its storied space business; Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, GE Aerospace, General Dynamics, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, MTU, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Safran, Teledyne, Textron and Thales report earnings; eVTOL company Lillium runs out of cash Volocopter, Vertical, and Overair also struggle; a version of Lockheed Martin’s C-130 — dubbed the E-130J — will replace the Navy’s Boeing 707-based E-6 Mercury nuclear command and control jets; declining US Air Force fighter availability rates including for the F-35 that’s ready a hair under 52 percent; Saab notes delays with the T-7 Red Tail trainer it’s jointly producing with Boeing; a recap of the National Business Aviation Association tradeshow in Las Vegas; and European security views as the US presidential election approaches.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello, and Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US presidential race as it enters its last week, the world awaits Israel’s strike on Iran as Secretary of State Antony Blinken makes his 11th trip to the Middle East to broker a ceasefire, the White House issues new national security AI guidance, Europe worries about North Korea troops fighting on Russia’s behalf against Ukraine, a progress report on Germany’s Zeitenwender and whether Europe can support Ukraine if America under a second Trump term withdraws support for Kyiv, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet for the first time since the bloody 2019 clash between the nations in the Himalayas after Canada again accused India of targeting and killing Canadian nationals critical of the New Delhi government — a charge endorsed by Washington — Japanese elections over the weekend, and the decision by the Washington Post and the LA Times against endorsing a presidential candidate over reprisal fears.
In February, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin gave us the details on the service’s re-optimization plans in an exclusive interview. This week, the Chief released a letter to the entire service detailing progress toward that goal. Vago and J.J. review where the service is and how much lies ahead. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
Mackenzie Eaglen and Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US defense budget outlook in the near and mid term, investment in weaponry that continues to lag even as stocks are rapidly depleted through American support for Ukraine and Israel, China’s actual defense spending levels what why it should spur more alarm and action, the need for greater innovation and industrial base capacity, how the election outcome could reshape US alliances as well as interest in American weaponry, and whether Congress will approve enough additional funding to cover the costs of modernizing the nation’s antiquated nuclear triad that will otherwise gut investment in conventional capabilities.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report she co-authored with Alexis Day — What Difference Does it Make? — that delves into the role of women in international security decision making.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how different the defense industrial base could look by 2030; takeaways from AeroLambda Group’s Aerospace & Defense Conference and the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting last week; how heritage companies are adapting to better compete against new competitors; what DoD has to do to align its ambitious operational plans with the reality that it’s industrial base lacks the capacity for a prolonged high-intensity conflict whether for new production, munitions or damage repair; Boeing’s outlook at major defense and aerospace firms prepare to report earnings; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s sixth straight winning week; Boeing and machinists strike proposed deal that includes a 35 percent pay raise to end 5-week strike as the jetmaker moves to raise $25 billion in debt and stock plus borrow $10 billion; Bell decides to move V-280 Valor aerostructure work in house from Spirit AeroSystems; impact of the move what Boeing would pay for its former subsidiary; Airbus to cut 2,500 jobs from its defense and space business; partnership between L3 Harris and Embraer to jointly market the KC390 ends; L3 protests US Army’s decision to award the HADES contract to Sierra Nevada; another multiyear to Sikorsky carrying UH-60 Blackhawk production through 2032; France bars Israeli companies from the upcoming Euronaval trade show in Paris; takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and The Aerospace Event; and what to expect next week at the National Business Aviation Association tradeshow in Las Vegas.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Dr. Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the expectation the National Defense Authorization Act, appropriations and disaster relief legislation will move quickly after lawmakers return to Washington after the election; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s “heartburn letter”to the Hill; Israel kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar; President Biden deploys America’s premier air and missile defense system to Israel to relieve pressure on US warships guarding Israel while calling on Jerusalem to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza otherwise risk weapons deliveries; the US Navy demonstrates its ability to reload weapons at sea; US aircraft including B-2 stealth bombers strike Houthi missile sites and storage facilities in Yemen; former President Trump calls Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a great salesman who never should have let the war start as the Ukrainian leader says he told the former president that either Kyiv joins NATO or it develops nuclear weapons; South Korean intelligence says North Korea is deploying 12,000 troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine; four Indo-Pacific defense ministers join NATO ministers; and China’s economy sputters as Beijing escalates tensions around Taiwan.
We review The Aerospace Event with two of our fellow presenters there – Richard Aboulafia, who you know from our business report, and Dr. Kevin Michaels, both managing directors at AeroDynamic Advisory. And we have the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper, a retired US army colonel who’s the director of national security studies at the Association of the United States Army reviews the key takes from this week's AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition; and Stephanie Meyer, a PHD candidate who’s helping lead Auburn university’s entry into Indy autonomous challenge — a 12-team unmanned racing circuit that is developing cutting edge technologies that can improve future unmanned air and ground vehicles with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dr. John Nagl, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who is now a professor of Warfighting Studies in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations at the Army War College, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the work he co-authored with Katie Crombe — A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force — the strategic, operational and tactical lessons of the war; lessons that are applicable to Europe, the Indo-Pacific and universally; the notion of transparency on the battlefield and its implications for operations; harnessing rapid innovation cycles and fielding capabilities at speed and scale; role of the Army in Europe and the Indo-Pacific; and how the Ukraine war ends.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s new highs on stronger than expected bank and financial earnings; Boeing pre-reports third quarter earnings including a $3 billion charge, 17,000 layoffs, the end of 767 freighter production, and delayed 777X deliveries as the company accuses the International Association of Machinists of negotiating in bad faith, a charge the union makes about the jetmaker; Airbus blames CFM and Spirit AeroSystems for its woes; France announces the new F5 version of the Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and the a combat unmanned vehicle; the Justice Department accuses Saab of corruption in Brazil; and what to expect at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference and tradeshow as well as The Aerospace Event.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Venter for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Biden’s call for Congress to approve emergency aid in the wake of two devastating and deadly hurricanes; electoral impact of historic amounts of disinformation that have hampered rescue and recovery efforts; update on Russia’s war on Ukraine as as Moscow makes incremental progress as Russian casualties top 600,000; Ukraine’s efforts to stockpile ammunition and protect itself from US election outcome next month; Laos hosts ASEAN; Beijing overreacts despite a measured address by Lai Ching-te on Taiwan’s National Day; Vice President Harris names Iran as a leading threat; Israel Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu calls on Lebanon to rid itself of Hezbollah as Israel continues operations in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, as Jerusalem considers retaliation against Iran’s recent missile attack that’s expected to target the country’s oil infrastructure.
As the People’s Republic of China celebrates 75 years as a nation, its military capability and territorial ambitions continue to expand. Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, updates us on what that means for their challenge to US air capabilities. And we have a bumper crop of airpower headlines, including about the SR-71. All powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new report — “Before the Balloon Goes Up: Mobilizing the Defense Industrial Base now to Prepare for Future Conflict” — why he believes the United States isn’t prepared for prolonged future conflicts; industrial lessons from World War II, MRAP vehicles, Covid-19, and the Ukraine war; the importance of senior leadership in driving change; why 2024 is different than 1938; what America has to do to step up its production capacity; how to harness commercial industry for the challenge ahead; role of allies and partners; and an update on the Biden administration’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy.
On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Gen. Randy George, the US Army’s 41st chief of staff, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the biggest lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine; the problems that Russia, China and other adversaries are posing that must be solved; whether different armies are needed to fight in Europe and Asia, and what’s common between them; preparing the force intellectually, operationally, doctrinally and culturally for the highly kinetic nature of a possible future fight; how to move faster to field needed capabilities at scale; modernizing on a flat budget; his “Transforming in Contact” initiative and how much of the Army has to change to transform the force; the changing nature of advantage and building a culture that can adapt rapidly to maintain advantage despite changing threats; what the Army needs from industry; tradeoffs that can be made among the military services to better coordinate roles, missions and capabilities; recruiting and training the right personnel; and a look ahead to the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference and tradeshow Oct. 14-16, 2024.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s withdrawal from Vuledhar and the implications of the latest Russian advance in Donbas, the latest on the war including the capture of one of Russia’s few Okhotnik combat drones, how weather will change the fight, topics for discussion at the Association of the United States Army’s conference and tradeshow next week, and lessons from analytical failures associated with the Russo-Ukrainian war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense implications of the conflict between Israel and Iran one the first anniversary of Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel that precipitated a broader regional war, defense and industrials scenarios to consider as US elections approach, Army issues to consider at AUSA, the impact of deadly hurricanes on public perceptions of defense spending, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian Wall Street ends on a high on stronger than expected US jobs growth, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron tells US financiers how grave the country’s financial situation is, Xi Jinping announces a major government stimulus plan as the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 75th anniversary, Boeing’s strike continues as the company’s management considers the scope of an equity raise and questions arise about the valuation of the planned acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, and as Iran strikes Israel with history’s largest ballistic missile attack, some thoughts on the economics of air and missile defense.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello, and Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US presidential race enters its last month as a devastating hurricane and growing unrest in the Middle East could decide who ends up in the White House, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran retaliates with a massive ballistic missile barrage, Jerusalem vows retaliation and President Biden confirms strikes on Iran’s energy facilities have been discussed in a move that sends oil prices soaring, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte succeeds Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s new secretary general, Ukraine retreats from Vuledhar as Russia’s strategy of throwing of men and weapons into fight helps gain ground in Donbas, the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 75th anniversary by dialing up coercion in the South China Sea, and Shigeru Ishiba succeed Fumio Kishida as Japan’s 65th prime minister.
If it goes up in the air and especially if it goes fast, former Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Air Force chief scientist Dr. Mark Lewis has been deep in the details. He joins us to update the latest technologies on and coming to the battlefield, including a great primer on hypersonics. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Mike Smith, the president and CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s sweep of products, approach to expanding in the US market, it’s investment strategy for growth including $100 million acquisition of a Philadelphia shipyard, key to driving innovation the innovation and capacity gains the Pentagon seeks, lessons from his tenure at BAE Systems on growing a US subsidiary of a foreign company in the United States, where he expects from the company in 10 years and at the Association of the United States Army’s upcoming conference and tradeshow.
Dan Tenney, the vice president for strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss lessons from the Ukraine war that are shaping his $16 billion enterprise; the capabilities the US Army needs to counter China, Russia and other threats; the keys to scaling hardware and software; supporting to nations increasingly seeking sovereign capabilities; competing in a market where the Pentagon is increasingly rewarding innovative firms that invest to more economically develop products that address military needs; and whether DoD clearly understands the big problems it needs to solve.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses what’s next now that Israel has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other of the Lebanese Shia militia’s top commanders as well as truck Houthi targets in Yemen; how the moves could help deter Tehran from further provocations; and challenges associated with impending Israeli ground operations in Southern Lebanon; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the broader investment implications of continuing unrest in the Middle East; broader geoeconomic and geopolitical takeaways from the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Forum in New York last week, including Russia’s improving if more expensive defense capabilities and that the US-China relationship is “stabilizing,” and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street sets another record on sinking inflation and more Fed rate cuts; Boeing’s strike continues as questions aspire about CEO Kelly Ortberg’s leadership; the National Transportation Safety Board recommends action on Boeing 737 jetliners after a recent rudder incident on a United Airlines flight; HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding discovered and reported to the Navy that one of its workers had “knowingly” made defective welds in submarines and aircraft carriers, although not in critical areas; suddenly blended-wing-body aircraft have become all the rage as the COP29 climate summit prepares to convene Nov. 11-22 in Azerbaijan; President Biden’s denial of permission for Western nations to allow Ukraine to use donated weapons against Russia; budget challenges across Europe; and a far right win in Austria.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisan approach to securing a stopgap spending measure to keep the government funded until after the election; what’s on the lame duck agenda; despite pressure from closest allies and Ukraine’s leader President Biden continues to block use of Western weapons against Russia after Vladimir Putin’s latest nuclear threats; the message other nuclear-armed states are learning when Washington is so easily deterred by nuclear saber-rattling; China tests an ICBM as its first in class nuclear attack submarine sinks pierside; AUKUS Pillar 2; Israel expands its offensive against Hezbollah and Lebanon while also increasing operations in the West Bank; and analysis of a close US presidential race five weeks before Election Day.
We’ve been talking a lot about the USAF recently, so it’s time for some naval contemplation. Longtime F-14 RIO Cdr. Ward Carroll joins us to talk Naval Aviation, including its future and current air and missile defense ops. Dr. Tom Karako of CSIS brings us up to date on other air and missile defense news. And we have headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this week’s Technology Report, John Cofrancesco, the founder of the new artificial intelligence firm Applied AI Company, discusses takeaways from the congressional hearing with CrowdStrike executives on the recent software update error from the cyber security firm that precipitated global disruptions, the role of AI to make to avert such mistakes in the future, how the Pentagon’s AI ecosystem is evolving and the key to driving innovation, supply chain lessons in the wake of Israel’s use of global supply chains to produce exploding pagers and walkie talkies, countering spoofing of critical control systems including on commercial aircraft, and helping foster a new generation of more cyber and AI savvy legislators and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Amb. John Herbst, a former US ambassador to both Uzbekistan and Ukraine who is now the senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington to convince President Biden to allow Western weapons to be used against targets in Russia, the Biden administration’s logic in blocking the use of weapons against sites used by Moscow to attack Ukraine, why US forbearance is merely emboldening Vladimir Putin, why it’s vital Ukraine wins the war and what’s needed to achieve that aim, how America and its allies need to do to better deter Russia, the need for a strategy to counter Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, whether Europe can support Ukraine if US leaders decide against further assistance, and how much longer the conflict is likely to continue.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s long-range attack on Russia’s ammunition depot at Toropets destroying months worth of artillery shells and other weapons; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington to ask President Biden to reconsider his opposition to the use of Western weapons against Russia; and how both sides are rapidly adapting unmanned systems and defenses; Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the budget outlook as House Speaker Mike Johnson seeks to fund the government beyond Sept. 30; takeaways from the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow last week; the outlook for the Air Force’s flagship manned fighter element of the Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems that is being reconsidered by the service’s leadership; changing industrial and threat dynamics; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian discuss another big week on Wall Street after a larger than expected Federal Reserve rate cut; the industrial impact of President Biden’s decision to use US arms export regulations to veto Britain and France’s desire to allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia; with Boeing machinists on strike, CEO Kelly Ortberg initiates a furlough plan suggesting a longer work stoppage; news report that Ted Colbert will be replaced by Steve Parker at Boeing Defense Space and Security; China Development Bank’s order 80 Airbus A320 and 50 Boeing Max jets; duration of strike by workers at Textron’s Cessna and Hawker; the US Army picks Anduril’s Ghost X and Performance Drone Works’ C-100 as the service’s company-level “attritable” drone; Rob Dewar, father of the Bombardier C series, joins JetZero; outlook for the penetrating counter air element of the US Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance family of programs in the wake of the Air and Space Forces Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference last week and possible substitutes for the high-end manned fighter; what a new USAF plan means for the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Aircraft Program or the SCAP effort involving France, Germany and Spain; the USAF’s request for information for a next-generation tanker; the credit rating implications of a lengthy Boeing strike; and the Boeing-Embraer agreement after the American company called off its union with the Brazilian firm.
On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss Congress' failure to pass a measure to keep government open after 30 Sept., Ukraine continues to call for Western arms to be cleared for use against Russia as President Biden stalls approvals as Russian forces push back in Kursk and threaten to make significant gains in Donbas, the leaders of the Quad prepare to convene in Delaware as China expands its offensive operations to Australia and Japan, the White House prepares to block Nippon Steel's offer to buy US Steel, AUKUS celebrates its second birthday, and Israel uses exploding pagers and walkie-talkies to stymie Hezbollah's command and control as the Lebanese militia and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vow retaliation.
We spent three days at the Air and Space Forces Association conference. What did we learn? We review the biggest airpower event of the year with John Tirpak of Air and Space Forces magazine and Dean David Deptula of the Mitchell Institute. Plus we catch up on CCAs and the F-35 with Matt Milas, President of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. And airpower headlines beyond AFA. Powered by GE!
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Raj Shah, the former director of the Defense Innovation Unit who is a cofounder of Shield Capital, and Dr. Chris Kirchhoff, the former director of strategic planning at the National Security Council during the Obama administration who founded the Pentagon’s Silicon Valley office, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss their new book — Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War — their concern the United States isn’t ready for a new era of warfare, the most important lessons from the Ukraine war, whether the Pentagon has identified the big problems it needs to solve to prevail in wars against China and Russia, the importance of presidential leadership in driving change across DoD, progress since DIU was founded, the venture capital environment, and role of allies and partners. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., a former director of the National Security Agency and commander of US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the recent revelation that Chinese hackers have for the first time taken the provocative step of installing malware in key US infrastructure; how Washington must respond to restore deterrence, the range of actions the Biden administration should consider including a targeted cyber operations to damage the Chinese economy; actions Congress should take to curb Chinese access to US technology and networks; countering the growing coordination among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea; increasingly sophisticated Russian efforts to undermine US elections; and why creating an independent cyber force is a bad idea.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the potential impact of the “Future of European Competitiveness” report drafted by former Italian prime minister and European Central Bank President Dr. Mario Draghi on behalf of the European Union; takeaways from the Chamber of Commerce’s Aerospace Summit, the Future of Defense event by New America and Arizona State University, and Morgan Stanley’s Laguna conference including analysis of Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden’s comments that the company could reenter the stealthy fighter element of the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance effort if the service makes requirements changes; what to expect at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow Sept. 16-18; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street’s best week of the year as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announces roadmap to cut short-term borrowing rates; Boeing’s International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers overwhelmingly vote to strike; analysis of the market prospects for the innovative RISE engine developed by GE and Safran through their CFM partnership that just celebrated its 50th anniversary; Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden says that the company is willing reenter the Air Force’s Penetrating Counter-Air program as service leaders reconsider the requirements for the key element of the Next Generation Air Dominance effort; Netherlands is buying six more F-35 fighters; the dual between Lockheed Martin’s C-130 and Embraer’s KC-390 transports; and what to expect at the Air and Space Forces’ Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference next week.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss congressional madness as lawmakers return to Washington, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville delays promotion of new US Army Pacific commander, the national security implications of the fiery presidential debate between vice president Kamala Harris and former President Trump, President Biden to allow Ukraine to use US weapons against Russian territory as Vladimir Putin again threatens the alliance, Asia’s focus on US-China shadowboxing amid the US election as Kim Jung Un reveals his top secret uranium enrichment plant and calls for accelerating nuclear weapons production, and the controversy over Israel’s killing of an American peace protestor and more UN humanitarian workers.
The US Air Force is conducting simultaneous, ambitious programs to build aircraft, missiles, and other systems, all while reoptimizing for great power competition. The head of Air Force Materiel Command, General Duke Richardson, gets into the details, including Sentinel news. And the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Greg Allen, the director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Doug Berenson, a partner in the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Practice at the Oliver Wyman consultancy, to discuss their commentary — “Why Is the U.S. Defense Industrial Base So Isolated from the U.S. Economy?” — the historic benefits of having a unitary national industrial base; how the defense industry became increasingly isolated from commercial industry and its implications on innovation, competition as well as scaling production; how the US government can attract more commercial firms to the fold; importance of presidential leadership and the government making clear the big military problems it needs to solve to spur industry to find solutions; the challenges faced by the current innovation ecosystem; and the need to tap allied industrial capacity. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Amb. Mohammed Siad Doualeh, Djibouti’s ambassador to the United States as well as the country’s representative to the United Nations, discusses key issues that need to be addressed by world leaders when the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York, whether the worst famine in four decades can be averted because of ongoing conflict in Sudan, how to address Houthi attacks in the Red Sea that have precipitated a drop in commercial traffic through the key waterway and threaten ecological disaster as ships are damaged and sunk, a survey of regional crises and progress made over the past year, how regional conflict and instability is driving global migration, combatting mpox now that the World Health Organization has declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern in the wake of an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, countering Russian and Chinese dis- and misinformation, and advice on how the two US presidential candidates and campaigns should think of Africa through Election Day and beyond with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses mounting Russian pressure on Ukrainian forces in Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar, the strategic importance of the two to Russian planes to gain ground in Donbas, Ukraine’s ability to stymie Moscow’s plans, Kyiv’s latest call to use Western arms against Russia, and the stability of Vladimir Putin’s regime as Ukrainian forces seize more ground in Kursk; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses “the surprises” from the Russo-Ukrainian war, how the US is countering Chinese economic coersion, Boeing’s importance for broader US industrial health and competitiveness, an analysis of the economic and tax policies of the two presidential candidates, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian discuss a down week on Wall Street ending in a hard sell off; Airbus and Embraer release their order and delivery figures; Pentagon acquisition and sustainment undersecretary Dr. Bill LaPlante’s decision to rescind a key approval for the the Milestone B approval of the US Air Force’s Sentinel Next Generation Strategic Deterrent program led by Northrop Grumman; the European Air Safety Agency has ordered inspections of Rolls Royce engines on Airbus 350-1000 jets after a fire on a Cathay Pacific airliner; Boeing’s unionized workers will vote Sept. 12 on whether to strike; the Air Force will buy from Boeing more of Leonardo’s MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters; NASA prepares to return the Boeing’s StarLiner spacecraft to earth; with the Pentagon’s decision to extend the lifespan of the F-35 Lightning II fighter program from 2077 to 2088, the total program cost is up to $2 trillion even as unit prices for the jets are coming down; Philippine’s interest in 40 new combat aircraft.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what to expect from Congress when they return to DC for 13 days before recessing for the election; update on presidential, Senate and House races with only nine weeks left to Election Day; whether Ukraine’s Kursk offensive will prove a costly miscalculation as Russia advances on Donbas; Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to shuffle his cabinet as Kyiv continues to lobby Washington and its allies to allow use of Western weapons against Russia; the US government alleges Russian and Chinese interference in American politics; takeaways from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s Beijing visit as a Chinese ship again collides with a Filipino one; and Bibi Netanyahu brushes aside mass protests demanding as well as what’s said to be the final US-Egypt-Qatar proposal to end of the Gaza war.
DoD’s Replicator initiative has been something of an enigma from the start. Veteran analyst Dr. Ted Harshberger joins us to explain where Replicator is now, what comes next, and how (or if) it fits with NGAD. Plus a 1985 munition proposal you never heard of. And, of course, we have headlines in airpower, all thanks to GE!
Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense budget outlook as Congress returns to Washington briefly before recessing until after the election, other defense and aerospace legislative priorities for the association, how the presidential candidates would impact the US defense and aerospace industrial base, priority investment areas to grow US capabilities, the impact of the Biden administration’s first ever industrial policy and PPBE reforms, and more.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street ended the week strong before the Labor Day holiday, the US government hits RTX with a $200 million fine for improperly sharing technology with China as analysts ask whether more companies will also be penalized, Serbia orders Rafale fighters by Dassault Aviation while Thailand opts for the E- and F-model of the Gripen by Saab, whey Airbus and Sikorsky both decided against bidding for a UK helicopter contract, UK defense budget outlook as Starmer government makes clear cuts are coming, Britain and Germany strike a wide-ranging treaty that spans defense, science, technology and deeper economic cooperation, defense industrial implications as Germany’s right wing AFD party gains ground in Thuringia, and Britain concludes arms being used by Israel in Gaza could be used in violation of international humanitarian law, immediately suspending 30 licenses for components for fighter planes, helicopters and drones.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral and former INDOPACOM J-3 who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a US presidential campaign in full swing, controversy over former President Trump’s campaign visit to Arlington Cemetery, Ukraine continues its advance into Russia as analysts say Moscow lacks the people or equipment to stop it, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s visit to Beijing as China is accused of stealing US internet service provider data and Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Sam Paparo says US ships might have to escort Filipino ships being bullied by Chinese forces, the US Navy awards Korea’s Hanwha Ocean a contract to repair a US logistics support ship, and Middle East tensions soar as Israel launches air strikes in the West Bank as Jerusalem agrees to suspend Gaza strikes to allow a UN emergency vaccination drive after the first polio case in a generation was detected in the enclave.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft promises to redefine how the U.S. Air Force flies and fights. But what is it, and how do we get from here to there? The author of a new report on CCAs, Gregory Allen, director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technology at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, join us with some of the answers. And of course, we have headlines in airpower. Thanks, GE!
Bill Lynn, former deputy defense secretary and current Leonardo DRS Chairman and CEO, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the budget outlook, growth markets in a tight budget environment, how the two presidential candidates would impact defense spending if elected, the impact of the Biden administration’s first ever defense industrial strategy, whether long-running reform efforts are changing how the Pentagon does business, how the company decides what to make in house and what to buy from suppliers as analysts suggest that vertical integration is increasingly key to accelerating programs and better controlling cost, how the Pentagon will regard industry for their investment as companies like Anduril raise private capital to develop weapons for the Pentagon, and a status report on Leonardo DRS as the second anniversary of it’s December 2022 listing approaches.
Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the budget outlook as Congress prepares to return to DC early next month, the Pentagon’s innovation efforts, why vertical integration will be increasingly important for Pentagon contractors, Anduril’s growth strategy, and why former President Trump’s endorsement of a Space National Guard is a bad idea.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discusses his takeaways from the Democratic National Convention and compares national security messaging from both parties presidential campaigns, a growing sense that the Russo-Ukrainian war is approaching stalemate in 2025, his latest essay “The Four Rungs on the Defense Wall of Worry,” and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s statement that the central bank would cut interest rates by half a percent especially after employment figures were adjusted downward; Sierra Nevada wins the US Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System or HADES spyplane contract; Boeing sells 36 new AH-64 helicopters to South Korea, but the company’s 777X jetliner is grounded after the company discovered a structural issue that will be expensive to fix; the last of 23 VH-92 helicopters were delivered to the Marine Corps by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky as the president’s new helicopter, but it can’t replace aging Blackhawks and Sea Kings until the new aircraft is cleared to land on the White House lawn; companies like Bell that selected Spirit AeroSystems for defense aerostructures work are said to be considering ending those contracts after Boeing buys its former unit; and NASA decides two astronauts stuck in space since their Boeing StarLiner experienced problems on its maiden flight to the International Space Station will return to earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss takeaways from the Democratic convention that nominated Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the party’s candidates for president and vice president; national security themes from Chicago; Ukraine’s offensive into Russia continues as Russian forces gain ground in Donbas; Beijing protests senior US officials meeting with the Dalai Lama; Chinese and Philippine ships collide in the South China Sea; the Gaza war continues as hopes of a ceasefire fade; Iran wavers on attacking Israel; and top Israel security leaders warn that Jewish extremists represent an existential threat to Israel.
Modernization, low reenlistment, recruitment challenges, and re-orienting a force for great power competition aren’t just concerns for the active Air Force. We’ll talk these issues and more with the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Lieutenant General John Healy. And of course, the week’s top headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
James Chew, the global group director for aerospace and defense at Cadence Design Systems who also is the chair of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Science and Engineering Technology Division, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how DoD can better harness commercial innovation for military needs, the key to greater agility, making tradeoffs to field systems at the speed of relevance at affordable cost, impact of microelectronics investment and where else the government needs to invest to bolster US industrial capacity, and whether efforts to throttle adversary nations like China can succeed.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs who also advises on the agenda at the annual Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia every November, discusses the latest polling in the US presidential race, top issues for voters and where national security ranks among their concerns, notion of immigration as a national security issue, how public perceptions can shape more thoughtful immigration policies, impact of vice presidential choices on race, impact of the Gaza war on Democrats and how unruly pro-Palestinian demonstrations could undermine Harris’ tough on crime image, perceptions of Israel in the wake of the Gaza war, global security concerns, perceptions of Russia and Ukraine as the war grinds on, and an update on right wing as well as populist movements worldwide with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss Ukraine’s continuing invasion that’s seized more than 1,000 square kilometers in Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow’s inability to stop Ukraine’s advance, how Vladimir Putin will respond, and whether Kyiv’s gambit will change the vector of the conflict; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses a draft paper by Arizona State University’s Hendrik Bessembinder — Which Stocks Generated the Highest Long-Term Returns — over the past century, Rheinmetall’s proposed $950 million acquisition of Loc Performance, Boeing’s big week for F-15 fighters as well as AH-64 helicopters and E-7 radar planes, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street’s strongest strongest run in nine months on a brighter US economic forecast after lower than expected inflation; a big week for Boeing as Israel orders 50 new F-15 Eagle II fighters with plans to refurbish 25 older model jets, Poland commits to buying 96 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and the US Air Force puts the E-7 radar plane under a development contract; coming off record earnings, Rheinmetall proposes the $950 million acquisition of Loc Performance, a Michigan based engineering company with a role on key US Army’s vehicle programs as well as agricultural and construction equipment; the Global Business Travel Association says that business travel won’t return to pre pandemic levels until 2027; and Ukraine’s widening invasion of Russia.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss a US presidential race that continues to tighten as Democrats will gather next week in Chicago for their nominating convention, Harris’ and former President Trump’s national security views, Ukrainian forces’ depending attack into Russia, the State Department’s export control exemptions to realize the AUKUS partnership for new nuclear attack submarines or other technologies, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s decision to step down at the end of the month, US-Japan-Korea relations deepen as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol proposes a new North Korea policy, Israel steps up operations in Gaza compounding the humanitarian crisis in the enclave as Iran and its proxies continue to deliberate on how to respond to Israel’s recent assassination of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as Israel redraws the West Bank to permanently preclude a possible future Palestinian state.
The F-15EX Eagle II isn’t your (grand) father’s fighter. It’s in demand around the world. We’ll find out all about it – and hints of things to come -- from Mark Sears, Boeing’s VP of Fighters, and Rob Novotny, their Director of Business Development for Fighters. And we have the week’s top headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Dan Fata, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO during the Bush administration who is now the principal at the Fata Advisory consultancy, and Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff at the department of homeland security who is now with the new technology advisory firm Washington Office, discuss the new DC chapter of the Capital Factory in Austin — Station DC — that aims to become the nexus of the technology ecosystem in Washington, the importance of bringing together the entire tech community from small firms to heritage primes and everything in between, Station DC’s role in bringing together industry, the Pentagon as well as lawmakers, the bottlenecks innovative firms see as impediments to progress and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses his recent participation in a wargame in Taiwan that explored how China can economically coerce the island democracy in ways below the threshold for a US response, how Washington and its allies need to rethink their approach to Beijing’s novel techniques to undermine Taiwan and other regional governments, efforts to better bring together Indo-Pacific and European allies toe better deter China, whether US efforts to bolster its warfighting capabilities are making progress quickly enough to continue deterring Beijing, and the role of US Air Force B-2 bombers in the recent sinking of a decommissioned amphibious assault ship and the need for more and longer-range anti-ship weapons with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss Ukraine’s offensive into Russia’s Kursk region; whether the risks of the operations are worth the rewards; how Moscow will respond; and what to expect from the Army 2024 arms show; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies conference last week; Anduril’s move to raise $1.5 billion for a giant new production facility for large-scale unmanned systems production; prospects for a wider regional war as Iran considering attacking Israel after Jerusalem assassinated key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders; Ukraine’s attack into Russia; polling in US presidential race and Vice President Harris’ national security stance; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss world markets rocked by Japan’s biggest stock plunge since 1987; Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg tells employees he and his team will be walking factory floors — and does so on Day One at the company’s helm; NASA suggests that two astronauts launched on Boeing’s StarLiner spacecraft in June might have to be recovered by SpaceX next February; Rheinmetall posts record-breaking sales; Anduril raises $1.5 billion to “rebuild the arsenal of democracy” by “hyperscale” hiring, investment and facilities for new weapons production; a Voepass airlines ATR 72 regional turboprop crashed outside Sao Paolo killing all 62 aboard; British Airways and Virgin have both suspended flights to China; and Joby Aviation claims it will start commercial air taxi services in Dubai next year.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss Vice President Harris’ decision to tap Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate as the Democratic ticket gains ground on former President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance; Ukraine launches an offensive into Russia; the leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar call on Israel and Gaza to strike a ceasefire that would release hostages and end bloodshed in the devastated Palestinian enclave; Australia and America deepen their already deep partnership; Norway joins a US carrier deployment in the Pacific; Germany joins the UN Command policing the inter-Korean border; and Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief Bill LaPlante is seeking weapons cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
It’s been a very busy few weeks in airpower, with a new blue-ribbon panel to reconsider NGAD and NGAS, FLRAA going into full scale development, F-16s arriving in Ukraine, and much more. Aviation Week defense editor Steve Trimble helps make sense of it all, including the top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, discusses the new report he authored — “Russia’s Digital Tech Isolationism: Domestic Innovation, Digital Fragmentation, and the Kremlin’s Push to Replace Western Digital Technology” — how Moscow uses its digital technology for global advantage, impact of sanctions that have driven a rise in domestic capability and greater partnership and reliance on China, the global market for Russian and Chinese digital technologies among nations that want to operate outside US and Western sanctions, how to counter Russian dis and misinformation, and outlook for social media regulation in Washington with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dmitri Alperovich, the chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator think tank who co-founded the cyber security giant CrowdStrike , discusses the new book he coauthored with Garrett Graff — “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century.” — similarities and lessons from the West’s Cold War competition with the Soviet Union, why China is more vulnerable than the Soviet Union and how the West can win the contest, how best to cooperate with Beijing, and a report card on US efforts to improve cyber security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss last week’s deal that saw Russia exchange innocent Americans and Russian activists for Russian assassins, spies and hackers, and whether the deal will prompt Moscow to take more hostages in the future; update on the Ukraine war and growing worries that Kyiv is losing the conflict and if so, what Western nations can do to change the battlefield dynamic; a new Duma law that prohibits soldiers from using their personal electronic devices on the front; and how Vice President Harris and those around her regard Russia, Ukraine and NATO; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the sharp market drop on Aug. 5, 2024, and how global worries impacted defense and aerospace equities; a look at Boeing’s results last week and news that Kelly Ortberg will succeed Dave Calhoun as the giant’s CEO; defense budget prospects as Senate appropriators cleared 11 of 12 spending bills before leaving town for August; prospect of a wider Middle East war war as Iran vows retaliation after Israel assassinated top Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, including one in Tehran; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street meltdown on a sharper than expected drop in new jobs even as the Federal Reserve said rate cuts are imminent; Boeing taps one of the industry host highly regarded retirees — former Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg — as its new chief executive as the company also reports dismal earnings and needs to raise capital; Airbus, BAE Systems, MTU, and Rolls-Royce also report earnings; and the Air Force says still going to develop a new, six-generation manned fighter even as it rethinks the penetrating counter air portion of the Next-Generation Air Dominance program.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s mark up of four appropriations bills including defense; the decision to exchange Russian killers, spies and thugs to free American reporters and rights activists from captivity in Russia; soaring tensions in the Middle East after Israel assassinated two Hamas and one Hezbollah leader and whether Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s goal is a wider regional war; Russia’s steady advance in Ukraine; China hacks into Germany’s cartography office as America revamps its Indo-Pacific relationships to better deter Beijing; and a look at the US presidential race and possible candidates to serve as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
The US Air Force has sunk a Navy ship -- with a new anti-ship weapon launched from a B-2. We’ll get into the implications with the Sagamore Institute’s Dr. Jerry Hendrix, a retired US Navy captain, naval aviator and strategist. And CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako comes by to update us on the latest in air and missile defense around the world. Plus the top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Former Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist who is now the president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association and Dr Arun Seraphin who runs NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US budget outlook as Congress is expected to opt for another continuing resolution to fund government rather than legislation; impact of funding uncertainty on the very innovation ecosystem the Pentagon is courting; what to expect from the ETI conference in Washington Aug. 7-9; role of supplemental in driving innovation, bolstering supply chains and production capacity; feedback from the association’s membership; defense impacts irrespective of Harris or Trump victory in November; and Boeing’s decision to tap former Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg as the company’s next chief executive.
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Air Commodore Blythe Crawford, the commandant of the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Center, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the nature of innovation and the need for greater agility, the right and wrong lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, the big problems that need solving, grading progress, issuing many small but demanding contracts to help determine the innovative companies that can delivery from those that can’t — and documenting the results — and keys to driving culture change. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Office of Management and Budget’s midyear review that shows lower deficit projections than the Congressional Budget Office; budget outlook as Congress moves to again opt for a continuing resolution rather than passing a budget bill; analysis of second quarter earnings and management statements on budget and profit outlook; thoughts on the “Economic Consequences of Weak Governance and Policy Instability” hosted by The Budget Lab at Yale University and The Niskanen Center think tank; takeaways from the Farnborough International Air Show; and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss an upcoming week on Wall Street after a shaky start on lower than expected inflation and strong profits; American Airlines joins Delta and United in posting muted earnings prompting questions whether the jetliner market is cooling as the world’s aerospace and defense leaders gathered at a muted Farnborough Air Show; Boeing nears an announcement of a new CEO; Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani says that he’s “personally” ok with Saudi Arabia joining Britain and Japan in the Global Combat Air Program even as Japanese officials suggest doing so would create reputational risk; and Babcock, Bombardier, Booz Allen Hamilton, Dassault, General Dynamics, General Electric, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Textron and Thales all report earnings.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the grim outlook for the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; Vice President Kamala Harris’ first week at the top of the ticket; President Biden explains why he decided it was time to hand the reins to a new generation; the vice presidential sweepstakes; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu becomes the first ever foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress four times as Jerusalem strikes Houthi targets 2,000 kilometers away in Yemen after the Iran -backed group killed one and wounded 10 in a drone attack that leaked past air defenses and struck a Tel Aviv apartment building; and three key train lines in France are targeted with arson attacks that derailed travel plans for hundreds of thousands heading to the summer Olympic Games in Paris.
We get updates on major programs -- and visions of the future -- from Greg Ulmer, the head of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and General Atomics CEO Dave Alexander. Plus the top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Dr. Jack Watling, the senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses takeaways from RUSI's flagship land warfare conference this week in London, the future of land warfare, learning the right lessons from Russia's war on Ukraine and avoid the wrong ones, how the ubiquity of unmanned aerial systems changes land warfare, whether militaries are implementing lessons to improve capabilities, the sweet spots for vehicle weight as well as armament, need for more air and missile defenses as well as long-range fires, why NATO has to ready for future attack by Russia as leaders in Moscow make clear their next target after Ukraine is the alliance, an update on the Ukraine war and why Kyiv's position remains precarious despite US and Western aid with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today's program, sponsored by HIl, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses implications of President Biden’s decision against standing for reelection; whether defense sentiment would change if Vice President Harris’ running mate is a former military leader like Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., or retired Adm. Bill McRaven; why defense stocks in 2024-25 are unlikely to perform as they did in 2016; why 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Russo-Ukrainian war; the US Air Force's agreement with Boeing to start development work on the E-7 radar plane and decision to accept Block 40 TR3 versions of the F-35 Lightning Il fighter; expectations from the Farnborough International Airshow and earnings expectations from leading US firms; why US defense stocks have lagged the broader market; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to President Biden’s decision to drop his reelection bid and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, what’s next as the Democratic Party works to revamp its ticket, how Harris can broaden her appeal, and possible running mates.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss a down broader market but a good week for defense and aerospace; the US Air Force strikes a deal with Boeing to buy E-7 radar planes and has agreed to accept the long-delayed Block 4 Technology Refresh 3 version of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II; Hexcel, Saab, Textron and United report earnings as other leading companies prepare to report earnings next week; Babcock pre-announces another 90 million pound charge on its Type 31 frigate; takeaways from the Royal International Air Tattoo as the global defense and aerospace industry prepares to convene next week at the Farnborough Air Show.
On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report WashingtonRoundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the budget process as the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump as its presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance as vice president; speculation President Biden said to be increasingly open to stepping aside; New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is found guilty, worries rise that Ukraine is in danger of losing to Russia; after saying he wouldn't fight for Taiwan, Trump suggests that he might support the island nation if Taipei pays more for its security; Britain's defense review; and the Gaza war grinds on and a Houthi missile hits a Tel Aviv apartment building killing one and wounding 10.
This week, three great airpower minds — Major General Jonas Vikman, chief of the Swedish Air Force; retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, president of the Air and Space Power Association; and Dean David Deptula of the Mitchell Institute — look at today’s challenges and the next generation. Plus the top headlines in airpower!
Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the cyber implications of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the “Chevron” precedent that gave US government agencies broad power to interpret legislation, prospects for more cyber-related congressional action, what needs to be on lawmaker’s to do list, the need to dramatically expand the cyber workforce, assessing the cyber elements of the two presidential campaigns, balancing freedom of speech with the need to counter disinformation in reigning in social media firms, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Keith Webster, the president of the defense and aerospace council at the US Chamber of Commerce — who last week hosted the defense industrial forum at NATO’s 75th anniversary summit —and Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discuss defense industrial takeaways from the gathering of alliance leaders last week in Washington, how to improve industrial capacity, balancing Buy American with Buy Allied sentiments, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim discuss the political implications of the assassination attempt on former President Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania and whether efforts to dial down toxic political rhetoric will succeed as the GOP holds its nominating convention this week in Milwaukee; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses assassination attempt, takeaways from the NATO summit, Senate appropriations and authorization language, whether the House will embrace the Senate’s proposal to increase defense spending, a look at this month’s Treasury figures and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss another winning Wall Street week; assassination attempt on former President Trump; NATO’s 75th anniversary summit; accusation that Russia is planned to kill Rheinmetall’s CEO Armin Papperger; Boeing pleads guilty to avoid criminal prosecution as questions rise whether the deal will impact the giant’s defense business as the company’s 777-X jetliner makes a key FAA certification flight and its machinists prepare to vote whether to strike; top USAF officer expects Next Generation Air Dominance award by year’s end despite recent comments by senior service leaders; Air Lease reports earnings as Hexel, Textron and others prepare to report.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Senate’s appropriations figures and version of the National Defense Authorization Act; more House nonsense, calls for President Biden to step aside in the wake of his poor debate performance that raised questions about his fitness for office; a highly successful 75th anniversary NATO summit during which allies increased support for Ukraine, labeled China “the decisive enabler” for Russia’s war on Ukraine, brought together European and Indo-Pacific leaders, adopted a new industrial strategy to increase weapons production and defense cooperation, and Washington’s plan to return long-range strike missiles to Germany starting in 2026; Iran’s new president; and glimmers of hope for a deal that will end fighting in Gaza.
Every year, the world’s air and space chiefs gather in London to learn the latest, compare notes, and plan for the future. We’ll get an advance look into the major issues with RAF Director of Defense Studies Group Captain Paul Sanger-Davies, who is orchestrating the entire event. Plus top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss takeaways from NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington including pledges of long-term aid to Ukraine as well as new air defense and other weaponry, the future of the Atlantic Alliance after the November election, how European leaders would work with a new Trump administration, an update on the Ukraine war as US officials suggest Kyiv is no longer in danger of losing, prospects for ending the conflict, latest on battlefield capabilities including unmanned systems, how China is helping Russian disinformation across the global south, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s very different meeting with Vladimir Putin that indicates the Russian leader is far from isolated with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and CSIS Senior Fellow Dan Fata, who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO during the Bush administration, discuss the need to expand the view of burden sharing with allies beyond military and hardware spending to infrastructure and other investment that enhances the alliance’s deterrence and warfighting capabilities, how to more efficiently direct resources as nations spend more money, concerns that Donald Trump will reduce support for NATO should he return to the White House, and why so many are gloomy about the alliance’s 75th anniversary gathering in Washington even as NATO has dramatically improved its spending, war planning, exercises and preparedness over the past few years with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Japan’s defense sector as Tokyo surges military spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027, a review of historical investment trends as senior Pentagon officials express frustration with industry share buybacks that were only approved by the SEC legalized in 1982, a look and NATO defense industrial themes as leaders gather in Washington to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance, how a change in US leadership could shape allied investment plans, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss aerospace and defense stock performance as Wall Street edges higher on jobs figures and a stronger dollar, Sir Kier Starmer becomes Britain’s first Labour prime minister in 14 years as John Healey becomes defense secretary, France holds its second election round, Boeing appears to eye settlement to avoid criminal trial, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall floats notion of a Next Generation Air Dominance fighter that’s a third the price of the current plane or around the cost of an F-35, China’s JF-31 is reportedly about to enter service, Leonardo partners with Rheinmetall to lock up Italy’s 20 billion euro land systems modernization market, and Universal Hydrogen — once seen as the future of clean energy — folds.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss stocks drop after a three-week winning streak, impact of Airbus profit and deliveries warning across the sector, a disastrous US presidential debate as Britain and France hold key elections, Justice Department investigators recommend criminal charges against Boeing of criminal conspiracy over two deadly 737 crashes that killed 346, Boeing’s ongoing acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, Anduril reportedly is poised to raise $1.5 billion in funding, DoD’s Replicator program is funded to $1 billion and the U.S. Army wants more than 1000 Switchblade 600 loitering munitions from AeroVironment in the next year.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the disastrous US presidential debate and its impact on perceptions of the United States and American global leadership; analysis of the security implications of elections in France, Iran and Britain; analysis of defense, State Department and Foreign Operations, as well as Homeland Security appropriations; efforts by GOP lawmakers to keep Steve Bannon from going to jail for contempt of Congress and imprison Attorney General Merrick Garland on the same charge; the implications of recent primary outcomes including the defeat of progressive Rep. Jamal Bowman, D-NY, by centrist George Latimer; what to expect from NATO’s upcoming 75th anniversary summit including proposal to “bridge” Ukraine toward membership; China and North Korea continue to ratchet up regional tensions as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accepts US plea deal to return to Australia; Israel’s defense minister visits Washington as Jerusalem and Beirut make a “handshake” deal to avoid war, and impact of Israel’s Supreme Court decision to allow government to draft orthodox students into IDF service.
On this episode of our Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Doug Bush, the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine war lessons that are shaping US Army acquisition efforts, increasing the adoption of novel technologies into core acquisition efforts, progress in increasing ammunition production and what will be needed to further surge if needed, role of allies and partners in increasing weapons and munition capacity, the Army’s central role in global US military logistics, the service’s new software policy that some claim will discourage innovative firms from pursing contracts, and 2026 budget pressures and how the service would spend more money if Congress raises funding levels.
China’s accelerating air capabilities are complicating U.S. planning, and may have led to a delay in the Next-Generation Air Dominance program. In this expanded edition, Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, will help us understand just how fast Bejing is moving. And futurist Clint “Q” Hinote, formerly head of Air Force planning, on what to do about it. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Rob Harper, the co-founder and chief executive of Rowden Technologies, discusses lessons that shaped the innovative British AI, data and machine learning company, lessons from the Ukraine war, the future of AI and how best to harness the technology for military applications, what human control of AI-enabled systems means, adapting commercial AI tools like GPT-4 for military uses, what governments can do to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies, how small companies can negotiate the “valley of death” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexevents.org
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discuss the dead terror attacks on two churches and a synagogue in Dagestan, Ukraine’s deadly strikes on Sevastopol, the first anniversary of late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s run on Moscow, and analysis of Vladimir Putin’s trips to North Korea and Vietnam last week; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses potential flaws with the Congressional Budget Office’s debt projections, a defense spending update, update on whether Congress will increase defense spending, analysis of former National Security Adviser Dr. Robert O’Brien’s Foreign Affairs article, whether defense will feature in the June 27 presidential debate, the industrial implications of recent major program cancellations or delays, Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider bomber statement, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss defense and aerospace stock performance on a jittery Wall Street, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s testimony before the Senate about the company’s problems and accusations management put profit ahead of safety, helium leaks and thruster problems prompt NASA to keep Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in orbit longer than planned, the Boeing-led upgrade of B-52 Stratofortress bombers is delayed by three years to 2033, Israel to receive more F-15 fighters, Northrop Grumman announces a cost cap increase on B-21 Raider stealth bomber, and takeaways from the Eurosatory 2024 land warfare tradeshow and conference.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate Armed Services Committee boost to defense spending as details of it’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act emerge, the White House surges air defense weapons to Ukraine and broadens Kyiv’s ability to use US weapons to strike Russia, Vladimir Putin visits North Korea and Vietnam to ink a mutual security pact with Pyongyang and deepen relations with Hanoi, House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner blasts the Biden administration for not disclosing details of Russia’s plans to put a nuclear capability in space and doing more to stop it, announcement that outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s 14th secretary general, China ratchets up tensions against the Philippines, Bibi Netanyahu accuses Washington of withholding weapons — a charge the White House denies — as the Israel Defense Force increasingly finds itself at odds with the country’s own prime minister.
On today’s first ever Air-Land episode, JJ Gertler, the co-host of The Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, discusses the US Air Force’s re-consideration of the fighter element of its centerpiece Next Generation Air Dominance program in the wake of both the changing nature of the threat and how US forces are likely to fight in the future; and in our Land Warfare update, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper of the Association of the United States Army discusses key themes from the biennial Eurosatory 2024 land systems tradeshow and conference with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss the cou tours of the war as Moscow presses its offensive and Ukraine responds with new Western weapons and permission to use them against targets in Russia, how Ukraine is using Western weapons to change the strategic dynamic in Crimea, Russian forces learn lessons but still relies on artillery and manpower, the G7’leaders key to supporting Ukraine will survive elections as Russia and China undermine support for them, whether efforts to undermine Putin will succeed, how newly appointed Defense Minister Andrey Belousev is revamping Russia’s military, new tactics and weapons in war, Putin visits North Korea for more support and if Washington can pressure Beijing to halt its military assistance for Moscow, and where Putin’s red lines truly lie as the Russian leader once again resorts to nuclear saber rattling with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Senate Armed Services Committee’s decision to increase proposed 2025 defense spending by $25 billion — $30 billion less than Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker proposed in his recent plan — to more quickly improve US military capabilities to better deter China and Russia — and whether the added funding will also be approved by the House that just passed its $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act, the Air Force recently equivocation about its centerpiece Next Generation Air Dominance program and tight 2026 budget and threat factors that may be driving the change, implications of the rise of the hard right particularly French right on European defense, takeaways from the G7 meeting in Italy, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss Wall Street holds gains as defense and aerospace stocks are battered, European markets plunge after far right political parties fared in European Parliament elections prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to announce a snap election, facing budget pressures the US Air Force is considering slowing or even cancelling its centerpiece Next-Generation Air Dominance program just weeks before picking whether Boeing or Lockheed Martin will win the contract prompting frustration across companies that invested billions of dollars in technology to win and facilities to execute the program, the FAA investigates fake titanium parts from a Chinese supplier that made it into Airbus and Boeing jetliners, the G7 toughens its stance on Russia and China as Vladimir Putin vows retaliation, takeaways from the ILA Airshow in Berlin and what to expect from the Eurosatory ground systems show in Paris next week.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the House Armed Services Committee’s $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act that includes “poison pills for Democrats,” the House’s defense appropriations measure as the Senate Armed Services Committee finishes marking its version of the NDAA, speculation that pressures in the 2026 budget that’s now under construction is forcing the US Air Force to reconsider its flagship Next-Generation Air Dominance program, former President Trump’s meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill as they vow revenge against the justice system and hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt, a consequential G7 meeting that provides $50 billion in assistance to Ukraine backed by seized Russian assets, new sanctions on Russia, the new 10-year security pact signed by President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin vows retaliation saying the West has “crossed the point of no return” while sending a frigate and submarine to Cuba to intimate Washington as the US Navy docks the attack submarine USS Helena at Guantanamo Bay, China harasses a Dutch ship in the East China Sea, and what’s next as Israel presses ahead with its Gaza campaign and Hezbollah increases rocket fire into Northern Israel.
Hot wars mean a very hot air power market. Fortunately, the number one aerospace market analyst in the world just happens to be our friend Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy. We focus his global strategic expertise on airpower, with illuminating results. Powered by GE!
Amb. Jim Cunningham, former ambassador to Afghanistan, Israel, the United Nations, and consul general to Hong Kong and Macau, discusses the flaws with Israel’s strategy against Hamas in Gaza that’s undermined global support for the Jewish state, whether the damage is lasting, the importance of a two-state solution to lasting peace and implications of a one-state solution, whether Israeli strategy would change under new leadership in Jerusalem and why American efforts to pressure Israel are so difficult, and countering Iran’s malign efforts in the region and beyond as Tehran grows steadily more emboldened as it inches closer to a nuclear capability with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Amb. Bob Blackwill, a retired American diplomat and former ambassador to India who is now the Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Richard Fontaine, the president and CEO of the Center for a New American Security discuss their new book — Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power — that dissects the Obama administration’s Asia Pivot that wasn’t and the gains that China has made over the past decade as a case for a more holistic US grand strategy toward Beijing and the world with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Se. Roger Wicker’s plan to quickly bolster US military capabilities to better deter China and Russia, whether the plan stands a change of success and outlook for defense authorizations and appropriations through the end of the year, the role of allies and partners in bolstering American and allied capabilities, look ahead to the G7 summit in Bari, Italy, defense and aerospace implications of far right gains in EU parliamentary elections that prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to call snap election, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss aerospace and defense stock performance on Wall Street on stronger than expected US jobs growth dampens prospect of rapid interest rate cuts as the European Central Bank cuts borrowing rates; Airbus, Boeing and Embraer report May deliveries; Boeing’s CEO Dave Calhoun to testify before Congress on June 18 as the company’s Starliner spacecraft makes its maiden launch to orbit; SpaceX’s giant Starship makes its fourth and most successful flight; Chemring issues results and Kongsberg holds its capital markets day; more Eurofighters for Germany, more F-35s for Israel and France pledges Mirage jets to Ukraine; our team’s takeaways from visits to Poland and Washington; and the legacy of Apollo 8 astronaut and former General Dynamics Chairman and CEO Bill Anders who died June 7 at age 90 when his T-34 crashed in Washington state.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of the American Defense International lobbying firm, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the House and Senate’s defense budget moves and whether House amendments will stymie progress, prospects for SASC Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker’s proposal to dramatically increase defense spending, appropriations update, controversial new members for the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron make a powerful case why the democracies must continue to battle autocracies on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings as a week after his felony conviction Donald Trump and the GOP leadership vow retaliation against the legal system and the former president’s opponents, Biden issues an executive order that closes the border to asylum seekers, Ukraine uses US weapons to weaken Russia’s hold on Crimea, India’s Narendra Modi is reelected to a third term, but his Bharatiya Janata Party loses seats, rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and Israel increases the past of its Gaza operation in the face of rising civilian casualties and increasing international pressure as Bibi Netanyahu continues to cling to power.
This week, we look at today’s airpower and yesterday’s. Dr. Tom Karako of CSIS brings us current on air and missile defense in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere. And a new monument to an American airman you may not have heard of; Kevin Billings joins us with the story of London’s new Billy Fiske memorial. Plus airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, discusses his June 12 Apex event — The New Iron Triangle: Achieving Adaptability and Scale in Defense Acquisition — highlighting a new report on how to better deliver needed capabilities at scale, challenges with the venture capital approach to funding a new crop of innovative defense companies and the government’s role in shepherding the worthiest ones to success, role of profit policies and prospect that government contractors can make commercial returns, lessons from the US Air Force’s recent Collaborative Combat Aircraft awards, role of modularity, open architectures and rejecting nationality requirements in crafting a truly allied industry capability to address equipment needs and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexevents.org
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Andy Hoehn, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy during the Bush administration who is now the senior vice president for research and analysis at the Rand think tank, and Thom Shanker, a former New York Times deputy Washington editor who is now the director of the Project for Media & National Security at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, discuss their book — Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers, New Weapons, and New Threats — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense industry stock valuations and factors that would change investor sentiment, the prospect that Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker’s proposed defense spending increase will become reality, the need for a broader national strategy to deter China and Russia, the role of more targeted economic warfare in the wake of the White House’s Daleep Singh’s comments last week at the Brookings Institution, more analysis if what former President Trump’s reelection might mean in 2025-2028 as well as impact his conviction on felony charges will mean for the election, what to expect from the upcoming Eurosatory land warfare exhibition in Paris and Berlin Air Show, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss a down week on Wall Street after weeks of strong gains, Boeing submits a safety plan to Federal Aviation Administration that declines to clear higher 737 production rates as top executives says certification of its Max 7 and 10 jets remains delayed, US and European weapons production is trending up but many worry it’s not fast enough whether for artillery shells or air defense weapons, Washington allows Ukraine to use American weapons to strike units in Russia that are attacking Kharkiv as French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg argue member nations should let Kyiv use Western weapons strike legitimate targets, Pentagon Acquisition and Sustainment Under Secretary Dr Bill LaPlante says Northrop Grumman is on track to deliver the first 40 of some 100 B-21 Raider bombers on a fixed price basis of $550 million apiece in 2019 dollars, an analysis of recent Northrop losses and their impact on the company, and takeaways from the European Business Aviation and Exhibition in Geneva.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the US and international implications of Donald Trump becoming the first former American president to be convicted on 34 felony charges, President Biden allows Ukraine to fire US weapons into Russia against forces attacking Kharkiv as French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg call of members to allow Kyiv to use Western weapons against targets in Russia, as NATO prepares to celebrate 75 years of unity the alliance is fracturing over Ukraine, takeaways from the China-Japan-South Korea meeting and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s gathering this weekend with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, what to expect from the IISS’s annual Shangrila Dialogue this weekend in Singapore including the meeting between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun, and Israel expands its war in Gaza as officials say the campaign will continue through the end of the year despite international criticism but helps Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s popularity.
Futurist Clint Hinote, formerly head of Air Force planning, on where the service is going, whether to take nuclear threats seriously, the defense of Taiwan, and much more. Plus some of the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Todor Tagarev, Bulgaria’s former defense minister who is now a professor at the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Head of its IT for Security Department and Centre for Security and Defence Management, discusses the interdisciplinary nature of the threat Russia poses to European security, whether efforts to counter Moscow are being successful, lessons from the Ukraine war that are shaping the alliance’s actions, the stakes of the war and whether Vladimir Putin’s calls for ceasefire signify a change in his imperial ambitions, the Russian threat in the Black Sea and how Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey have deepened their partnership, Putin’s nuclear rhetoric and whether nations should heed any of his “red lines,” why more nations should follow France in allowing its weapons to be used by Kyiv against legitimate military targets in Russia that are involved in striking Ukraine, Bulgaria’s sharp rise in defense spending and sweeping military modernization, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest in Russia’s new offensive against Ukraine as Moscow deploys glide bombs to strike military and civilian targets alike, whether Russia broke through the lines or Ukraine left a gap that was exploited, prospect of peace as Vladimir Putin suggests freezing lines where they are and Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on President Biden and Xi Jinping to join a peace conference, Ukraine’s ever deeper strikes into Russia, and Putin’s crackdown on “corruption” after replacing his defense minister; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses former President Trump’s defense plans should he return to the office, America’s role on the naval export market, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss investor worries that after dropping inflation and soaring markets the Federal Reserve won’t cut rates as quickly as hoped, Boeing releases third annual safety report as CFO Brian West says the company will post negative cash flow this year, how the new financial outlook will impact the company plans to acquire Spirit AeroSystems and continue costly efforts to restore commercial and defense confidence, Sierra Nevada plan to use former Korean Air 747s as the Pentagon’s next generation Doomsday planes, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak schedules snap elections for July 4, and British intelligence finding that China is sending lethal aid to Russia and the merits of allowing Kyiv to use US weapons to strike targets in Russia.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the House Armed Services Committee markup of the National Defense Authorization Act as the 2025 spending debate continues, what’s next for Iran after president and foreign minister are killed in a helicopter crash, China launches military exercises to intimidate Taiwan as Lai Ching-te is inaugurated, Britain accuses Beijing of sending lethal aid to Russia as the White House balks as it debates letting Kyiv use US weapons to strike targets in Russia, Victor Orban wants all the benefits of NATO membership but opt out of helping Ukraine, President Biden hosts Kenyan President William Ruto, Emmanuel Macron’s surprise visit to New Caledonia as the territory has plunged into strife after Paris expands voting for French citizens, and Israel launches Rafah operation despite international and domestic pressure prompting Ireland, Norway and Spain to join Sweden in recognizing a Palestinian state as the international criminal court indicts Hamas and Israel’s leaders, and House and Senate expected to invite Bibi Netanyahu to address lawmakers.
General Mike Minihan is the new boss at Air Mobility Command, managing the Department of Defense’s global reach at a time of global turmoil. We ask him about AMC’s warfighting culture, keeping up with demand, the future of its platforms, and more. And the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Seth Jones, the Harold Brown Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who leads the think tank’s International Security Program, discusses the status of the Ukraine war as Russia exerts its manpower and weapons advantage to gain ground from weary defenders show on weapons, what’s next in the war, Russia’s shortcomings despite two years of war, lessons China is learning from the war and the West’s sanctions on Russia, a more coordinated strategy to cope with a China, Russia, Iran and North Korea that are working ever more closely together, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, David Sanger, the chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, discusses his new book with longtime researcher Mary Brooks — “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion and America’s Struggle to Defend the West” — why leaders failed to accurately understand China and Russia’s rise and ambitions, limits on Western power to shape Beijing and Moscow, the best approach to deterring them, whether we have transitioned from new Cold War to a new state of war, analysis of the Biden administration’s handling of Russia’s nuclear saber rattling, and how to counter China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as they work more closely together to undermine the West with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss how aerospace and defense stocks performed as cooling US inflation drove the Dow past 40,000, a fast-changing European defense spending environment as Germany pledges another 100 billion euros to improve military capabilities, the case for US investment in the European defense market as French President Emmanuel Macron works to attract investors to France and Europe, British defense spending outlook, what President Biden’s 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric cars means for broader Sino-American trade, shareholders allow Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun to keep his $32.5 million pay package and his seat on the company’s board, Russian’s offensive against Ukraine, and reflections on the upcoming 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the House Armed Services Committee’s marks to the National Defense Authorization Act, the House appropriations process begins and spending discussions with the Senate continue, Russia launches a multi-pronged offensive against a Ukraine weakened by delays in US aid as NATO considers sending “trainers” to more rapidly train Ukrainian troops, report that Russia has tested the first phase of its nuclear anti-satellite system, Vladimir Putin shakes up his defense leadership before meeting with Xi Jinping as the two leaders move to deepen their strategic partnership, and Israel presses ahead with its Rafah operation as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calls on new Palestinian leadership to oversee Gaza after the war, publicly breaking with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.
Congress has begun to weigh in on this year’s defense budget with the House Armed Services Committee chairman’s mark. Where does airpower stand in this year’s deliberations? Budget guru Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute explains what the numbers mean – and don’t. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower.
John Kelly, the chief executive officer of Hanwha Defense USA, the American arm of the South Korean defense firm discusses his plan to grow the company‘s US footprint over the next decade, how lessons from his three decades navigating BAE System’s rise in America will help guide Hanwha’s growth, the role the company’s culture of investment and speed plays in making it an attractive supplier especially for munitions as the US Army applies supplemental funding to refill its stocks, the case for the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer in US service, unmanned systems and other capabilities the company has developed and is developing with partners like Anduril, Hanwha’s growing naval prowess, and a look at its merger and acquisition approach that will play a key factor in its growth, including an update on a possible Austal deal with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses the Biden administrations four new documents — National Security Memorandum 22, the International Cyber Strategy, the Cyber Posture Review, and the second version of the implementation plan — the House Armed Services Committee chairman’s marks to the cyber elements of the National Defense Authorization Act and the Senate’s sentiment on cyber priorities, concern by cyber firms that the administration’s drive to hold Chief Information Security Officers personally responsible for lapses, and how the battle against Russian and Chinese disinformation is being lost with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s advances into Northern Ukraine and whether they mark a negative turning point for Kyiv, Vladimir Putin’s cabinet reshuffle and what it means, Russian messaging during May 9 “Victory Day” events, Putin’s latest round of nuclear rhetoric that includes tactical drills and news reports of a facility in Belarus; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses budget outlook as House Armed Services Committee works on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, analysis of first quarter 2024 earnings data, takeaways from congressional testimony including from US Air Force leaders on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft effort and fleet air and missile defense, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss another winning week on Wall Street, inflation worries, the latest FAA investigation into Boeing, this time for allegedly falsifying records on the company’s 787 widebody, BWXT, Embraer, Hendsoldt, Leonardo, Palantir, Spirit, and Transdigm earnings, AerCap and KBR host investor days, and Europe moves to use seized Russian assets to help Ukraine and NATO works to rearm itself and Ukraine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson keeps his job, the FY 2025 budget process churns ahead, President Biden denounces antisemitism and threatens arms shipments as Israel brushes aside warnings and starts its Rafah incursion, Europe’s perception of Israel’s Gaza war and how China is portraying US support for the war and prospect that Washington is fickle with allies, the EU moves to use Russian assets to help Ukraine as NATO working groups coordinate support for Kyiv, Xi Jinping makes his first visit to Europe in five years.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall traveled to Maxwell Air Force Base on May 7th, and allowed The Air Power Podcast to ride along. He shared his experience in an AI-controlled fighter, his views on roles and missions for collaborative combat aircraft, the CCA competition, Replicator, the Space Force budget, the nuclear deterrent, and more. Plus we have top news in airpower. Powered by GE!
Jason Salata, a retired US Navy captain and former US Special Operations Command spokesman who is now with the Provision Advisors PR firm representing SOF Week 2024, discusses the key messages from US and international special operations leaders at this year’s SOF Week in Tampa, international cooperation as nations continue counterterror missions while increasing great power capabilities, concern that investment in SOF capabilities is declining, and how the technology focus at the exhibition has shifted from guns and gear to AI, big data and unmanned systems; and Michael Harpin of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency with the winners of the government-wide cyber competition with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Gen. Dave Goldfein, USAF Ret., the US Air Force’s 21st chief of staff, who is now a Blackstone board member and Google Public Sector board chair and advisor to firms like Anduril and Shield Capital, discusses what he has learned since retirement that he wishes he new while in uniform, how to drive innovation, keys to quickly adapting commercial technologies for military needs, growing importance of data and software, the lessons from the Air Force’s decision to pick Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as the finalists in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft contest, culture change and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss prospect the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates now that new jobs creation has cooled, a shareholder advisory firm recommends investors vote to oust outgoing Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and two board members off the company’s board as the company issued $10 billion in debt, Embraer considers making bigger aircraft to compete with Boeing and Airbus, Sierra Nevada beats Boeing to win a $13 billion contract to develop the Air Force’s next generation nuclear command and control planes, analysis of Howmet, MTU, and Thales earnings, Air Force secretary Frank Kendall makes history in being the first senior leader to fly on an AI powered fighter, the legendary X-62A Vista jet, and as Boeing struggles with its star liner spacecraft China has launched a spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene moves to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson as lawmakers debate the defense funding levels, police nationwide crack down on increasingly unruly campus protests, Donald Trump lays out his second term priorities, National Intelligence Director Avril Haines highlights the threat from Russia and China as Beijing and Moscow practice drills near Taiwan, French President Emmanuel Macron doubles down on why Europe needs to do more for its security, and that it’s imperative to consider putting troops in Ukraine as Kyiv continues to lose ground to a relentless Russian assault Neither Israel nor Hamas have accepted a proposed ceasefire as Israel prepares its Rafah assault and settlers depopulate large chunks of the West Bank of Palestinians.
Former Army master aviator Brigadier General Bob Hastings joins us to talk all things Green Air, from the recent Quad-A conference to the Army’s aviation plans and safety issues. Plus more on CCA and the other top news in airpower. Powered by GE!
Nigel Inkster, the former director of intelligence and operations at the Secret Intelligence Service otherwise known as MI6 who is now the Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses Russia’s influence operations in Europe, their track record of success, how to counter them, the right response to Russia after its malign recent cyber actions like attacking a rural Texas dam and assassinations across Europe and in the United States with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Teri Schultz, a Brussel- based journalist who reports for Deutsche Welle and National Public Radio, discusses the results of years-long intelligence gathering efforts that reveal the extent of Russian influence operations in Europe and targeting members of the European Parliament, role of Russian couple in Czech Republic who advanced Russian interests and played role in destruction of Czech and Bulgarian ammunition depots, poisoning and harboring members of GRU Unit 29155, how European leaders are countering Russian efforts, and a look at the agenda of NATO’s upcoming 75th anniversary summit in Washington with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses first quarter 2024 earnings; leading firms buy back more than $4 billion in stock as leading defense officials chide firms for the practice; the US Air Force’s decision to select General Atomics and Anduril to compete for Increment 1 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and award Sierra Nevada a contract valued at $13 billion award to develop the successor to the E-4B “Nightwatch” Advanced Airborne Command Post; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian discuss a big drop on Wall Street; Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and more, earnings reports; the US Air Force picks Anduril and General Atomics as finalists for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft autonomous combat aircraft; British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak moves to increase defense spending; French President Emmanuel Macron’s case for greater European security and economic independence; and Boeing buys back a St. Louis factory from GKN.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson’s future after Senate passage and President Biden’s signature of the Ukraine-Israel-Indo-Pacific supplemental, whether the amount is enough to help Kyiv win, Washington’s decision to transfer longer-range ATACMS missiles that have proven devastating against Russian targets, President Macron’s case for Europe to reduce reliance on America and China, the extent of Russian and Chinese infiltration of the European Parliament and German politics, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Beijing to urge cooperation as Chinese officials make clear Washington has to choose cooperation on its terms or confrontation, campus protests and their implications, the latest on Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
The United States Air Force has embarked on a wide-ranging reoptimization, encompassing operations, organization, culture, and more. One of the service’s more influential Chiefs, General John Jumper, joins us to analyze the process and goals of remaking a military service while it is engaged around the world. Plus special analysis of the Air Force’s CCA downselect and other top news in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this month’s Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses importance of the $61 billion Ukraine supplemental role of longer range ATACMS weapons and their ability to strike deep behind Russian lines, whether Moscow will step up operations before US help arrives, and how Kyiv is developing the means to strike take counter strike into Russian territory; and Col. Gian Gentile, USA Ret., PhD, the senior historian at the RAND Corporation’s Arroyo Center, discusses the broader lessons of the Ukraine war and which are applicable to a China conflict, takeaways from Israel’s war in Gaza, a response to the latest claims that the tank is dead, the US Army’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific, the Ukraine war lessons, and the need to be honest about what technology can and can’t deliver in new weapon systems.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, former Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist who is now the president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the trade group’s new “Vital Signs” report that serves as both a report card of US defense industrial health as well as a policy roadmap, inflation and supply chain challenges driven by high defense and commercial demand, the Pentagon’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy, whether the $95 billion supplemental for Ukraine, Israel-Gaza and the Indo-Pacific is enough to support allies and refill America’s depleted weapons stocks, and PPBE reform and the unique role of comptrollers in driving innovation.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses implications of the $95 billion US funding package for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, and bolstering capabilities and allies in the Indo-Pacific; whether arsenals will be critical in bolstering production to support Ukraine as well as refill depleted US weapons stocks; the long-running debate about the cost and benefit tradeoffs between attacker and defender; whether Iran goes nuclear at the descent exchange with Israel and what a nuclear Tehran will mean; the Navy leadership’s interest in drawing lessons for foreign commercial shipbuilders and whether the service has the right approach to benefit from them; costs of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 effort to improve industrial base; what to expect as defense and aerospace contractors report first 2024 quarter earnings; initial takeaways from the Society for Military History conference; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss another down week on Wall Street on a tech tumbles and worries about a wider Mideast war; eight months late, Congress passes a $95 billion supplemental for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, and improve US and allied capabilities in the Indo-Pacific; more US tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum as Washington again warns Beijing about helping Moscow’s Ukraine war; whether added US and European investment is enough to help Ukraine win; role of arsenals in increasing defense production; Boeing workers testify before a Senate committee on production quality problems; American Airlines pilots sound alarm over their carrier’s safety and maintenance; Lockheed Martin beats Northrop Grumman’s-RTX team to win Missile Defense Agency’s $17 billion Next Generation Interceptor program; and Britain considers new program to replace amphibious warships.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson’s drive to risk his job to work with Democrats to pass long-overdue aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; days after the first ever direct Iranian attack on Israel that was blunted by the Jewish state’s allies Jerusalem attacked an airbase in Iran; as Russia gains ground in Ukraine Moscow gets bolder in sowing antisemitism in US, attacking a Texas water authority as two of its spies are arrested in Germany accused of planning an attack on an American base where Ukrainians are being trained; high-level defense dialogue between Washington and Beijing as US and Philippine forces conduct exercises; Australia increases defense spending; and why Kim Il Sung’s day in the sun is setting in North Korea.
The big news in the air this week was of course Iran’s attack on Israel with more than 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, which was defeated by a coalition of nations using a variety of systems. At the same time, you can see the bottom of the barrel in Ukrainian defense weapons. Dr. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins us to cover it all. Plus a rollicking set of airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses Russia’s recent boasting about its intelligence gathering and probing attacks on US water infrastructure, why water infrastructure is being targeted and how Washington should respond, Microsoft’s vulnerabilities and ways to improve government-industry cooperation, how one man saved the internet and lessons to safeguard it in the future, securing the cyber supply chain, Iran’s cyber role, countering disinformation as House Inteligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner’s calls out GOP for parroting Russian propaganda, and takeaways from the multinational operational that defended Israel from massive Iranian missile and drone attack.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss the state of the Ukraine war as Russia steadily gains ground as Ukrainian casualties mount thanks to US dithering over aid, Moscow’s goals for the war and whether Vladimir Putin’s claim that all he wants is Ukraine is credible, the global implications of a Russian victory, how quickly aid can arrive in Ukraine even if Congress approves a package today, the kind of capabilities needed to quickly change results on the front lines, whether it’s even possible to counter the Russian propaganda that’s penetrated the upper reaches of US politics especially across the GOP, and last ditch efforts the West must consider to prevent a total Ukrainian rout and possible ways the war ends with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discuss Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel and the extraordinary multinational defense against some 300 ballistic, cruise and explosive UAVs threats, why Tehran decided to attack the Jewish state directly rather than through proxies, President Biden’s role in defending Israel but opposition to US involvement in retaliatory strikes against Iran, the outlook for congressional supplemental for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, other geopolitical factors to consider, outlook for first quarter 2024 earnings, takeaways from the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s second down week on stronger than expected inflation that’s likely to delay Federal Reserve rate cuts, new survey shows supply chains unlikely to normalize for between one and three years, when defense output will ramp up as Ukraine aid drains Western stockpiles, another Boeing whistleblower accuses the giant of taking potentially dangerous shortcuts on its 787 jetliner, update on Spirit AeroSystems’ future, Japan’s potential as a defense industrial power, and Ukraine’s war update as Kyiv loses ground.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss more madness as Congress returns to session and Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene again threatens to oust Speaker Mike Johnson as Johnson considers advancing the Ukraine supplemental, speaker’s trip to Florida to lobby former President Trump to support the measure, a prominent Republican lawmaker warns his caucus is being infected by Moscow’s propaganda as GOP lawmakers at Trump’s urging blocked the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a look at 2025 budget process, Russia gains ground as Kyiv runs out of ammunition and people, what Washington can do to stop Beijing from helping Moscow, NATO’s naval woes, landmark meetings in Washington among US, Japanese and Filipino leaders, and a week after an Israeli air strike in Syria killed top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders, Israel is on alert for Iran’s response.
Tiltrotors are having more than a moment, with the Army, Navy, and Air Force all committed to the technology and the V-22 returning to flight following an accident. We’ll talk with two experienced operators, Kurt Fuller and Rob Freeland of Bell, to get the latest on the V-22, V-280, and more. And how does a record-setting solar aircraft become a reconnaissance platform? Skydweller CEO Robert Miller shares the story. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses US government investment in 2024 but an uncertain outlook in 2025, the imperative to invest in the entire printed circuit board ecosystem that constitutes 70 percent of modern microelectronics with chips constituting the remaining 30 percent, why a CHIPS Act equivalent is vital for printed circuit board industrial base, role of allies and partners, an update on semiconductor investment and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses Ukraine’s new long-range drones and how Kyiv is using them to strike war industries deep in Russia, Ukrainian efforts to build its own defense-industrial capabilities, Russia’s use of hypersonic weapons to attack Ukraine’s infrastructure, Kyiv’s most pressing needs, where Russia is gaining ground and likely to focus its own offensive plans, whether Vladimir Putin will order a broader national troop mobilization and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses geopolitical drivers for global defense, prospects for US supplemental funding for Ukraine as well as NATO’s new five-year $100 million plan to help Kyiv, whether Washington will cut Israel aid anytime soon, the National Defense Industrial Association’s annual “Vital Signs” assessment, margin pressure on leading company as the price of everything increases, the performance gap between prime contractors and services providers, what to expect from the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow April 8-10, 2024, and a look at the week ahead; and the cohosts of the Cavas Ships podcast — Chris Cavas and Chris Servello — discuss what they expect to hear from US Navy leaders at the SAS this week with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. And to learn more about HII, visit the company at Sea-Air-Space, booth 1323.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss the drop in the S&P as US job growth beats expectations again, Boeing awards it’s outgoing ceo a nearly $32 million pay package — 45 percent raise — as it looks for a new boss, the industry debates why a new jetliner would cost Boeing $50 billion to develop, GE Aerospace becomes a standalone company after spinning of GE Vernova power business, NATO seeks a more central role in arming Ukraine with a new five-year, $100 billion fund, Britain considers an arms embargo on Israel after British humanitarian workers are killed in an Israeli airstrike, and on the eve of Navy’s premiere annual conference the service’s secretary criticizes shipbuilders for being behind schedule on programs.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Japan’s perceptions of Washington as outlook for US and allied support for Ukraine remains uncertain, takeaways from NATO’s 75th anniversary celebration and what to expect when alliance leaders gather in Washington in July as calls for Congress to approve the Ukraine supplemental grow, US and allied willingness to buckle to Russian intimidation and whether the revelation that Moscow is behind the “Havana Syndrome” high-power directed energy attacks on Americans at home and aboard will drive a tougher line on Russia’s assassinations and non-lethal attacks mount, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s six-day visit to the United States next week and what to expect from the upcoming Japan-Philippines-US meeting, President Biden and Xi Jinping talk as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visits China, Taiwan suffers its worst earthquake in decades as its former leader is hosted by Chinese leaders, and Washington delivers Israel an ultimatum after seven aid workers were killed in a Gaza air strike.
For decades, the American military has struggled with how to prepare for a diversity of conflicts. The Hudson Institute’s Bryan Clark and Dan Patt have a new paper on what they call hedge forces – capabilities to deter or prevail in specific scenarios without having to tailor the whole force for those operations. Bryan joins us to describe the concept and how it applies particularly to airpower. And we have the week’s headlines. Powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses the latest in the Russo-Ukrainian War including Russia’s recent strikes on Ukrainian cities plunging more than 1 million into darkness and Kyiv’s 800-mile drone attack on a key Russian unmanned aircraft factory, the latest on the front as Russians grind forward and Ukrainians increasingly dig in, whether Vladimir Putin will use the ISIS-K attack in Moscow as justification for a large scale mobilization as Volodymyr Zelenskyy lowers the draft age to replenish his force, the growing ubiquity of first-person video drones on the future of land warfare, and how to respond to Russian extraterritorial actions from assassinations to use of high-power directed energy weapons on Americans at home and aboard with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the prospects for the Ukraine supplemental that Kyiv and the US defense industrial base need, the latest on the Russo-Ukrainian War, whether the revelation that Russia is perpetrating the “Havana Syndrome” directed-energy weapons against Americans at home and abroad changes Washington’s urgency in better standing up to Moscow, how Israel’s strikes on Iranian leaders in Syria changes the undeclared war between Jerusalem and Tehran, Hanwha’s proposal to by Austal Ocean, recap of Hudson Institute’s unmanned systems event last week, political and economic factors in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, what to look for at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and trade show next week, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss a record-setting month on Wall Street, Texas opens an investigation into Sprit AeroSystems as even President Biden pokes fun at Boeing, Larry Culp says he’s staying at GE, the EU’s air safety regulator warns of growing risks as his budget is squeezed, lessons from Gulfstream as the FAA certifies the G700 and the company focuses on the G800, France supplies more weapons to Ukraine as its defense minister warns defense firms to step up deliveries or face requisitioning, Paris reaffirms its support to help Brazil build nuclear attack submarines now some 16 years after the deal was first announced, and Indonesia orders two offshore patrol vessels from Indonesia.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the bipartisan “minibus” deal that kept government open but enraged GOP firebrands like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green who started the process to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson as he promises to pass the Ukraine supplemental so America keeps its promise to Kyiv, Vladimir Putin’s move to blame the ISIS-K terror attack in Moscow on Ukraine, Russia refuses to explain why one of its missiles entered Polish airspace, the call by Sweden’s foreign minister for a tougher stance on Russia, despite new trade and cyber tensions driven by Beijing US CEOs are feted by Xi Jinping, China pressures the Philippines even as Manila and Washington strengthen ties, US prepares for summits with key Asian allies, America abstains on the UN’s latest ceasefire call prompting Bibi Netanyahu to call off his Washington visit and press ahead with his Rafah ground assault and Washington and the world mourn the sudden passing of former vice presidential candidate and Sen. Joe Lieberman.
The U.S. Air National Guard is busy worldwide, not only augmenting American air capabilities but building allied air force effectiveness as well. The Guard’s commander, Lieutenant General Michael Loh, joins us with the latest on what they are doing around the world. And we have headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs who also advises on the agenda for the annual Halifax International Security Forum, discusses the latest polling on the US presidential race, whether third party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will skew the race toward Donald Trump, global perceptions of America based on who’s in the White House, key drivers for US and European electorates, rise of the right in Europe, support for Ukraine as the conflict enters its third year, view of Russia and China, sense of pressing national security and where terrorism ranks on the scale of threats, and how its campaign against Hamas in Gaza in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks is undermining global support for Israel, and how a declining population will impact China’s future with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses the implications of the ISIS-K terror attack in Moscow on Russia’s prosecution of the Ukraine war in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s allegation that Kyiv was responsible for the attack — a charge Ukrainian and Western leaders deny — the impact of the attack on Putin’s legitimacy, whether tightened sanctions will change Moscow’s course, whether and if so how Russia will respond to ISIS-K, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy discuss Boeing’s leadership changes as the giant struggles to overcome quality and program execution problems, merits of union representation on the company’s board, notes on Congress’ last-minute appropriations measures to keep government open including the Pentagon, the upcoming election and its defense implications, takeaways from HII’s Investor Day, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss defense and aerospace stock performance on the year’s best week on Wall Street, Washington keeps the government open, confronted with problems on both its commercial aircraft AND defense programs, Boeing says it will post losses of between $4-5 billion in 2024 as it divests small pieces of its defense business, the Chinese government’s decision to strip its computers and networks of US chips and software, the FBI says passengers aboard the Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max jetliner that suffered a door plug blowout out might be crime victims, Britain and Australia strike a $3 billion partnership between ASC and BAE Systems to build Australia’s nuclear attack submarines, GCAP criticism and Sweden’s fighter plans, and a takeaways from one of the best commercial aerospace conferences in the world, The Aerospace Event in Beverly Hills last week.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the “mini bus” appropriations bill to avert a government shutdown, the Ukraine supplemental, the Biden administration’s 2025 budget request, “war fever” in Europe and what it means, Vladimir Putin’s reelection and decision to fire his Navy chief after unmanned Ukrainian attacks decimate Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, testimony by US leaders in the IndoPacific on how China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are increasingly working together, Britain and Australia sign security deal that includes a $3 billion deal between Australian Shipbuilding Company and BAE Systems to prepare for Canberra’s future fleet of nuclear powered attack submarines, and week after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Bibi Netayahu, the Israel leader who is an astute US political can declare victory having secured a bipartisan invitation to address the US Congress as as Washington goes through the optical exercise of engineering a UN ceasefire resolution.
Continuing our breakdown of the FY25 DoD budget request, we hear from one of the most insightful budget teams in town – the crew from the Center for a New American Security. And we have headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in National Harbor, MD, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Aditi Kumar, the deputy director for strategy, policy and national security partnerships at the Defense Innovation Unit, discusses DIU 3.0, changes to the organization announced at the recent SXSW conference, better focusing innovation efforts across DoD, how to deliver game-changing capabilities to warfighters quickly and at scale, changing how the Pentagon acquires capabilities, the game-changing rationale of the Replicator initiative to quickly field large quantities of autonomous systems, harnessing the innovative capabilities of allies and partners to solve common challenges and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss what to expect from Vladimir Putin’s fifth six-year term, the impact of protests across the nation, the prospect of another mass mobilization, the impact on the Ukraine war, Kyiv’s increasing use of long-range unmanned systems to strike strategic targets deep in Russia, how to interpret Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric and grapple with the effectiveness of its malign global information efforts, and Putin’s message to the FSB to hold to account those he considers traitors wherever they are with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses with further analysis on the Biden administration’s FY 2025 $defense budget request, the merits of cutting the Roger of one nuclear powered attack submarine to underwrite investment to increase submarine production for America and Australia, the implications for defense if tax increases are off the table to reduce the national debt, Boeing’s commercial and defense woes and how a turnaround can be executed, Leonardo DRS’ investor day, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss impact of higher than expected inflation and producer prices on Wall Street dashing hopes of interest rate cuts anytime soon, the federal investigation into Boeing is ramping up as airlines now project losses because of slower deliveries from the jetmaker and groundings combined with new delays on KC-46 Pegasus tankers and Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk trainers, the Pentagon clears Lockheed Martin for full-rate F-35 Lighting II fighter production, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholtz and Poland’s Donald Tusk agree to help increase weapons production in Ukraine as quickly as possible, US weapons makers are increasing production, Rheinmetall earnings, the Netherlands picks France’s Naval Group over ThyssenKrupp and Saab to build its future submarines, SpaceX launches its third starship as reports say the company landed a top secret contract for hundreds of spy satellites, and a look ahead to Joanna Speed’s The Aerospace Event conference in Los Angeles on March 19.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the Biden administration’s $849.8 billion FY 2025 defense budget request, an update on appropriations and the supplemental for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, reporting that Donald Trump if elected would withdraw America from NATO, Japan, South Korea and let China have Taiwan, what next for the House’s TikTok ban, India’s new ballistic missile with multiple warheads, Senate Majority Chuck Schumer’s criticism of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, Palestinian leaders and Bibi Netanyahu, and Israel’s offensive against Rafah.
The Defense & Aerospace Report team dives into the FY25 DoD budget proposal with insight, analysis, illumination, and perhaps a wisecrack or two. It’s powered by GE!
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses the cyber elements of the Biden administration’s FY 2025 budget request including planned an government-wide increase in spending to $13 billion and a $5 billion addition at DoD that would bring spending to $14 billion, the impact of continuing resolutions on the Pentagon and government’s ability to plan and execute, how to better harness artificial intelligence to improve cybersecurity, analysis of the Pentagon’s budget request specifically the $10 billion Pacific Defense Initiative, and who will pick up the mantle from Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., after his retirement next year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses the still-static nature of the Russo-Ukraine war, the signal President Biden sent by featuring support for Ukraine and allies at the top of his State of the Union address. whether soaring Russian casualty rates will impact Vladimir Putin’s reelection prospects, how both sides are increasingly using unmanned systems almost none of which are truly autonomous, how Russia uses nuclear intimidation to shape its adversaries’ strategies including the United States and European states like Germany, and Moscow’s threats against Sweden as the Scandinavian nation becomes NATO’s 32nd member with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Biden administration’s FY 2025 $849.8 billion defense budget request, the importance of the Ukraine supplemental to rearming the Pentagon, takeaways from President Biden’s state of the union address, alternative defense futures to ponder, takeaways from GE Aerospace’s investor day and congressional hearing on Army Aviation, and and a look at the week ahead; and Tim Chrisman, the executive director of the Foundation for the Future who is also a partner in the space practice at the Distinctive Edge Partners PR firm, discusses the winners of the innovation competition at this year’s SXSW gathering in Austin with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss another big week on Wall Street as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says interest rates will be cut this year, impact of President Biden’s state of the union address at home and aboard, more bad news for Boeing as Justice Department reportedly opens criminal investigation into blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max jet, Federal Aviation Administration confirms rudder pedal incident on a United 737 Max jet, implications of Biden’s comments seeking to close business aviation loopholes, update on Dassault Aviation’s results including Falcon business jet and Rafale fighter production rates, Palantir beats Raytheon to win US Army’s TITAN battlefield targeting system contract, Russia discloses conversation among German generals discussing the export of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and how France and Britain help Kyiv target the weapons, Moscow’s brazen missile strike that landed 300 feet from Greece and Ukraine’s leaders in Odesa, and United Airlines recent spate of emergency landings and incidents.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the House passage of a $460 billion appropriations bill to avert a government shutdown, outlook for Ukraine funding as President Biden makes case for more assistance for Ukraine in the State of the Union address, analysis of the SOTU including reaction to the address in America and around the world, Biden’s announcement that the US military would build a temporary pier to allow international humanitarian aid to enter Gaza from the sea, an empowered Russia fires a ballistic missile at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that lands 300 feet from the two leaders as they tour Odesa, China ends its ritual annual leadership press conference, Super Tuesday takeaways including whether third party candidates will help Donald Trump return to office, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell endorses the former president who insulted him and his family, and the final report from the commission to reform the Pentagon’s Planning Programming Budget Execution system.
For decades, AeroVironment has been a company that does things more than a little differently. Their CEO, Wahid Nawabi, joins us to talk about CCAs, Replicator, the new shape of airpower, and where his company fits in. And of course, we have headlines. Powered by GE!
On this week’s Technology Report, Brandon Tseng, the cofounder and president of Shield AI, what differentiates the company in a crowded field, the Pentagon’s innovation drive, how to accelerate programs, the need to change the requirements process, how small companies can remain competitive in AI in an era of giants, the company’s growth plans with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this month’s Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Gabe Camarillo, the under secretary of the US Army, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how life under prolonged continuing resolutions is impeding America’s ability to rearm itself as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea increasingly field dangerous capabilities, why supplemental funding is vital not just to support its Ukrainian ally but also cover the cost of bolstering the Pentagon’s weapons stocks, lessons from the Ukraine war that are already shaping the future of the force, a look at the Army’s plans to transform its great power capabilities and how that plan will be reflected in the service’s upcoming budget request, the Army’s role in the Indo-Pacific, and the rationale behind the cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest continuing resolution to forestall a government shutdown, how an unprecedented half-year of continuing resolutions and delays to the Ukraine supplemental is complicating the Pentagon’s ability to rearm, the global implications of US presidential candidates and lawmakers parroting Vladimir Putin’s talking points, the prospect that Kyiv will fall if US aid ends or is further delayed, what to expect from the Biden administration’s upcoming budget request to be submitted to Congress on March 11, news reports that Boeing is considering acquiring Spirit AeroSystems, BWXT’s different business model, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss defense and aerospace stock performance last week as markets roared, Boeing considers buying Spirit AeroSystems, Leonardo and MTU results, BoA’s report on what the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft might look like, Russia’s nuclear threats prompts German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz denies sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and criticizes Britain and France for escalating tensions with Moscow by furnishing Kyiv with precision weapons.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Congress’ move to avert a government shutdown with another continuing resolution, outlook for Ukraine supplemental, Vladimir Putin’s growing confidence as he eliminates adversaries at home as his nuclear threats fracture NATO and messaging garners GOP support, Europe and America reject French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion to consider deploying troops to Ukraine as Russia again threatens nuclear attack prompting worry in Washington and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz to deny cruise missiles for Kyiv and accuse France and Britain of escalation, EU president says its time to consider tapping frozen Russian assets to arm and rebuild Ukraine, Australian intelligence discover that former lawmaker worked directly for Beijing, and another bloody week in Gaza as Israel starves Gaza, steps up operations against the West Bank and prepares an offensive against Lebanon.
The Air Force Special Operations community has gathered in Florida for its Special Air Warfare Symposium this week. AFSOC is still busy around the world, and we where they are and where they’re going with their commander, Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind. And we have the week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses the status of the Ukraine-Russia front as Moscow increases pressure and Ukraine uses more novel means to defend itself, whether Europe can fill the void as Congress continues to stall more aid to Kyiv, how commercial Western assistance can help Ukraine develop and field more effective weapons, whether adopting President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to station training forces in Ukraine would deter further Russian aggression, efficacy of the Biden administration’s 500 new sanctions on Russia in the wake of Moscow’s decision to kill opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and whether a shift by landlocked Transnistria toward Moscow would have a meaningful impact on the war with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Dr. Mark Lewis, the chief of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, discusses the drive to advance national security research through five new labs — microelectronics, hypersonics, energetics, infrastructure and innovation, and tech acceleration and innovation — an update on hypersonic propulsion and control technologies, microelectronics for legacy systems as well as high temperature applications like hypersonic weapons, and the approach needed to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses prospects for a government shutdown, the case for a Ukraine supplemental and what the Biden administration should do to help Kyiv absent legislation, the impact of 500 new sanctions on Russia, European defense spending outlook as European governments strain under entitlement demands, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss another big week on Wall Street; budget uncertainty in Washington as well as France and Germany; the slow pace of Western rearmament, leadership changes at Boeing to improve production quality; whether business travel will decline with changes in how many work and high pricing; earnings analysis as BAE Systems, Garmin, Hensoldt, Hexcel, MTU, and Rolls-Royce report; Washington’s 500 new sanctions on Russia in the wake of the killing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Hungary’s decision to buy 18 Saab Gripen C/D fighters that it started leasing in 2001 as signal of Budapest’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership; and takeaways from the Singapore Airshow.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, CavasShips Podcast cohost and Provision Advisors founder Chris Servello, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Biden administration’s imposition of 500 new sanctions on Russia in the wake of the Alexei Navalny’s killing as Western government’s negotiated a deal that would have released the opposition leader and others from captivity in exchange for Russian spies and thugs, what governments need to do as Russia grows more aggressive in waging war on Western nations from assassinations on their soil to malign information operations, how to destablize Vladimir Putin and his increasingly brittle regime by wooing senior Russian leaders with eased sanctions and financial incentives, revelation of the global scope and details of China’s cyber espionage worldwide, global implications of America’s continuing support for Israel as Jerusalem continue strikes on Gaza and indefinite military occupation while rejecting two-state solution, and Armenia’s decision to suspect participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
We usually look at the future of airpower. In this episode, we look at the past – at least as the public sees it. The Apple TV series Masters of the Air depicts bomber combat in the Second World War. Is it realistic? And what will the public learn from it about airpower, for better or worse? We ask aviation historian Doug Birkey. Dr. Tom Karako brings us up to date on the air war in Ukraine. And some of the week’s headlines. Powered by GE!
On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss the tenth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and the second anniversary of Moscow’s attempt to seize Kyiv, the imperative to get far tougher on Russia that’s been at war with the West for decades, how to punish an increasingly emboldened Vladimir Putin who killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny and assassinated a Russian defector in Spain, the imperative for Congress to approve more military assistance to Ukraine, why actively destabilizing the Putin regime must become a priority, and roundup of views from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from the Munich Security Conference as Vladimir Putin kills his political adversary Alexei Navalny and Ukraine looses ground as GOP leaders continue to block aid for Kyiv, analysis of the US Air Force’s reorganization to better prepare for great power conflict and update on the competition to quickly field a Collaborative Combat Aircraft; and Joy Schoffler of Distinctive Edge Partners on the competition among innovative cyber, space, AI and renewable energy companies on the sidelines of the SXSW gathering in Austin next month with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss market’s new worries about higher shipping costs as traffic diverts around Africa in wake of Houthi Red Sea attacks, China’s deepening economic woes, Airbus earnings and what results mean for Boeing, US Air Force’s reoptimization for great power conflict, drive to accelerate programs like Next Generation Air Dominance as well as move to allow three of five Collaborative Combat Aircraft competitors to advance in Increment One of the effort, Ukraine begs for more aid and strikes security and arms deals with France and Germany as GOP lawmakers balk on helping Kyiv, and expectations for the Singapore Air Show.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Senate passage of a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and whether growing Russian provocations from the killing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny to prospect of nuclear-tipped antisatellite weapons will prompt a GOP-led House will follow suit, how the administration needs to respond to Russia’s growing empowerment in the wake of Republican obstructionism and pro-Russia rhetoric by President Trump and leading GOP lawmakers, Estonia’s warning Russia may attack the alliance within a decade, the second anniversary of the administration’s productive Indo-Pacific strategy, how Washington needs to influence Bibi Netanyahu, and political implications of Democrat Tom Suozzi’s win in New York, retirement of key members like Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s senate bid.
The Air Force has announced a major reorientation toward great power conflict, but that’s not all they’re doing. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discusses his priorities and the next steps to change the air service. And Mitchell Institute Dean LtGen (Ret.) David Deptula recaps the AFA warfare symposium. Plus a headline or two. Powered by GE!
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Tim Heath and Barry Pavel of RAND Corporation join host Vago Muradian to discuss the federally-funded research and development center’s new report — “U.S.-China Rivalry in a Neomedieval World: Security in an Age of Weakening States” — that was co-authored by Heath as well as Weilong Kong and Alexis Dale-Huang.
Air Force Chief of Staff General Dave Allvin just announced a major re-orienting of the service to focus on great power competition. In this special episode, General Allvin explains the background and details of his proposals with the Air Power Podcast team.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the global impact of a chaotic week in Washington, growing European defense investment as allies gird for return to power of anti-NATO and pro-Putin Donald Trump, what to expect from three key meetings in Europe — the Ukraine Contact Group, NATO foreign ministers and Munich Security Conference — tempering comparisons that today’s security environment mirrors the 1930s, why turmoil in the Middle East after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel hasn’t escalated into a wider regional war, South Korea tapped to provide air defense for Saudi Arabia, recap of key reports issued last week, what to expect at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium next week, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss performance of the group as the Standard & Poor’s 500 hits an all time high, more production problems on 50 new Boeing jets, Spirit AeroSystems suspends 2024 guidance, whether United Airlines will cancel its order for 100 Max 10 jets, after billions of dollars in investment, the the US Army cancels its Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft, Babcock and Saab capital markets days, and Ukraine’s new military leadership.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss chaotic week in Washington as Republicans torpedo their own border-Ukraine deal that Kyiv desperately needs, the Supreme Court again hears a case involving former President Trump, a special counsel labels President Biden “well meaning” but with “a poor memory,” update on whether a stand-alone Ukraine-Israel-Gaza aid measure is possible, how chaos in the world’s most important nation is being used by China and Russia to advance their global narratives, Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaces his popular top general, what the administration can do to get aid to Ukraine without congressional approval, former Polish President Lech Walesa’s call for US leaderships and step up its propaganda game, China’s economic woes worsen as Beijing spreads a bizarre rumor of civil war in Texas, and the search for a deal to end fighting in Gaza.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is making news all over the place, and their president Dave Alexander joins us to talk CCA, advanced air launched effects, and more. And John Tirpak previews next week AFA warfare symposium. Plus a big week for headlines in airpower.Powered by GE!
David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses the push to convince Congress to back legislation investing in printed circuit boards; and SAIC Chief Technology Officer Bob Ritchie discusses how the company’s cloud-based command and control contract with the US Air Force can serve as a model for getting big things done fast with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses how Ukraine can defend itself and wage offensive operations in the absence of US support, the unprecedented role of Chinese industry in Ukrainian capabilities, how Russia is improving its capabilities, the spat between the Ukrainian president and his chief of defense staff, and the Pentagon’s Replicator effort with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses appropriations, budget and supplemental outlook, analysis of Boeing’s earnings report and defense business, US arms exports, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss strong US jobs growth and declining inflation, the paradox of increasing air travel demand and declining fares, HII’s strong results, Boeing’s decision to suspend financial guidance for 2024 as management focuses on improving quality and withdrawal of request for a limited exemption for the 737 Max 7 engine inlet deicing system, the EU’s $54 billion economic aid package for Ukraine, and Washington’s decision to approve 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters for Turkey and 40 F-35 Lightning II strike jets for Greece.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the bipartisan tax bill that passed the House, a border deal to clear more Ukraine funding hangs in the balance as the House moves to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the EU approves $54 billion in economic aid for Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy fires his popular chief of defense staff Gen. Valeri Zaluzhny, Washington telegraphs strikes on Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for Tehran-backed militia’s attack that killed three Americans and wounded 40, Beijing purges its top rocket scientist as US and Chinese leaders meet, and the Gaza war continues as the Biden administration sanctions four Israelis for their role in West Bank violence against Palestinians and floats recognition of Palestinian state to pressure Jerusalem, and an update on the presidential race.
Viable electric aircraft have been on the horizon for a while now. But it looks like the first customer might well be the United States Air Force. We’ll talk with a pioneer in the field, Kyle Clark, the head of Beta Technologies, whose Alia eVTOL plane just concluded testing with AFWERX and is in line for procurement. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Sally deSwart, the managing director of Clarion Defence, discusses the new Apex innovation and technology conference in Washington, the events that will pave the way for January 2025 gathering, and what will make it unique; and Dr. Jimmy “Reverend” Jones, the Air Force’s service’s warfighting applications lead for STITCHES — System-of-Systems Technology Integration Tool Chain for Heterogeneous Electronic Systems; Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer; Colin Carroll who works strategy and growth at Anduril Industries; and Dr. Wes Naylor, Helicon Chemical’s CEO discuss how accelerate innovation at the Hudson Institute with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, discusses the budget and supplemental outlook, the Biden administration’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy, and what to expect at the Singapore Air Show; and on the first installment of our monthly land warfare segment, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper, a retired US Army colonel who is now the director of national security studies at the Association of the United States Army’s Land Warfare Institute, discusses lessons from the Ukraine war including the reality that people, equipment and weapons matter, look at the US Army’s Indo-Pacific role. and the services modernization plans with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the legislative implications of Donald Trump’s growing lead in the GOP presidential primary race, prospects for the Ukraine supplemental as lawmakers work toward a immigration deal and the White House says it would accept border closure to fund Kyiv, takeaways as leading companies report 2023 earnings and what to expect from disclosures this week including from Boeing, and a look at the week ahead; and Michael Harpin, the competitions section chief in the Cyber Defense Education and Training branch at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, discusses the agency’s fifth annual President’s Cup cyber competition with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street on reports that the US economy grew faster than anticipated in the last 2023 quarter, earnings reports, Boeing’s CEO appears on Capitol Hill as Alaska and United airlines CEOs blast the jetmaker and Sen. Maria Cantwell announces hearings, NATO orders $1.2 billion in new artillery shells as hopes of more Ukraine aid from America continue to dim, US Navy secretary suggests Britain needs a bigger military, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps argues for more ships and the Chief of the General Staff says it’s time for conscription.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss how Donald Trump is complicating a border-Ukraine aid deal and appropriations as the Pentagon runs out of assistance for Kyiv, whether America’s allies in Europe and Asia can keep Ukraine afloat until Washington gets its act together, the implications for American power and the global rules based order if Russia wins, Hungary pumps the brakes on Sweden’s NATO membership after Turkey approves Stockholm’s accession, implications of China’s weakened economy as well as population loss and increasingly unpopular leadership, North Korea’s recent nuclear saber rattling, congressional reaction to Biden administration’s strikes against Houthi targets, Israel’s continued rejection of peace efforts as Bibi Netanyahu continues to reject peace efforts and blames Qatar for funding Hamas — even though Doha did so with Jerusalem’s blessing — and New Hampshire primary takeaways.
Operation Poseidon Archer, the U.S. effort to negate the Houthi threat to shipping, is all about naval aviation. How is it going and where is it going? We ask the Sagamore Institute’s Dr. Jerry Hendrix, a retired US Navy captain, naval aviator and strategist. CNA’s Sam Bendett updates the drone air war in Ukraine. And we even have some headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Dave Young, the chief operating officer officer of CAES — Cobham Advanced Electronic Systems — discusses electronic warfare lessons from the Ukraine war, how US capabilities compare to Russian and Chinese ones, the need to increase training with closely held EW systems before conflict to better prepare commanders on how best to employ them, scaling production through greater automation, impact of the CHIPS Act and the additional investment necessary in other vital fields with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Dr. Keoki Jackson, the senior vice president and general manager at the National Security Sector at MITRE, discusses the report the federally funded research develop center crafted with the Aspen Strategy Group — “A Sum Greater Than Its Parts: Integrated Deterrence and Strategic Competition” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the dimming outlook for Ukraine supplemental funding and the global implications of Washington rejecting more resources for Kyiv, the right approach to understanding geopolitical challenges, and a look at the week ahead; and Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute discusses the think tank’s Jan. 24 conference — Solving Operational Problems with Today’s Technology — the first of a new series on innovation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss another big week on Wall Street, budget outlook in Washington as worries mouth regarding more Ukraine funding and what that tells allies and partners worldwide, growing number of parked aircraft as ticket prices drop, delivery and production numbers, Boeing taps the former head of naval nuclear reactors as its quality adviser after Alaska Airlines incident, Britain’s bilateral security pact with Ukraine, and a second flight of Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider bomber.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss a short-term deal to keep government open as the prospect for Ukraine supplemental funding evaporates, Britain strikes a security pact with Ukraine as Kyiv’s losses among its most experienced troops mounts as Western weapons and ammunition run out, ways to keep funding Ukraine in absence of supplemental, US continues strikes on Houthis as Iran and Pakistan exchange strikes, DPP wins in Taiwan but loses control of parliament to KMT, Israel continues to brush off US peace efforts as cracks grow within Israeli government over how and whether to save hostages, and the GOP race after the Iowa Caucuses.
Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, looks at China’s 2023 in the air and what’s likely in 2024. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!
Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and Steve Grundman of the Atlantic Council and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University — who both lead the Pentagon’s industrial policy office — discuss the Biden administration’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy that was unveiled by last week with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Congress’ efforts to negotiate appropriations to fund the US government, look ahead to earnings as companies prepare to report earnings, assessing the pace of the Pentagon’s acquisition of complex weapons like Tomahawk cruise missiles, and a look at the week ahead; and Chris Servello, the co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast, discusses takeaways from the Surface Navy Association’s 36th national symposium with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss possible impact of higher than expected December inflation and rising oil prices in the wake of Houthi attacks on international shipping, Washington’s budget deal, increased FAA overnight over Boeing’s manufacturing after loose bolts found on 737 Max 9 jets — now rebranded the 737-9 — Berlin drops ban on exporting Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia, and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works rolls out its latest experimental jet for NASA — the X-59.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss squabbling over recent bipartisan budget deal, US and its allies strike Houthi missile sites that have been targeting Red Sea shipping, outlook for Ukraine aid as Kyiv is increasingly worries additional US and European help might not be coming, Taiwan holds elections, Israel continues to brush off US efforts to broker a peace deal, the Washington tempest in the wake of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization, and the Iowa Caucus.
We look at the year ahead in airpower with a couple of expert seers: Mitchell Institute’s Heather Penney and Steve Trimble of Aviation Week. Plus this week’s airpower headlines. Powered by GE!
Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discuss how Russia is stepping up its attacks on Ukraine and how Kyiv is taking the war to Russia while improving its defenses, increasingly critical role of nations like Japan in providing Patriot missiles as America and Europe inch toward approving more than $100 billion in military and economic assistance, Ukrainian efforts to dramatically increase drone production, how much longer Russia can sustain such high casualty rates, and details about Deputy Defense Secretary Kath Hicks’ Replicator effort with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program Chris Kastner, the HII president and CEO, discusses the shipbuilding outlook as the Biden administration and Congress strike a budget deal; inflation, supply chain and workforce; carrier, amphibious and other ship programs; industrial base investment and accelerating submarine production; improving skilled trades retention; and how the company’s growth in technical services and IT is improving it’s shipbuilding capabilities with Cavas Ships co-host Chris Cavas and Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses big themes for 2024 and looks at the week ahead; and Chris Cavas and Chris Servello, the co-hosts of the Cavas Ships podcast, discuss what they expect to hear from US Navy leaders at the Surface Navy Association’s 36th national symposium Jan. 9-11 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss the big stories of 2024 including shifting economic expectations, global instability as defense spending driver, air travel demand, the FAA grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max 9 after an inflight depressurization incident as well as other near misses says about the aircraft production and air commercial air transport system, and impact of global elections on international security.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to look at what to expect in 2024 and their predictions on the stories to watch during the coming year.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy, join host Vago Muradian to discuss the key events of 2023 that will shape the coming year. This is our last program before the holidays until we resume coverage on Jan. 5.
On today’s program, sponsored by GE Aerospace, the award winning hosts of the Defense & Aerospace Report’s award winning podcasts — Chris Cavas and Chris Servello of Cavas Ships, Laura Winter of the The Downlink, and JJ Gertler, the co-host of The Air Power Podcast — review the big stories from 2023 that will shape the coming year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, and Chris Cleary who until recently was the US Navy’s principal cyber adviser, discuss the key cyber stories of 2023 that will shape the coming year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the keys stories in 2023 that will shape the coming year in Washington and around the world.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discuss the key Russia stories in 2023 that will shape the coming year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with a year-end review of business, geopolitical and congressional news with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as Wall Street surges to record territory after the Federal Reserve says will cut borrowing rates over the coming three years; takeaways from the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act, the rising cost of the US Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent by Northrop Grumman; Boeing and Raytheon get new top leaders; Britain, Italy and Japan sign a treaty to partner on the Global Combat Air Program; the five competitors for USAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft contest; and Chemring, British tanks and outlook for Ukraine aid.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss what’s now that the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act is law, how the administration and Senate Democrats are working with GOP on a border deal to secure Ukraine funding next year, appropriations prospects as measures funding government set to expire in January, Vladimir Putin’s claim to be winning in Ukraine as EU opens accession process with Kyiv and Hungary blocks $50 billion in European aid for Ukraine, why US policymakers have to pay closer attention to Russia’s alliance with North Korea, implications of the White House backing a longer Israeli campaign against Hamas after initially criticizing Jerusalem for using excessive force against civilians in Gaza as the NDAA gave Israel everything it wanted, Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam, Turkey’s renewed opposition to Sweden’s NATO member, and how Donald Trump is already shaping decision-making in Asia and Europe.
The IndoPacific covers more than a third of the Earth, and General Kenneth “Cruiser” Wilsbach is in charge of it all for the U.S. Air Force. He joins us with the latest on that volatile region and how the Air Force is building capabilities there. With coverage powered by GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX that convenes the annual Halifax International Security Forum, discusses they it’s vital to view China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the “CRINKs” that constitute a coordinated threat to democracies worldwide, how to craft a nuanced strategy to counter then, the vital importance of giving Ukraine the support it needs to win and so diminish the CRINKs, what exactly constitutes the “international community,” the centrality of more clearly messaging to counter the rise of the hard right, what’s next after Israel’s war on Hamas ends, and how to rally global support to solve big problems with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lt. Gen. Tom Copinger-Symes, the deputy commander of Britain’s Strategic Command, discusses relearning timeless lessons from the Ukraine war, the changing nature of advantage and imperative to adapt more rapidly, better integrating capabilities across allies and partners, how stripping bureaucracy from major programs like AUKUS can send a deterrence signal as powerful as fielding military capability, why leaders have to change how they lead a new generation of talent, educating senior civilian and military leaders on digital and cyber, getting the AI balance right in warfighting, and why recruiting must change to attract the best talent with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Western gloominess about Ukraine’s progress as the war stagnates, capabilities that the Russians as well as the United States and its allies are preparing to field, analysis of Anduril’s Roadrunner autonomous unmanned aircraft, Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he will run for another six-year term, influence of Russian “mothers’ in Moscow, and the stability of Russian society; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses expectations for the upcoming announcement about DoD’s Replicator effort, the implications of the Venezuelan referendum to annex Guyana's territory, whether frustration with Israel’s war on Hamas will have implications for US arms exports to the Middle East and elsewhere, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets; update on Airbus and Boeing 2023 deliveries; as Boeing passes on a new jetliner, Airbus eyes two programs to succeed A320, and could ask governments for launch aid; Boeing’s decision to eliminate its corporate strategy function; the possible implications of the V-22’s grounding; European view of the Ukraine war as gloominess in Washington grows; and criticism of Germany’s arms export approach.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim, and our producer and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join host Vago Muradian to discuss key elements of the draft $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act; what it will take to pass the emergency supplemental for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; how much longer Ukraine can survive without additional military aid; lawmakers clear nearly 700 officers for promotion as a dozen four-stars continue to be blocked; the GOP’s three-seat House majority; messages China and other adversaries are drawing from the political theater in Washington; what’s next in Israel’s war against Hamas as international criticism of high civilian casualties mounts; how to stop the Houthi attacks on the USS Carney the Red Sea.
This week, Anduril Industries unveiled its Roadrunner, a new concept in air defense. We’ll hear about it from their Pat Morris. And A.J. Piplica, the CEO of Hermeus, on their new contract and forthcoming hypersonics tests. Of course, we also have this week’s airpower headlines. With power from GE!
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry Hendrix, a retired US Navy captain and strategist who is now a senior fellow with the Sagamore Institute, discusses his new National Review article — “Save the Military-Industrial Complex: The government must ensure our nation’s war making capacity” — that recommends establishing a White House lead to oversee the rebuilding of America’s defense and commercial industrial capabilities necessary for national security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Bill LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and Sustainment, and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discuss what the Defense Department is doing to rebuild the industrial capacity that they and others maintain is a key to deterrence, reward innovative new suppliers, and artificial intelligence with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discuss takeaways from the 10th annual Reagan National Defense Forum, and look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, Wall Street’s view of the US defense spending outlook as lawmakers work toward a budget deal, Germany’s rearmament drive, Rolls-Royce’s capital markets day and plans to exit electric propulsion, big week for Boeing as 787 deliveries to China are to resume and P-8 Poseidon win in Canada, but the company is eliminated from USAF contest to replace E-4B “doomsday” nuclear command and control planes, more change at Spirit AeroSystems as Textron cuts workforce, and worries over the safety of America’s air traffic control system.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss lawmakers’ moves to lay the foundations for a budget deal, nearly 700 military officers except four-stars could be confirmed soon, what’s next in Israel-Hamas war, NATO reaffirms support for Ukraine, implications of Geert Wilders’ win in the Netherlands, US-India relations in the wake of Washington’s move to prosecute Indian national for trying to assassinate American Sikh leader on US soil, Henry Kissinger’s legacy, and what to expect from this year’s Reagan National Defense Forum.
The less fuel you have to carry and the fewer aircraft needed to support the sharp end of the spear, the more effective you can be in combat. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy Roberto Guerrero tells us how it’s done and blows our mind with some savings numbers. We have this week’s headlines in airpower. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Wes Naylor, a retired US Navy captain and former commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training and Simulation Division who is now the CEO of Helicon Chemical, and Chris Servello, the co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast and Defense & Aerospace Report producer who is a co-founder of the Provision Advisor PR firm, discuss takeaways from this year’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), technologies that will shape the future of training and simulation that in turn will shape large-scale synthetic environments and CJADC2, the Biden administration’s new supply chain approach and cyber security, as well as the legacy of Rear Adm. Jim Robb, USN Ret., who as president of the National Defense Industrial Association’s National Training and Simulation Association was a driving force in I/ITSEC’s growth with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Ilan Berman, the president of the American Foreign Policy Council, discusses his new report — “Challenging Moscow’s Message: Russian Disinformation and the Western Response” — the history of Russian disinformation efforts, its successful Cold War campaigns as well as its more recent efforts, how to counter disinformation, and lessons from Israel’s war on Hamas in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the long-range unmanned systems duel between Ukraine and Russia as Moscow strikes Ukrainians targets and Kyiv responds, Russia’s improvements on Iran’s Shahed-136 attack drones that are not being produced outside Moscow, Russia’s improving capabilities and how Ukraine is adapting, how Iran, North Korea and Turkey are helping the Russian war effort, and Vladimir Putin’s comments at the AI Journey conference; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the six key questions to consider about the future of defense spending as the outlook for the Pentagon budget outlook as well as aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan remains uncertain, what to expect at the upcoming Reagan National Defense Forum, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, the rebound in air travel that surpasses 2019 record, FAA decision to clear Boeing’s 737 Max 10 for flight testing, takeaways from Rheinmetall and Hensoldt’s capital market days, shifting investor sentiment on outlook for defense spending, future of Airbus Defense & Space, implications of jamming over the Middle East and around Ukraine that’s interfering with commercial air travel, and the rationale for a larger generation of unmanned aircraft for the Royal Navy.
On this week’s Technology Report, Mike McNerney, senior vice president for security at cyber insurance startup Resilience Previously and the director of VetsinTech that helps place veterans in tech jobs, discusses the group and its efforts including advocating that Congress fund the Affordable Connectivity Program — “Don’t Pull the Plug on Our Veterans” — the role of cyber insurance companies, the Biden administrations efforts to bolster national cybersecurity including across the defense industrial base, evolving threats, and why holding companies to account for neglecting threats and security can improve the safety of the entire ecosystem with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the 30-nation survey of global security trends conducted annually for the Halifax International Security Forum, the nations that are most and least trusted on security issues, and worldwide perceptions of US, Canadian, German, Chinese and Indian leadership; and Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the key takeaways from this year’s Forum from the vital importance that Ukraine prevail over Russia, the awarding of the John McCain Prize to the people of Israel in the wake of the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack, and the Forum’s Peace with Women Fellows with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s latest attack on Moscow, an update on the war, new sanctions on Russian non-governmental organizations helping the country’s military as well as unmanned ground vehicle maker, as well as the changing role of the country’s social media arms; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what’s next now that Congress moved in bipartisan fashion to keep the government open through January, takeaways from the Halifax International Security Forum as well as the Biden-Xi meeting at APEC, defense industrial strategy and deterrent, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as inflation declines and Congress funds the government through mid-January, Babcock and BAE Systems earnings as well as AUKUS newsflow, takeaways from President Biden’s summit meeting with China’s Xi Jinping and the Dubai Airshow, Boeing’s decision to eliminate its top strategy post, and the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ Mojave short-takeoff and landing variant of the Predator makes history by taking off and landing aboard HMS Prince of Wales.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the bipartisan nature of the continuing resolution that will keep government open through January and what it tells us about what to expect on the authorization and appropriations legislation, how the Senate will circumvent Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds on some 450 military promotions, impact of continuing dysfunction prompting large numbers of House and Senate members to retire, impact of delayed Ukraine aid and message it sends worldwide, takeaways from Biden-Xi summit and message the meeting sends to allies in Europe and Asia, next steps in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza, rising tensions in the West Bank, and US efforts to contain Iran’s regional proxies.
This week, there was an airpower headline everywhere you turned. We cover them rapid-fire with Stacie Pettyjohn of the Center for A New American Security on her interview with Air Force secretary Frank Kendall; Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute on the B-21’s first flight; and our monthly update on air and missile defense from CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako. Plus the headlines that have come in since! (All powered by GE Aerospace, of course.)
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, discusses President Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence, next steps to improve its efficacy, the importance of designating the nation’s cloud computing ecosystem as critical national infrastructure, the budget outlook for cyber investment especially at law enforcement agencies like the FBI, takeaways from the recent Lockbit ransomware attack on Boeing, progress on bolstering the US Indo-Pacific Command’s capabilities to better deter China and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown’s statement that Beijing is unlikely to use force to unify with Taiwan with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jack Watling, senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses the reality that Ukraine’s counteroffensive has stalled, the imperative for allies to quickly commit to furnishing Kyiv with the capabilities it needs to win, how Russia has stepped up its game, how a lack of trained and experienced personnel is the critical factor in battlefield success, the message failing to step up to support Ukraine sends to China and other adversaries about the staying power and commitment of the United States and its allies, what Europe can do to step up its game, lessons from Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, the terror group’s plan to deliberately put civilians in harms way to impede the Israeli campaign, the challenges of fighting in cities, and Ukraine and Gaza lessons for Taiwan with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s strikes against Russian Navy ships in Crimea, Kyiv’s arsenal of unmanned surface and aerial vehicles, what the revelation of Ukraine’s possible involvement in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline says about the country’s global operations against Russia and its interests, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses prospects for a government shutdown as the current measure to fund the government expires Nov. 17 and outlook for a full-year continuing resolution, how Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds on military promotions might impact defense spending, prospect for Ukraine and Israel supplemental funding, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as US firms including RTX and Spirit AeroSystems raise funds, as the US government faces another shutdown threat; third quarter earnings from Airbus, Chemring, Hensoldt, Leonardo, Rheinmetall, TransDigm; Airbus’ relationship with Spirit AeroSystems; pre-reports; Federal Aviation Administration recommends grounding business jets powered by Pratt & Whitney engines that may contain components made of potentially contaminated powdered metal; GE Aerospace pays nearly $10 million to settle accusation it furnished the Army and Navy with parts that were improperly inspected or not to specification; Boeing subjected to apparent ransomeware attack that leads to disclosure of propriety data; and storyline expectations from the Dubai Airshow.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the latest in Washington and around the world.
The same technology that lets Ukrainians defend their nation against Russian tanks was used by Hamas to enable its attack on Israel. The spread of technology; the utility of airpower; the future of US high-tech programs – we talk it all with Dr. Caitlin Lee, who runs the acquisition and technology policy program at The RAND Corporation. We have this week’s headlines in airpower. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, EJ Herold, a retired US Army colonel who is now the chief strategist at the Veterans Coalition International, discusses the new organization’s mission of improving veterans’ services among allied and partner militaries, what we can learn from our allies and partners and what they can learn from America, the need to determine why US suicide rates are high and allied rates are low, how US treatment of service members and veterans have changed over the decades, Ukraine’s veteran needs and the obligation to help those fighting on behalf of allies everywhere, what’s next for the organization and US veterans care with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Shyam Sankar, the chief technology officer at innovative big data and artificial intelligence firm Palantir, discusses the Biden administration’s new executive order on artificial intelligence, how the Pentagon is changing how it does business, the changes needed as the Defense Department increasingly works with a new generation of founder-owned and driven companies dedicated to national security, accelerating technology development cycles and increasing competition, and the additional changes needed to deliver the capabilities needed to address growing threats with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council discusses what’s next in Israel’s war on Hamas and the kind of Palestinian leadership that will be necessary in Gaza after the conflict; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses conflicting statements between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the capabilities Ukraine will need to counter Russia’s improving weapons, and the Kremlin’s case that there’s only one Vladimir Putin; Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the logic behind House Speaker Mike Johnson decisions, appropriations prospects and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as the Federal Reserve increase in short term borrowing rates slow new jobs growth; earnings trends as Bombardier, BWXT Technologies, Garmin, HII, Howmet, Leonardo DRS, Parsons, Thales report third quarter earnings and Spirit AeroSystems pre-reports; implications of Germany quitting partnership in the SCAF future fighter effort with France and Spain to join the British-led Tempest or Global Combat Air Program with Italy and Japan; the future of combat air capabilities and the balance between manned systems like Tempest, SCAF and the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program and sophisticated unmanned efforts like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft; the apparently different approaches of the two NGAD competitors — Boeing and Lockheed Martin; Lockheed Martin’s “re-scoped” reconnaissance capability; the surging global growth of Korean industry; and Russia’s war on Ukraine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss GOP move to separate Israel funding from President Biden’s $106 billion request for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; what’s next for Ukraine funding; update on House and Senate appropriations as current continuing resolution heads toward Nov. 17 expiration; as Washington dickers over supporting Israel and Ukraine in their ours of need, America’s allies question US reliability, handing wins to Russia and China; Senate lawmakers circumvent Sen. Tommy Tuberville to confirm new Navy and Air Force chiefs; Israel continues campaign as nations pressure Jerusalem to spare civilian casualties in its drive to eradicate Hamas; whether Vladimir Putin’s strategy of patience will pay off in Ukraine; what’s next for Kyiv as leaders warn of stalemate; whether China will take advantage of global chaos to advance its regional interests; Biden administration’s new Indo-Pacific economic initiative, and a roundup of regional news.
Whether high-end fighters, swarming drones, or hypersonic weapons, former Director of Defense Research and Engineering and former Air Force chief scientist Dr. Mark Lewis has been deep in the details. He joins us to look at how to turn the latest technologies into successful programs. And NGAD news in this week’s airpower headlines. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this week’s Technology Report, John CoFrancesco, the founder of Applied AI Company, discusses the Biden administration’s new executive order to ensure safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence, efforts to use the“Political Declaration on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy” as a foundation for a global standard, why fear of the technology is misplaced, the implications of the SEC’s suit against SolarWinds’ CISO, countering cyber and social efforts by Iran as well as its allies China and Russia, and outlook for constraining irresponsibility of social media firms with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, Dr. Bill Greenwalt of the American Enterprise Institute, and Steve Grundman of the Atlantic Council and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University — who all led the Pentagon’s Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy office — discuss the DoD’s upcoming industrial strategy, what’s necessary to dramatically increase weapons production, the importance of harnessing commercial industry to manufacture defense products in volume, the Pentagon’s Replicator effort, designing weapons for mass production and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, veteran Israeli security reporter and analyst Barbara Rome on Phase Two of Israel’s military operation to eradicate Hamas in Gaza and how Israeli forces can root out terrorists when Hamas uses innocent Gazans as shields, and the prospect of a wider regional war; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on the Ukraine war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense industry implications of new House Speaker Mike Johnson, takeaways from third quarter 2023 earnings and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as the US economy continues to roar; increasing concern that NATO is approaching the bottom of its weapons barrel as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues and Israel’s needs further strain limited supplies; Lockheed Martin’s decision to not pursue next batch of USAF tankers prompting Airbus to press ahead on its own; analysis of third quarter earnings as Boeing, CACI, CAE, Crane, GD, GE, Hexcel, Kongsberg, L3Harris, MTU, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Safran, Teledyne, and Textron report; Beta Technologies flies it’s ALIA all-electric aircraft 2,000 miles from Burlington, Vermont, to Elgin Air Force Base in Florida.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss what to expect from new House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on keeping government open, defense spending and Ukraine aid; how Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are advancing their interests in the wake of Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel; what’s next for Israel’s war on Hamas as Jerusalem struggles to shape a strategy and allies urge caution and prioritize freeing some 220 hostages held in Gaza; China’s surge in air and naval presence in the Taiwan Strait as a Chinese fighter comes within 10 feet of a US Air Force B-52 bomber operating in international airspace over the South China Sea; whether Hungary will follow Turkey in blessing Sweden’s NATO accession; what Poland’s election outcome means for Europe’s other autocrats; Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese’s state visit to Washington and more.
Whether you call them uninhabited, unmanned, or uncrewed, remotely piloted aircraft are making a big impact on today’s hot wars and the thinking about conflicts to come. The company that took UAVs big time in the United States is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and their president, Dave Alexander, joins us to look at what they’re doing and what’s coming down the road. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this week’s Technology Report, David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses the critical role of printed circuit boards in semiconductor ecosystem and importance of investment in national and allied capabilities and capacity; and Veronika Mudra, the CEO of AltrEgo, a UAV, counter-UAV and cyber company founded by Ukrainian American women, discusses how the California-based company rapidly fields unmanned and cyber capabilities to address needs identified by frontline units with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Thomas Barnett, the author of “America’s New Map,” discusses the challenges the United States faces over the coming decades — including from climate, economic, and demographic change — and how taking cues from history can help shape a more secure future, why America needs to form a union that brings together the north and south of the continent, how Washington should counter the narratives spun by authoritarian powers like China, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Amb. Jim Cunningham, America’s former ambassador to Israel, discusses what’s next for Israel’s war on Hamas as Washington pressures Jerusalem to delay ground offensive to free hostages held by the terror group and avoid a second front with preemptive attack on Hezbollah; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on the Ukraine war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses chaos on the Hill as the GOP continues searching for a House speaker, latest outlay figures, takeaways from Israel’s war on Hamas, Lockheed Martin’s third quarter earnings and earnings expectations and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. "Rocket" Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, continuing chaos on Capitol Hill, President Biden's $105 billion aid request for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, Boeing's new agreement with Spirit AeroSystems, Lockheed Martin's third 2023 quarter earnings and expectations for the group as they report over the coming weeks, capabilities Ukraine needs as it employs ATACMS missiles and unconventional means to retake territory occupied by Russia, challenges Israel faces in fighting Hamas in Gaza, and takeaways from the National Business Aviation Association's conference.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Dr. Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss continuing the GOP’s inability to pick a new speaker, support for President Biden’s request for $105 billion in security assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, Biden’s trip to Israel and what’s next Jerusalem prepares ground invasion of Gaza, prospects the conflict will spread, Ukraine’s use of ATACMS and new capabilities Kyiv needs as war enters its 22nd month, impact of Poland’s election, China’s meeting of Belt and Road Initiative partners, Kurt Campbell’s new job as deputy Secretary of State, roundup of Indo-Pacific news.
Across the world, the role of airpower is changing. We see democratization, with small groups and even individuals operating commercial drones in military operations. The US Air Force is moving to make a substantial portion of its fleet uninhabited. Air arms around the world are moving to fifth generation aircraft and in some cases starting on the sixth. To break it all down, we’ll be joined by a man who has propelled a lot of that change – former Air Force A2 and Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, retired Lieutenant General Dave Deptula. Plus airpower headlines. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, retired Navy Captain Steve Deal, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy and head of the 2018 Education for Seapower Study and Report joins our very own Chris Servello, co-host of the CavasShips podcast to discuss military education and specifically Steve's recent article "What is Broken About Naval Education," with host Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Audrey Kurth Cronin, the director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology and the author of the recent article in Foreign Affairs — “How Israel Can Win” as well as the books “Power to the People” and “How Terrorism Ends” — discusses what Israel has to do to achieve its aim of eradicating the Hamas from Gaza, identifying a legitimate successor a group that has terrorized Israeli and Gazans, prospects for a wider war and the role of the United States in averting it, and what a path to reconciliation looks like with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, veteran Israeli journalist and analyst Barbara Rome discusses the end game of Israel’s impending invasion of Gaza, the need for “new thinking” to eradicate Hamas, and the role of international pressure shaping the duration of the Gaza operation; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on the Ukraine war including Russia’s offensive against Avdiivka to relieve pressure on the Ukrainian drive to regain territory in the south, whether the global focus on Israel’s Hamas war distractions attention and support for Kyiv, and more Russian lessons from the Hamas war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense sentiment impact of the new house speaker, outlay projections and defense industry earnings expectations as Lockheed Martin prepares to report on Oct. 17, takeaways from AUSA and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, and Dr. Kevin Michaels, AeroDynamic Advisory’s managing director, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as annual inflation drops but gas and rents rise; how investors are responding to continuing GOP chaos on Capitol Hill and Israel’s expanding war on Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ deadly terror attacks; supply chain issues complicating US ability to act as arsenal of democracies to replenish its depleted stocks as well as Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; how global defense is changing; lessons from Ukraine and the sophisticated Hamas attack on Israel; implications of Boeing’s delivery of only 15 737 jetliners because of production problems at Spirit AeroSystems; and look at the future of commercial aircraft propulsion.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss continuing chaos in GOP caucus as members deadlocked over new speaker as another shutdown looms, congressional support for more aid for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel, Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel and what’s next as Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to eradicate the terror group that leads Gaza, whether negotiations to free Israeli and Western hostages will be successful and could pave the way for future peace, whether the catastrophic nature of Israel’s failure to detect the impending attack and the sluggish nature of the IDF’s response diminishes the country’s reputation for military prowess that’s at the heart of its conventional deterrence, when international pressure will prompt Israel to halt Gaza operation, concerns that pro-Hamas demonstrations by Muslim Europeans will fuel a backlash including boosting prospects for right-wing, anti-immigration parties, update on the Ukraine war, lessons China is drawing from the latest Middle East crisis, and a roundup of Indo-Pacific headlines.
It’s AUSA convention time, and we hear from an Army aviation legend. Former Major General Jeff Schloesser goes deep on military implications of world events, the changing nature of command and operational concepts, and the future of rotorcraft. Plus we break news of a new U.S. fighter in our airpower headlines. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Steve Hedger, the CEO of American Rheinmetall — the US arm of German defense and aerospace contractor Rheinmetall — discusses the company’s growth in the wake of the Ukraine war, lessons from the conflict that are shaping its portfolio, delivering on orders, and growth in the US market after being downselected as a finalist in the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle contest; and Alex Creswell, the CEO of Thales UK — one of Britain’s leading defense and aerospace firms — discusses lessons from conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, the importance of industrial base resilience, bolstering translation cooperation and the need for a new generation of truly modular weapons with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securties, Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, and JJ Gertler of the Teal Group as well as co-host of The Airpower Podcast discuss lessons from Hamas’ terror attack on Israel and the Ukraine war, why nations consistently forget hard earned lessons, how the global defense industrial environment is changing, the budget outlook and how growing debt and rising interest rates may impact future spending and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian from the sidelines of The Aerospace Event in Washington, DC.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, veteran Israeli journalist and analyst Barbara Rome discusses the unprecedented Hamas terror attack on Israel that left more than 700 dead, thousands wounded and more than 100 taken hostage, the intelligence failure and slow response by the Israel Defense Force, how the conflict needs to be resolved, and the assistance Israel needs from Washington and its allies; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on the Ukraine war as well as the lessons Russians are drawing from Hamas attack on Israel; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense budget outlook under a new House speaker, implications of a world descending into entropy, and the importance of land forces as the Association of the United States Army’s annual convention convenes with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as strong US jobs growth raises prospect of more Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, air travel outlook, change in management at Spirit AeroSystems as Boeing eyes raising 737 production rate to 57 jetliners a month, Rheinmetall’s articulacy ammunition contract for Germany and Ukraine moves ahead, Poland selects Thales combat system for the country’s frigates, Ukraine’s Antonov Europe’s ADS aerospace and defense trade group, look at Saab’s new A26 submarine, and what to expect from the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference and tradeshow next week.
Joining us today to review the week in Washington and the world are Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend with the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the race to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker and the look ahead to how the choice will shape the budget outlook and Ukraine spending, whether chaotic GOP and former President Trump’s mounting legal woes and latest revelation he disclosed nuclear submarine information will dim Republicans’ electoral prospects, global impact of congressional perfidy regarding assistance to Kyiv and prospect of Trump’s return to office, Ukraine and EU membership, President Biden’s upcoming meeting with Xi Jingping as Beijing escalates tensions with Taiwan and Philippines, Japan wants to accelerate $1.4 billion Tomahawk acquisition, US shoots down Turkish drone over Syria, and whether the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi will improve the lives of oppressed Iranian women.
Andrew Van Timmeren of Anduril tells us how the Fury high-performance adversary air UAV came to be and where the program is going. CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako adds the latest on air and missile defense. Plus airpower headlines. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Herson, the president of American Defense International, discusses why California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the House speakership, the implications of the move, candidates as the next speaker, outlook for Ukraine aid and impact on 2023 and 2024 elections with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, discusses the five steps Washington urgently needs to take to preserve deterrence and prevent losing a war against China, the three things that must happen by the end of the year, the amount of annual funding necessary to field vitally needed hypersonic defense and long-range strike capabilities, working more closely with allies and partners, and why surging weapons production for Ukraine will be vital for the Indo-Pacific as well with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Micahel Herson of American Defense International discusses how lawmakers averted a government shutdown with a last-minute deal and what’s next for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s decision to tap Andrei Troshev as Wagner Group’s new leader and role in Ukraine, Russia’s latest test of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, and the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense spending, a look at the week ahead and what to expect from the upcoming AUSA conference and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets including prospect of more Federal Reserve hikes in borrowing rates to achieve 2 percent inflation target, Europe’s lowest inflation rate in two years, investors continuing concern with RTX’s geared turbofan issues and impact on Airbus, Airbus announcement that Christian Scherer will head the giant’s commercial aircraft arm, Air France’s A350 and Air Canada’s 787 orders, Germany’s surging defense spending, Czech Republic’s makes official its purchase of 24 F-35 Lightning II fighters, impact of Sen. Bob Menendez stepping down from his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Saab prepares to roll out new A26 submarine, and a look ahead at the Up Summit.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the looming risk of what could prove a prolonged government shutdown and how GOP efforts to impeach President Biden as well as Ukraine aide will impact Washington’s budget politics over the coming months, whether former President Trump’s new legal woes in New York will impede his political prospects, European support for Ukraine even as Russian disinformation efforts shape the outcome of elections in Slovakia, impact of M1 tanks on the battlefield as the administration continues to deliberate ATACMS deliveries, North Korea returns US Army soldier Travis King to United States via China, mounting tensions between Beijing and Manila as Philippines dismantles Chinese sea barrier to impede Filipino access to its internationally recognized territorial waters, US sponsored Pacific Island meeting, Israeli-Saudi tanks, the crisis in Nagorno Karabakh and what it means for Armenia’s longevity as an independent state, and Trump’s threatening commends about outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
With major aircraft programs taking decades to put hardware on the ramp, the military is turning to rapid acquisition to make their new platforms more relevant. Until recently, Randy Walden ran the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, and he joins us to explain the secret sauce that lets the B-21 and other programs speed up time. Plus air power headlines. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this week’s Technology Report, David “Kumo” Kumashiro and Simon “Rocky” Rochelle of the innovative British quantum encryption company Arqit discuss the importance of working to apply quantum encryption of data today to safeguard critical information from future threats as both friends and foes race to field game-changing quantum computers able to crack any message not protected by quantum technologies with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we bring you an interview from our CavasShips Podcast with newly-installed commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, Rear Admiral Doug Verissimo, at the recent Naval Air Station Oceana air show. Chris Cavas and the Admiral talked about some of his greatest challenges, including maintenance of the US Navy’s air fleet, along with the recruitment and retention of sailors and aviators. Stay tuned for a great discussion from the flight line right after Cavas and co-host Chris Servello bring you a quick recap of naval news.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine — and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest defense and aerospace headlines and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets including realization that interest rates may remain high, lingering impact of RTX’s geared turbofan announcement on partner MTU and engine user Airbus as well as capacity issues if large numbers of jets are grounded for maintenace, whether the airline industry has too much capacity, whether the “great retirement” of experienced talent during the pandemic is causing program performance problems across the industry and if that experienced talent now at innovative smaller firms can help create a new generation of entrants into the market, NetJet’s agreement to order up to 1,500 jets from Textron, implications of parked commercial passenger and cargo aircraft, King Charles III’s successful state visit to France and whether it will help improve Anglo-French relations including on defense programs, update on Ukraine war as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks more arms and Kyiv strikes the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and how ATACMS could change the course of the war if the White House eventually approves the weapon for export.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss what’s next now that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s budget deal failed twice this week, outlook for government shutdown and NDAA, how China is spinning Washington’s dysfunction, Senate circumvents Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s blanket hold on military promotions to confirm top Pentagon military leaders, talks between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Want Yi in Malta, latest indictment against Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, Poland’s decision to halt military aid to Ukraine unless Kyiv suspends grain exports, support for Ukraine in Washington and beyond, US decision to give Iran $6 billion to free five American hostages, Bibi Netanyahu’s meeting with President Biden and invitation to visit White House, implications of surrender of Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, and ramifications of Canada’s disclosure that India killed a Canadian Sikh activist on Canadian soil and New Delhi’s reaction.
It’s been a busy and somewhat bizarre week in military aviation, and Richard Aboulafia, the world’s leading aviation market analyst, joins us to help break it down. Whether it’s missing F-35s, Polish fighter acquisition, or new aircraft types on the ramp, he brings the insights. And it’s all powered by GE Aerospace!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Maciej Klemm, the CEO and founder of APS — a Polish company that makes some of the most successful anti-drone systems operating in Ukraine — discusses magnitude of the drone war, the nature of the threat, blending kinetic and non kinetic technologies, and the need to innovate quickly as threats change; and Rob Basset Cross, the founder and CEO of British AI software firm Adarga, discusses the need to apply AI to help make sense of ever increasing amounts of data to help decision makers, the role of public-private partnerships needed to deliver capability quickly, and role of training and culture change to ensure leaders better understand AI and its role with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Amb. Jim Cunningham, one of the nation’s most experienced diplomats having served in Europe, the Middle East and Asia as America’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Israel, the United Nations in an acting capacity, consul general to Hong Kong and Macau and chief of staff for legendary NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner discusses diplomacy in a new great power era, preserving the rules based order, how identify the right red lines that can be enforced, countering China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as they grow closer, the keys to successfully negotiating with foes and friends, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Kim Jong Un, Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s Sevastopol naval base that damaged a drydock as well as destroyed a conventionally powered attack submarine and amphibious ship, Lt. Gen. Sergey Surovikin surfaces in Algeria, Ramzan Kadyrov’s health, and an update on tension in the Caucasus; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what’s next now that the House has submitted its draft spending measure to the Senate, long-term defense spending outlook as borrowing rates and inflation rise along with debt worries; takeaways from last week’s major events including the AFA show, the Global Aerospace Summit, AUVSI and CNAS, as well as a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, implications of parked commercial passenger and cargo aircraft, Vietnam Airlines order for 50 Boeing 737 Max jetliners, RTX’s $3 billion charge on Geared Turbofan engine problems that will ground 350 jetliners a year through 2026 to repair, rationale for downgrading RTX stock, GE’s decision to sell down AerCap stake, and key takeaways from DSEI tradeshow and Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss a defense appropriations bill that’s in trouble, growing likelihood of government shutdown and continuing resolution, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy open impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Ukraine makes battlefield progress and destroys Russian submarine and amphibious ship as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meet, Biden’s G-20 meeting and deepening partnership with Vietnam as Vice President Harris engages with ASEAN nations, implications of earthquake in Morocco and flooding in Libya, and more.
There’s a hot war in Europe, and the man in charge of United States interests in that part of the world, General James “Scorch” Hecker, joins us with the latest from the forward edge. And it’s avgeek prom time in Washington; we review the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air/Space/Cyber convention with John Tirpak of Air and Space Forces Magazine. It’s the latest from around the world!
On this week’s Technology Report, Bryan Clark, the director of Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, discusses the takeaways from a new report he coauthored with his colleague Dan Patt — “Unalone and Unafraid: A Plan for Integrating Uncrewed and Other Emerging Technologies into US Military Forces,” the kind of unmanned platforms the US military needs for future conflict, better coordinating efforts among the military services, analysis of the DoD’s new Replicator effort to mass produce vast quantities of unmanned platforms, Anduril’s new Fury aircraft, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr Brendan Mulvaney, the director of the US Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and inaugural director of the Marine Corps Commandant’s Red Team, discusses the “problematic” capabilities China is developing and demonstrating, whether Beijing is growing more dangerous as its economy falters, if there’s a “window” of danger, Beijing’s view of its adversaries and the importance of understanding the “century of humiliation,” how to counter China, building alliances and partnerships, the reality that China has enough capability to weather technological sanctions and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s battlefield gains, how Russia is adapting its capabilities including jamming to counter Western weapons in Ukrainian hands, how changes in leadership pin both sides will impact the war, Russia’s big drone jamboree, and the implications of an Azerbaijani attack on Armenia; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses factors that are negatively impacting defense stock values including Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds on military promotions and assignments, the Poland’s military modernization, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, analysis of Lockheed Martin’s announcement that TR-3 variant of F-35 Lightning II fighter won’t be ready for production until next year, Michael Whitaker’s priorities if confirmed as next FAA administrator, Ron Epstein’s vision for Boeing’s next jetliner, Poland’s $2 billion order for Kongsberg missiles, implications of Elon Musk’s decision to foil a Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to avoid being involved in escalation of war as Pentagon looks to increase its reliance on commercial suppliers, DoD’s Replicator effort to mass produce unmanned systems and Anduril acquisition of Blue Force and the company’s Fury uncrewed fighter, and what to expect from this year’s AFA conference and DSEI tradeshow.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss what’s on the agenda as lawmakers return to Washington from continuing resolution to NDAA, growing ire at Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds on general officer promotions and reassignments, President Biden’s weak poll numbers, Ukraine’s increasing momentum as Moscow steps up attacks and works to secure a anti-Ukrainian government in Slovakia, Facebook and Microsoft’s dismantling of Chinese disinformation campaigns aimed at the American public, expectations from the G20 meeting in New Delhi, whether sanctions can impede Beijing’s abilities to develop ever more sophisticated microelectronics, North Korea’s claim it’s fielding an at-sea nuclear deterrent, collapse of Israel’s secret talks with Libya, and Iran’s exercises on former UAE island.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Rasmus Hindren in an exit interview as he departed as head of international relations at the European Union’s Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki — now on the EU and NATO policy team at the Finnish Ministry of Defense — discusses the center’s efforts to identify long-term threats facing the 27-nation union, objectively assessing and prioritizing threats facing the union, a look at the threats facing the union, lessons from the Ukraine war, a long-term approach to Russia, view of China and its actions in the Indo-Pacific and their impacts on Europe, nurturing a stronger strategic culture among member nations, improving cybersecurity, countering disinformation, and greater allied industrial cooperation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On September 5th, Air Force secretary Frank Kendall sent a letter to the entire service outlining a new initiative to rebuild and re-organize the Air Force. Just before he released that letter, he sat down with The Air Power Podcast to discuss the motives behind and goals for that reorganization, along with other major Air Force issues.In particular, he was very blunt and impassioned about Senator Tommy Tuberville’s continuing hold on the military promotion and reassignment process. Because he was making timely news, we are getting this program into your hands a day early.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest defense and aerospace headlines and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s trip to Beijing and trade outlook as China’s demonstrates that US chip sanctions aren’t stopping it from developing semiconductors without American content, balancing Washington’s Buy American rhetoric with the Pentagon’s drive for allies and partners worldwide to more quickly produce weapons, the US Navy’s announcement that Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are the three competitors for it’s FA-XX future combat aircraft program, Ukraine makes progress on its counteroffensive, Lockheed Martin to establish F-16 training in Romania, and discovery of counterfeit CFM engine parts.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, decline in passenger and cargo traffic, Boeing prepares to renew deliveries to China as Beijing-Washington tensions rise, explanation for rise in near misses in the US air travel system, new 737 production issue at Spirit AeroSystems, Indonesia and Poland confirm their respective F-15 EX fighter and AH-64 attack helicopter orders, Brasil orders more Gripen E jets as the US Marine Corps raises its CH-53K buy, Lockheed Martin secures Lot 19 F-35 contract, and Ukraine war update.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for a government shutdown and Ukraine aid, national security takeaways from the first Republican presidential debate, what’s next for the Ukraine war as Vladimir Putin reasserts his power in the wake of the assassination of Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his top lieutenants, the corrosive nature of leaks from Washington criticizing Ukraine’s war strategy and the message it sends allies and partners worldwide, critical role of the Philippines under the leadership of Bongbong Marcos, China’s erosion of regional influence as nations stand up to Beijing with encouragement from America and its regional allies, the BRICS summit, and Israel’s settlers criticize the Netanyahu government as too liberal.
Spirit Aerosystems is well known for its commercial work, but they’re making a big move into the defense business, and the head of that operation tells us about it. And the Air Force’s futurist, retired Lieutenant General Clint “Q” Hinote, joins us to preview the Air Force Association Air Space Cyber conference coming up in a couple of weeks. Plus this week’s headlines in air power!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Paul McGinn, professor of chemical and molecular engineering at the Univeristy of Notre Dame, discusses claims that South Korea’s LK-99 material is superconducting at room temperature and ambient pressure, how the state of material science is advancing, and the impact that the engineering and scientific impact of recent CHIPS, infrastructure and climate measures; and Dr. Arun Seraphin, the executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute, discusses his priorities and ETI’s inaugural conference in Washington Aug. 28-30 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Brian Schimpf, co-founder and CEO of Anduril Industries, discusses lessons from the Ukraine war that are shaping his company’s strategy, how the Pentagon is changing the way it acquires capabilities, how the company is managing its supply chains to ensure responsiveness on demand and at scale, partnering with major contractors, DoD’s approach to the artificial intelligence that’s critical to increasingly autonomous systems, and a look ahead at the company’s growth prospects with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, former DoD comptroller Bob Hale, the chairman of the commission to reform the Pentagon’s Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution system, discusses panel’s interim report and its proposed recommendations; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses that latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the impact of China and Russia’s weakening economies, the US Air Force’s landmark blended wing body aircraft demonstrator program, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, global impact of China’s economic woes on air travel, reports that IndiGo is preparing to order 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, BAE Systems’ proposed $5.6 billion acquisition of Ball Aerospace, US Air Force’s $235 million contract to team led by JetZero that includes Northrop Grumman and RTX to develop and build a potentially game-changing blended wing body aircraft, potential defense budget implications as nations struggle with mounting climate disasters as security challenges loom, Washington clears Denmark and the The Netherlands to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 and transfer jets to Kyiv.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, our producer and co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast Chris Servello, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss a possible deal between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, prospects for a National Defense Authorization Act, the interim recommendations of the commission to reform the Pentagon’s Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution process, Ukraine’s progress on the battlefield and whether Washington will step up aid now that White House has cleared Denmark and others to begin training Ukrainians on F-16 fighters, how the alliance should respond to Russian provocations on the Black Sea, Russia’s mounting economic woes, President Biden’s historic meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts at Camp David, China’s own economic troubles, and latest on Israel and Iran.
The first rule of Fighter Club… is that we talk about Fighter Club. With countries around the world working on their own fighter aircraft, Richard Aboulafia, the world’s preeminent aviation analyst, tells us how the U.S. created a market for them – and how the U.S. might profit off them. And we have this week’s headlines in air power.
On today’s program, Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Djibouti’s ambassador to the United States as well as representative to the United Nations, discusses the importance of engaging with African nations to foster stability and security, the reluctance for nations to choose sides in an era of increasingly heated great-power competition, addressing turmoil in Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen, the role of the Economic Community of West African States in confronting the junta that deposed Niger’s legitimately elected President Mohamed Bazoum, and Djibouti’s openness to hosting military forces from France, America, Britain as well as China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Varun Marya, the aerospace and defense lead for the Americas at the McKinsey consultancy, discusses the global business environment, business strategy, the need to pick winners and losers, accelerating DoD adoption of commercial technologies for military applications, how targeted Pentagon spending can attract commercial capital to solve defense problems, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine — and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest defense and aerospace headlines and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as inflation ticks up and investors debate when the Federal Reserve will start cutting short-term borrowing rates intended to fight inflation, whether current inflation is high relative to historical norms, look at CAE, Garmin, RocketLab, Rheinmetall, Spire, Teledyne, TransDigm earnings, Romania orders F-35 Lighting II fighters from Lockheed Martin as Indonesia orders 18 additional Rafale’s from Dassault Aviation, F-16 order book grows as US prepares to clear jets for Turkey as the Fighting Falcon prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, update on Ukraine’s counteroffensive and Russia’s efforts to intimidate shipping in the Black Sea.
Airpower doesn’t work if the pylons and racks are empty. Tyler Hacker of CSBA joins us to discuss his new report on future munitions and production challenges. And one Air Guard unit’s innovative outreach to get young people interested in things with wings. Of course, the hot headlines in airpower live here. It’s a blast!
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies discusses China’s persistent penetration of Japan’s defense networks in 2020 and again in 2021, US and Japanese efforts to help Tokyo eject Beijing from those networks, and how the disclosure of the intrusion by The Washington Post could impact US-Japan relations; and Tobias Whitney, the vice president of strategy and policy at Fortress Information Security, discusses the company’s partnership with the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International to generate certification standards for commercial and military uncrewed systems and how these standards could be applied to other fields with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
In the fifth of a six-part series on command and control, sponsored Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, and Greg Grant, a senior adviser with the Special Competitive Studies Project — the nonprofit that emerged from the wake of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence — discuss the status of the Pentagon’s top priority Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort, progress to date, what it will take to accelerate progress, role of technology and culture change, as well as lessons from history and the Ukraine war with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s recent strikes against Russian infrastructure, naval and commercial ships in Crimea, an update on Kyiv’s counteroffensive to claw back territory from Russia, the scale of Moscow’s incessant cruise missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian targets, the support Russia is getting from China, North Korea and Iran, and the latest unmanned systems developments; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses historical data about government shutdowns and continuing resolutions, buying power that’s lost when appropriations and interrupted, lessons form Central Europe’s ammunition shortfalls during the early 20th century, the recent RAND Corporation report — “Inflection Point: How to Reverse the Erosion of U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence” — and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as the Fitch downgrades US credit from AAA to AA+ over concerns that Washington has no plan to deal with burgeoning debt and new job creation was weaker than expected, look at second 2023 quarter earnings as Air Lease, AerCap, BAE Systems, Bombardier, Chemring, Garmin, HII, Howmet, Leidos, Parsons, Rolls-Royce, Spirit AeroSystems, and Triumph report, munitions production as Russia continues to deplete Ukrainian and Western stocks, and US Air Force awards Archer Aviation a contract for six of the company’s Midnight air taxis to test the utility of the concept in military operations.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss implications of the Biden administration’s decision to keep US Space Command in Denver instead of moving it to Alabama as promised by former President Trump as the Alabama delegation that includes the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep., Mike Rogers vows retribution, Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s continuing hold on military promotions, update on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Kyiv gains ground and Russia counterstrikes, what the alliance has to do to step up weapons production as worries most that Ukraine’s allies are already running short, two US sailors accused of spying for China as Chinese malware detected in US military and commercial networks, Beijing sacks top Chinese generals, DoD continues to engage in Indo-Pacific including to defuse tensions with China, and US to put troops on ships to guard against Iranian hijacking, and Israel update.
The U.S. Air Force has a new Chief of Staff on the way. We asked a panel of airpower thinkers to fill in the new Chief’s agenda, and the results are fascinating. And there’s a new fighter in European skies, but with a familiar shape. The man at its controls tells us all about this historic project. And air power headlines? We’ve got them!
On this week’s Technology Report, John CoFrancesco, the founder of Applied AI Company, discusses how to counter Chinese malware in US military and national infrastructure, how much a national effort would cost, the Biden administration’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, the White House’s agreement with AI firms, the benefits of an AI enable society, how to think about AI weaponry, and South Korea’s potentially game changing LK-99 material that promises room temperature and ambient pressure semiconductors with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, James Cross and Sam Gray of the Silicon Valley Defense Group discuss the non-profit’s inaugural NATSEC100 report on the top venture-funded companies developing innovative technologies and systems for national security applications, the role of government in picking winners and losers, the Pentagon’s obligation to more robustly fund companies it has encouraged to develop potentially breakthrough capabilities, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies discusses Chinese malware implanted across US military and national infrastructure that could hamper an American response to a crisis precipitated by China in the Indo-Pacific, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s battlefield gains and Russia’s latest nuclear saber rattling, and Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses key takeaways from last week’s earnings reports, the Jamestown Foundation’s tactical nuclear conversation with former US Army Europe Commander Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, USA Ret., and the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as recession fears abate, a look at second 2023 quarter earnings as Airbus, Boeing, GD, L3Harris, Leonardo, Northrop Grumman, Safran, RTX and others report, Northrop Grumman’s revelation it won’t pursue the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance contract as a prime contractor, RTX discloses 1,200 Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engines need accelerated inspections, and analysis of billions of dollars in Safran and Thales acquisitions.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the $886 billion overwhelmingly bipartisan Senate version of National Defense Authorization Act and the elements that differ from the highly partisan House version of the authorization measure, update on appropriations and as lawmakers leave Washington for summer recess, Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military promotions, update on Ukraine’s offensive and the help Kyiv needs to succeed, whether NATO is prepared for accidental escalation as Russia targets Ukrainian grain facilities across the Danube from Hungary, Russia hosts African leaders as Vladimir Putin pledges free grain as he strikes Ukrainian grain stores, Japan’s new defense strategy, Xi Jinping without explanation replaces his protege Qin Gang with Wang Yi as foreign minister, America blocks Hong Kong chief executive John Lee from key meeting of Indo-Pacific leaders in San Francisco, and what’s next after Bibi Netanyahu and his allies drive home controversial judicial reform legislation that is dividing Israeli society and alienating Washington.
The U.S. Air Force just passed a milestone with its first use of a commercial contract tanker. We discuss what it means and hear from the company that made it happen. And CSIS guru Tom Karako on the latest in air and missile defense. Plus your headlines in airpower!
On this week’s Technology Report, Bryan Clark, the director of Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, discusses the new paper he co-authored with his colleague Dan Patt — “Campaigning to Dissuade: Applying Emerging Technologies to Engage and Succeed in the Information Age Security Competition” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bruce Klingner of the Heritage Foundation discusses North Korea under Kim Jong-Un’s leadership as well as new capabilities being developed to strike the United States, how to both deter and engage Pyongyang, opportunities in the defection of US Army Pvt. Travis King, whether it’s time for a new strategy that regards China-Russia-North Korea-Iran as a concerted threat or continue a siloed strategic approach, whether South Korea will support Washington and its allies in the event of a crisis with China, and the prospects Seoul and Tokyo will go nuclear in the wake of Pyongyang’s growing capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Vladimir Putin’s drive to show he’s in control by arresting right-wing commentary Igor Girkin, update on Wagner Group’s training of Belarusian troops, Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s claim that Ukraine has regained 50 percent of its territory, how Ukraine can get its grain to international markets through its own territorial waters and those of its neighbors, and the latest in unmanned warfare; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Senate’s approach to the National Defense Authorization Act, increasing US weapons production to address Ukrainian and global demand, a look at Lockheed Martin earnings and what to expect from other defense and aerospace firms about to report second quarter results, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, United Airline’s deal with pilots and implication for air travel especially at the front of the cabin as prices soar, analysis of second quarter 2023 earnings at Babcock, Dassault, Lockheed Martin, Saab and Thales, Dassault’s low production rate, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz’s comments on Saudi Arabia and implications for future defense programs including on combat aircraft, and Western production of weapons including air and missile defenses as Russia deliberately saturates Ukraine’s defenses to deplete Kyiv’s American and European stocks.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s approach to the National Defense Authorization Act, update on appropriations, congressional antics including Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s holds and Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Israel comments, Russia’s assault on Ukrainian grain and how Washington and the world should respond, Wagner Group reconstitutes in Belarus, Pentagon Asia-Pacific chief Dr. Ely Ratner’s testimony on China and Taiwan and how his comments could shape Republican opposition to Ukraine aid, roundup of Indo-Pacific news including Xi Jinping’s decision to rebuff John Kerry’s climate cooperation proposal, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s disappearance, and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s drive to gut the independence of the country’s judiciary.
The F-35 Lightning II is the biggest program in military history, and it deserves the longest interview in our history. In this special expanded edition, the man at the top of the program through some of its toughest times, Tom Burbage, joins us to talk about the fighter’s evolution.
On this week’s Technology Report, Paul Ernst, the cyber security lead at Rebellion Defense, discusses China’s recent hacking of the State Department’s emails and how the nation should improve its cyber defenses; and Quentin Donnellan, the president of defense and space at Hypergiant, discusses on how the innovative company is helping the US Air Force realize its Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control future with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the executive director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting in the School of Business at George Mason University, discusses the new report he co-authored with Mike Roche — A “Build Allied” Approach to Increase Industrial Base Capacity — lessons from the Ukraine war, balancing sovereign national needs against the need for free trade, how to bring together allies and partners worldwide to rapidly field capability and increase capacity, incentives to encourage more cooperation, investing in national capabilities, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s offensive including strikes on the Kerch Bridge as well as the Russian fleet in Sevastopol, takeaways from NATO’s Vilnius Summit, Vladimir Putin’s move to demote, fire or detain more than 30 generals, Turkey’s shift toward the alliance, and an update on UAV operations during the war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act, how the Senate will respond to the legislation that includes controversial provisions, the impact of devastating climate events like record flooding in Vermont and New York as well as a warming ocean that could generate far more fierce Atlantic hurricanes and what impact these disasters will have on government spending, lTreasury outlays and what to expect when leading contractors like Lockheed Martin report earnings, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the weeks top US and international security headlines.
Airpower is everywhere in this week’s Air Power podcast, powered by GE Aerospace. Vago reports from the Air Chiefs’ Conference and Royal International Air Tattoo in England, including a discussion with former Air Marshal Greg Bagwell about the major issues. And he also speaks with brigadier general Marc LaBouil of the French air and space forces, who is leading a remarkable French deployment to Asia. Of course, there are the weeks headlines in airpower. And we apologize for some audio variability; we were both on the road this week, so it may not sound quite as smooth as usual – but the information is there and it’s good!
On today’s Technology Report, Kynan Carver of government services firm Maximus discusses how to get to a zero trust world, cloud security and improving government and military security at the point of logging in; and Dale Davis of Ultratech Capital Partners discusses the Pentagon’s progress on better harnessing commercial technology for military gain and steps to improve its game, dialogue with DoD on the problems that need solving, and the outlook for capital availability as investors tightened their standards after years of lax practices with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Andrew Krepinevich, one of America’s foremost strategists who is now affiliated with the Center for a New American Security and the Hudson Institute, discusses his new book — The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers — that dissects lessons from four critical inflection points in the development of breakthrough military capabilities shaped by singular leaders who harnessed technological change to craft forces able to prevail over adversaries to shape the future of their nations, China’s long head start on building forces able to systemically undermine US military advantages, what the United States has to do to regain the upper hand in the competition, vital role of leadership and tenure in driving change, and Ukraine war lessons with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the three-hour meeting Vladimir Putin held with Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin and his commanders as well as top officials five days after the aborted mutiny spearheaded by the mercenary leader, status report on the Ukraine War and US decision to supply Kyiv with the cluster munitions it sought, and update on unmanned systems on the battlefield; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense industrial implications of NATO’s Vilnius Summit, the need for an alliance munitions strategy to leverage broad industrial capabilities to accelerate production, putting the clusters munitions debate in the right context given Ukraine called for the weapons as Russia has used them indiscriminately against civilians, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…we take an early look at one of the largest shows – The United Kingdom Defense and Securities Export exhibition or DSEI, held every two years in London. Joining us to preview the show and discuss international maritime issues that will shape the discussion is retired Royal Navy Rear Admiral Jon Pentreath, DSEI’s Senior Naval and Land Advisor.
Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and its nearly 1,500 amendments that will hit the floor next week and the many contentious proposals that will provide problematic, outlook for appropriations to avoid a government shutdown, Vladimir Putin’s hold on power in the wake of the aborted mutiny by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, takeaways from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization virtual meeting, NATO’s Vilnius Summit next week and Sweden’s proposed membership as well as how the alliance will finesse Ukraine’s future role, Washington’s decision to send cluster weapons Ukraine as Kyiv calls for more weapons, India’s decision to back the International Court of Arbitration’s decision in favor of Manila and against China’s sweeping territorial claims to the South China Sea, Indo-Pacific headlines, Israel’s Jenin operation, the US Navy’s role in preventing Iran from seizing more ships in the Gulf, and Russia’s interference with US Reaper aircraft over Syria.
This week, it’s an ALL Power Podcast (powered by GE Aerospace), as we try a little jointness. The team (Chris Cavas, Chris Servello, Laura Winter, Vago and J.J.) comes together to review 2023 in space, aloft, and on the sea. Because it’s not too late to choose a new course!
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses whether Vladimir Putin has been weakened by the recent mutiny, the method to his Dagestan visit, more money for the Army and National Guard, where’s Yevgeny Prigozhin and what’s next for his Wagner Group and other “professional military companies,” and an update on the Ukraine War; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses China’s decision to cut gallium and germanium rare earth exports to the United States in response to US moves to curtail Chinese access to semiconductor making equipment and technology, impact of the move, whether the upcoming mission to Beijing by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin will improve Sino-American relations, the complexities of an increasingly nuclear-armed world, RUSI’s Ukraine War lessons and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets in the wake of Wagner Group CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin aborted mutiny, how Russia changes as a threat after the chaotic weekend that saw mercenary forces advance to within 125 miles of Moscow, prospect of increased French defense spending and Berlin’s plan to invest up to 10 billion euros on ammunition and combat vehicles, lessons from the widespread flight cancellations across the United States as Americans head on vacation before Independence Day, the impact of the new agreement between Spirit AeroSystems management and its union that will yield a 36 percent pay raise, the US Army’s decision to select GD Land Systems and Rheinmetall for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Leonardo partners with Hanwha on Advanced Electronically Scanned Array radar technology, China’s flight test of a J20 fighter equipped with Chinese-made WS15 engines and what the development means for Comac’s C919 airliner, and the FAA’s awarding of a special airworthiness certificate to Joby Aviation to allow the company to deliver its first production electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to the US Air Force next year under the Agility contract valued at up to $131 million.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, our producer and co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast Chris Servello, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the aborted mutiny by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and whether the mercenary force leader had help from senior Russian security officials, how the episode will change how Vladimir Putin rules and conducts the war in Ukraine, Beijing’s view of the Russian leader and implications for its own autocracy, divisions in the NATO heading into the Vilnius Summit over Ukraine’s membership in the alliance and who will serve as secretary general, roundup of Indo-Pacific headlines, Israeli police’s investigation of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former IDF deputy chief of staff Yair Golan on incitement changes, and impact of Supreme Court’s decision to reverse affirmative action for college admissions on future military officer recruiting.
On this week’s Air Power Podcast (powered by GE Aerospace), Aviation Week defense editor Stephen Trimble talks F-35, C-130, NGAD, and more. Safran Electronics CEO Franck Saudo discusses how they are overcoming GPS denial technology. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower. What more, really, could you ask?
On this week’s Technology Report, this week’s Mark Montgomery of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses the science, technology, cyber and AI implications of House and Senate authorization and House appropriation markups of the Biden administration’s budget request, progress on cyber, the need to fund generational science, technology, chips and infrastructure legislation to improve US long-term competitiveness, crafting smarter immigration laws to allow talented foreign graduates with US science and technology degrees to remain in the United States, the kind of science and technology cooperation that is possible with China even as tensions simmer between Beijing and Washington, whether Russia will lash out at America and its allies in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s setbacks on the battlefield and the aborted mutiny by Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin, and tech takeaways from Taiwan with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Dr. Brian Taylor, a professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as well as the director of Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs — and author of, “The Code of Putinism” — discusses whether the brief and aborted mutiny by Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin will undermine Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 23-year grip on power, whether Prigozhin’s scathing criticism and Putin’s clemency of the Wagner boss and his fighters will come back to haunt Putin by potentially empowering other senior figures to mount a future challenge, elites’ faith in the longtime leader, how the episode will shape Putin’s approach to the Ukraine war and whether he will be more inclined to using nuclear weapons, and how the Russian public and Chinese leaders will view Putin after the mutiny with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the questions in the wake of Wagner Group mercenary and convict force boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s aborted drive toward Moscow, the outlook for Vladimir Putin’s longevity given security services failed to move to stop the mercenary force until Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ended the crisis by offering Prigozhin as well as his troops and their equipment asylum in Belarus, and an update on Ukraine’s counteroffensive; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense investment implications of the Prigozhin affair, a look at House and Senate markups of the Biden administration’s defense budget request, takeaways from the Paris Air Show, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets, worldwide implications of a new four-year labor contract for Spirit AeroSystems’ workers that might yield a pay raise great than the 34 percent deal rejected by members, and analysis of key headlines from the 54th Paris Air Show including commercial aircraft orders, revelation that three demonstrators were built for the US Air Force’s top priority and top secret Next Generation Air Dominance combat aircraft program and that the service selected two teams to compete for the final order, and an update on the Franco-German-Spanish SCAF fighter program that now includes Belgium as an observer, and European air and missile defense efforts.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss House and Senate defense authorization and House defense appropriations markups, update on Ukraine supplemental that can become a vehicle for Pentagon budget plus up, allies pledge to rebuild Ukraine and whether more than $300 billion in Russian assets should be sent to Kyiv, update on Ukraine’s offensive, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States and the messages the visit sends to China and the world, Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting with Xi Jinping to de-escalate tensions between the two nations, what Washington should do next now that Chinese shipments of gunpowder to Russia have been confirmed, how White House efforts to toward an “understanding” with Tehran could jeopardize the Abraham Accords, and the implications of recent of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
French Lightning– From the Paris Air Show, on this week’s Air Power Podcast (powered by GE Aerospace), Lockheed Martin Aeronautics boss Greg Ulmer talks F-35, NGAD, AETP, and more. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower, including breaking some NGAD news. C’est formidable!
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Paul Scharre, the vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, discusses his new book — “Four Battleground: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine — and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the latest defense and aerospace headlines and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as defense spending uncertainty returns to Washington, industry wide implications of Spirit AeroSystems’ new contract with unionized workers that if approved would raise pay by 34 percent, news reports that Ball Corp. is considering selling its aerospace unit for more than $5 billion, a progress report on the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Aircraft Program and some of the characteristics of the new fighter, key storylines from the 54th Paris Air Show including whether commercial aircraft orders will set a new record and the Franco-German-Spanish SCAF fighter program, plus a Ukraine war update.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to GOP floor antics as politically unpalatable new budget levels are set, House Armed Services and Defense Appropriations markups, Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s, R-Ala., continued hold on 250 military promotions, the global implications of former President Trump’s federal indictment for taking top secret documents including nuclear and war plans then misleading investigators, Ukraine’s counteroffensive and whether Washington and the West’s incremental approach to arming Kyiv is leaving the country without what it needs to mount a successful offensive, Russia’s claim it deployed nuclear weapons to Belarus, Germany’s new national security strategy, France scuppers NATO’s plan to open a liaison office in Tokyo to better coordinate alliance activities with Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, White House messaging on China’s spy base in Cuba, whether Turkey will allow Sweden to join the alliance, update on Israel’s chaotic political scene and White House outreach to Iran.
Big Bang Theory -- An innovative technology promises to drastically increase the range and/or shrink the size of air-launched (and other) munitions. We talk with the CEO of the company that’s making it happen. It’s time for our monthly update on air and missile defense with CSIS’s Tom Karako. And we’ll have the week’s headlines in airpower. It’s 50 pounds of show in a 5-pound bag!
On this week’s Technology Report, Sam Caucci, the founder and CEO of 1Huddle — an innovative workforce performance and training platform — discusses new contracts with the Air Force and Navy special operations commands, how training that is mentally challenging improves retention and learning outcomes, and the changing nature of work in the wake of the covid pandemic; and Justin Sherman, the founder of the DC research and advisory firm Global Cyber Strategies, discusses Russia’s hacking conference, the evolution of the Russian cyber ecosystem after global sanctions in response to Moscow’s war on Ukraine, Montana’s move to ban TikTok and the company’s countersuit, the right approach to regulating foreign-owned social media, and the flaws in the House bill that aims to limit China’s ability to develop undersea cables with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Ted Colbert, the CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, discusses his drive to improve his unit’s performance by hiring thousands, investing in his business and driving sweeping culture change to empower his workforce, the new global security environment in the wake of the Ukraine war, learning lessons from past program missteps, driving growth and winning major new contracts, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s counteroffensive to liberated its territory from Russian occupation, the Kremlin’s new directive that all Russian “volunteers” fighting in Ukraine register as contractors, and Russia’s non-government UAV ecosystem; AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning discusses the impact of the debt deal on defense spending, inflation impact, rebuilding defense industrial capacity in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, priorities for the Paris Air Show, and need for tax credit and export control reforms; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the US defense budget outlook and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets as investors weigh commercial real estate worries and prospects that Congress might not plus up Pentagon spending, the International Air Transport Association’s new traffic numbers and outlook on sustainable aviation, the concern that airlines are ordering too many airplanes in large blocks, Airbus delivery figures, defense sentiment as Ukraine launches its counteroffensive, and themes for the upcoming Paris Air Show that convenes the week after next at the historic airfield at Le Bourget outside the French capital.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss prospects for supplemental funding from Congress for Ukraine and cover Pentagon needs in the wake of the bipartisan debt deal, the Freedom Caucus revolt that’s blocked the House floor to protest Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Republican presidential field and political implications of former President Trump’s impending federal indictment for mishandling top secret documents, what’s next in the Ukraine war as Kyiv launches its offensive and Russia blows up the Novo Kakhovka dam, growing US comfort with Ukraine using American weapons against Russia, France’s move to block a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, prospect that China will open a spy base in Cuba and what Washington can do about it, roundup of headlines in Asia and the Middle East, including the big Saudi win in negotiating a merger between the PGA and LIV to dominate golf as it already does Formula 1 and soccer.
On The Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Vago flies solo as JJ has the week off. In our discussion portion, we welcome Dr. Ted Harshberger of the Center for Strategic and International Studies to discuss lessons from the Ukraine war, what the destruction of the dam across the Dnipro River tells us about the targets nations are willing to destroy even if doing so hurts their own troops and citizens, the lessons from this European war that apply elsewhere including the Indo-Pacific, and the capabilities needed to deter and win future conflicts.
On this week’s Technology Report, Don Burnette, the co-founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics, discusses the Silicon Valley company’s innovative autonomous technologies that can transform existing commercial and military vehicles into uncrewed ones; and John Cofrancesco, founder and CEO of the Applied AI Company, discusses the right approach to regulating artificial intelligence, why many large companies want legislation to ensure a level competitive playing field, and analyses the public elements of Pentagon’s new classified cyber strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Brian Taylor, a professor in the Political Science Department at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citzenship and Public Affairs who is an expert on Russia, Vladimir Putin and Russian elites and politics and the author of "The Code of Putinism,” discusses the impact of international sanctions on Russia now and over time, whether the sanctions will fracture Russian elites and separate them from Vladimir Putin, determining the actual level of public support for the Russian leader, Putin’s track record of doing what he’s said he’ll do, how to determine his actual red lines, whether it’s time for a strategy that deals with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as a coalition rather than individual threats, and examples of good and bad strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine — and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the deal to raise America’s borrowing limit and its implications on defense spending and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street’s reaction to the debt deal that cut government spending and capped the Pentagon’s budget, whether there are work arounds that will boost resources for the Pentagon, economic outlook and how the Federal Reserve will respond to more positive jobs numbers, analysis of comments by Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on how the trussed-wing transsonic technology demonstrator the company is developing for NASA could shape future single-aisle jetliners, Cathay Pacific’s interest in freighter version of the 777X, expectations that IndiGo will place 500-plane order with Airbus, and whether Ukraine will be able to get the 50 Patriot batteries it says it needs to help it achieve air superiority as it prepares to launch its offensive.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for defense spending in the wake of the bipartisan debt ceiling deal, pAlabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military promotions, how NATO has to respond to Balkan unrest, Turkey’s election and Sweden’s alliance membership, Ireland and defending undersea cables, Washington’s New START strictures, what to expect from this weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue as Beijing rejects a meeting of US-Chinese defense leaders and buzzes a US spy plane, Lloyd Austin’s visit to Tokyo, closer US-Japanese-South Korean cooperation, North Korea’s failed satellite launch, and what “strategically witless” leaks from the administration tell the world.
This we week we are honored to welcome Gen. Mark "Grace" Kelly to the show. As the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Kelly's job is to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense--no small task for one staff. During this week's discussion we cover the challenging issues across the force and the globe, as well as and the week’s airpower headlines. If it’s in the air, it’s on the air!
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr Mark Esper, the 27th US defense secretary, and Deborah Lee James, the 23rd Air Force secretary, who are the co-chairs of the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption discuss the group’s interim report that includes 10 recommendations aimed at helping the Pentagon accelerate the adoption of game-changing technologies and capabilities by granting key leaders more authority to make key programmatic decisions more quicklyand allow greater budget flexibility to turn promising ideas into fielded capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine including today’s unmanned aircraft attack against Moscow, impact of the war on Russian society, and CNA’s new report he co-authored with Jeff Edmonds — Russia’s Use of Uncrewed Systems in Ukraine — and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the deal to raise America’s borrowing limit and its implications on defense spending, whether focus on accusations of price gouging by defense contractors changes Pentagon spending sentiment and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how Wall Street and world markets will view the deal between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to avert a US debt default, defense and aerospace stock performance on US and European markets, impact of congressional calls that Defense Secretary Austin investigate contractors for price gouging in the wake of a 60 Minutes report and charge that Boeing refused to select pricing data on more than 10,000 replacement parts on defense sentiment and future spending as was the case in the 1980s,re-election of Recip Tayyip Erdogan on Turkey’s national security outlook, QinetiQ earnings and AUKUS outlook, China Eastern makes first passenger flight with Comac’s C919 jetliner, Airbus says it won’t modify A220 to replace A320, Riyadh Air’s interest in at least 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, Czech Republic’s $2.4 billion order for CV90 combat vehicles, and what’s next as Ukraine’s offensive looms.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss debt ceiling talks as lawmakers fail to reach a deal before leaving Washington for the Memorial Day weekend, Sen. Tommy Tuberville vows continued hold on military confirmations as President Biden names USAF Chief Gen. CQ Brown as next Joint Chiefs chairman, impact of concerns that military contractors are price gouging on future defense spending, Ukraine-backed Russian partisans raid Russia, what happens to US support for Ukraine is American systems are used against Russia, China’s cyber hacks against Guam’s critical infrastructure, key congressional delegation cancels trip to Indo-Pacific and Taiwan, why Washington is trying so hard to normalize relations with Beijing after China’s anger at US shoot down of its spy balloon, takeaways from G7 as well as Quad and Pacific Island leaders forum, what Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s impending reelection means for Turkish democracy, Bibi Netanyahu woo’s Orthodox Israelis with cash and plans to restart his judicial reform push, and US Navy efforts to counter Iran’s high seas piracy.
Uninhabited aircraft rule this week’s Air Power Podcast, powered by GE Aerospace. Vago and J.J. are joined by Mike Shortsleeve, vice president for strategy and business development at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and a former UAV unit commander, to look at the future of UAVs. And Mark Montgomery comes by to dissect DoD’s big new munitions procurement plans. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. It’s all kinds of bang for your podcast buck!
On this week’s Technology Report, C3 AI Founder, Chairman and CEO Tom Siebel discusses the step-change implications of generative artificial intelligence, the magnitude of potential society-altering dangers as well as sweeping benefits, the smart approach to regulation that curbs negative impacts without stifling innovation, the use of the technology in weapons particularly by nations like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, how to think about AI threats in a world where the barriers to developing the technology are falling, the kind of declaratory strategies needed to deter adversaries from employing weaponized AI against the United States and its allies, efforts to harmonize now-scattershot Pentagon AI efforts, and his company’s growth in the DoD market with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Bill Greenwalt, one of the nation’s leading thinkers on defense acquisition at the American Enterprise Institute and the co-author, with Tom Corbin, of the new report from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney — “Breaking the Barriers: Reforming US Export Controls to Realise the potential of AUKUS” — discusses what the Australia-US-UK partnership is and isn’t, the biggest impediments that stand in the way of delivering capability at speed and scale, the importance of speed to deter conflict, the imperative to change dated and onerous US export controls that hinder much-needed cooperation and irritate allies, areas where the technological partnership among Five Eyes allies can move more quickly and learn lessons that make more complicated efforts easier like equipping Australia nuclear submarines, how to more closely harmonize nuclear submarine technologies among allies to lower production and operating cost, how to more rapidly adopt commercial innovation to quickly and more economically address military needs, and what America can learn from its allies with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s claim to have taken Bakhmut and Ukraine’s stance they are still control parts of the devastated city, why Wagner Group mercenary and convict force boss Yevgeny Prigozhin isn’t getting credit, how F-16s for Ukraine might change the next phase of the war, the high cost of Russia’s long-range strikes against Kyiv and Ukraine’s successful defense against those strikes, and an unmanned systems update; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the prospects for a deal that averts a US debt default and what that deal might mean for defense spending given what happened in the wake of 2010 debt crisis that resulted in the Budget Control Act of 2011, what analysis of 2011-2016 tells is about what might happen next, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss market reaction to prospect that Washington may be nearing a debt deal and implications for defense spending, the implications on trade as G7 continues to sharpen sanctions on Russia and works to counter Beijing’s economic coercion, reports Biden administration will allow F-16 fighter operator to transfer their aircraft to Ukraine, Britain’s pilot training program, Boeing’s Cascade Climate Model Tool, Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan program, VistaJet’s financial woes, vulnerability of towed artillery in Ukraine, and impact of impact of Recip Tayyip Erdogan remaining in power.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss negotiations to avert a first-ever US debt default, update on authorization and appropriations, G7 nations meet to counter China’s economic coercion and close sanctions loopholes to punish Russia for attacking Ukraine, Beijing’s charm offensive to woo Japan, Europe and Malaysia, Ukraine claws back territory from Russian forces as Moscow pounds Kyiv as Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for more support, roundup of Indo-Pacific headlines, under congressional pressure Secretary of State Antony Blinken agrees to disclose internal “dissent” memo on America’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, Syria returns to the Arab League, and update on Israel’s continuing political turmoil.
Commanding Air Combat – Retired Gen. James “Mobile” Holmes, former commander of Air Combat Command, joins The Air Power Podcast (powered by GE Aerospace!) as ACC prepares to receive a new boss. He covers lessons from Ukraine, training challenges, Agile Combat Employment, capacity vs. capability, the biggest change facing ACC’s new commander, and much more. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower!
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Mike McCord, the Defense Department’s comptroller and chief financial officer, discusses the implications of a first-ever US debt default on the Pentagon and its industrial base as well as a “government slowdown” whereby the government selectively pays its bills rather than defaults, impact of prolonged continuing resolutions on DoD people and programs, defense spending outlook and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Nina Kollars, the adviser to the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering who also is a professor at the US Naval War College’s Cyber & Innovation Policy Institute, discusses the new National Defense and Technology Strategy, the nature of innovation and risk taking needed at for DoD to successfully harness commercial firms as well as its own industrial base and labs, methodically building the organizational structure and culture for success, balancing top down and bottom up change, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses withdrawal of Russian and Wagner mercenary forces from Bakhmut, loss of four Russian aircraft in a single day, whether Ukraine’s offensive has already started, how new weapons delivered to Kyiv like the Anglo-French Storm Shadow precision cruise missile and unmanned strike drones will change the upcoming offensive and shape Russian actions, outlook for Yevgeny Prigozhin in the wake of disclosure the Wagner boss proposed revealing the location of Russian forces to Ukraine in exchange for averting attacks on his mercenaries, criticism that Russia’s defense ministry is too slow moving; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the rising concern of a US debt default and its impact on defense contractors, analysis of NATO’s new defense spending and planning approach, outlook for the Biden administration’s budget request, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how US and overseas markets view a possible US debt default and how this latest debt drama is driving the development of new reserve currencies as an alternative to the US dollar including the Euro, prospect of future interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve as inflation slows, whether central bankers will curb inflation without causing a recession, Germany’s order for 60 CH-47F Chinook helicopters from Boeing to replace the country’s fleet of CH-53 helicopters and what the deal means for Sikorsky’s CH-53K, the news that the T-7 Red Hawk trainer by Boeing and Saab for the US Air Force will be delayed by three years, NetJets’ $5 billion order for up to 250 Embraer Praetor 500 business jets, Turkish Airlines’ interest in up to 800 new jetliners, Virgin Orbital and Rocket Lab earnings, order for 300 Boeing 737 Max jets by Ryanair, and Germany’s latest $3 billion arms package for Ukraine that includes more tanks, vehicles, air defense missiles and ammunition.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the latest Washington political maneuvering as America approaches debt default including GOP move to indefinitely postpone budget markups, how to resolve immigration challenge after Article 42’s expiration and Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military promotions, NATO’s new defense planning guidance that harkens back to Cold War, Britain’s decision to export Storm Shadow long-range precision cruise missiles to Ukraine and why that should inspire Washington to follow suit, Russia’s retreat from Bakhmut, Ukraine’s impending offensive, US-China meeting in Vienna and what’s next for the relationship as G7 convenes and Quad leaders meet, and the critically important lessons from the Vietnam War worth remembering as the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of the conflict.
Air and missile defense expert Dr. Tom Karako of CSIS joins The Air Power Podcast, powered by GE Aerospace, to review the role of defenses in Ukraine and the future for US capabilities around the world, especially the Indo-Pacific. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower!
On this week’s Technology Report, Jason Salata, a retired US Navy captain and former US Special Operations Command and the US Naval Special Warfare Command spokesman who is now with the Provision Advisors public relations firm that oversees SOF Week’s media center, discusses key messages from US special operations leadership at this year’s gathering in Tampa, standout technologies from the show floor, and changing in the works for next year’s event to better connect companies with good ideas with program officials who can turn them into reality; and Emily Harding of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy issued yesterday, how to turn the strategy into reality, the need for greater risk tolerance, the report she co-authored — “Seven Critical Technologies for Winning the Next War” — that theorizes on the nature of future wars America and its allies may have to fight and seven critical technologies needed to win, and how the Pentagon needs to think about artificial intelligence and its uses in everything from decision making to automated weaponry with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Bayer, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Arnold Punaro, the former NDIA chairman and Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, discuss a long-term approach to balancing US spending and revenue to avoid future debt default dramas, outlook for reforms and defense spending, priorities for incoming chairman and service chiefs, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., “unprecedented” hold on promotions, and report card on Biden administration’s filling of political appointee jobs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Col. Stu Braden, USA Ret., the president and CEO of the Global SOF Foundation, discusses themes from this year’s SOF Week in Tampa including the renewed focus of the special operations community on great power conflict; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the temper tantrum that got Yevgeny Prigozhin the ammunition he wanted for his Wagner Group mercenary and convict force, Ukraine’s use of a US-made Patriot anti-missile system to successfully intercept a Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missile, Ukraine’s attack on Crimea, and the outlook for this year’s Victory Day commemorations in the wake of a drone attack on the Kremlin; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with highlights from last week’s first 2023 quarter earnings reports, debt ceiling as President Biden to meet with lawmakers tomorrow, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of a potential US debt default on financial markets, holders in American debt and contractors as lawmakers in Washington scramble for a deal, analysis of first 2023 a quarter earnings reports by AerCap, Airbus, Air Lease, Embraer, HII, Leonardo, Rheinmetall, Spirit AeroSystems, and Thales, reports that Airbus might stretch its A220 jetliner as a replacement to the A320 to better compete against Boeing’s 737, the Pentagon steps up weapons production with its latest $1 billion contract for more Javelin antitank missiles, and an update on Russia’s war on Ukraine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss panic among lawmakers in Washington as a first-ever US debt default looms, implications of debt default on America’s national security, how Europe and Asia — as well as advisories like China and Russia — view the debt antics in Washington, priorities for Gen. CQ Brown as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prospects for general officer confirmations given hold imposed by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., President Biden’s deployment of 1,500 troops to southern US border, what’s next in Ukraine was as Russia steps up attacks and unmanned aircraft intercepted over the Kremlin, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ visit to Washington and Indo-Pacific news roundup, and update on Israeli politics and Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks.
We talk the whirling world of global air power with Douglas Barrie of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. And GE Aerospace’s David Tweedie on the latest in military aircraft engines.
On this episode of the Technology Report, Bryan Clark, a retired US Navy commander and submariner who is now the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, discusses the Pentagon’s new investment in America’s hypersonic weapons industrial base, efforts by the DoD leadership to engage battery and critical minerals makers, attracting commercial firms to help address military needs, and the two reports he co-authored with his colleague Dan Patt — “Unalone and unafraid: Improving the Navy’s process and organization for developing and fielding uncrewed vehicles and mission systems” and “Fighting into the bastions: Sustaining the US Undersea Advantage” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison, who leads Metrea Strategic Insights — the think tank within the innovative defense and aerospace company — who remains affiliated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the implications for DoD of a potential debt default, take aways from DoD posture hearings and deep dives into the Biden Administration's FY '24 budget request with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Bob Hastings, former Army aviator and Bell’s former vice president for marketing and communications, discusses takeaways from last week’s Army Aviation Association of America’s annual meeting, the update on the service’s aviation programs including outlook for the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft and need for human in the loop, and the stand down of Army Aviation in the wake of several deadly accidents; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners takes a look at first 2023 quarter earnings, the prospects for an unprecedented US debt default and what it would mean, and a look at the week ahead.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets as inflation worries persist, leading companies including Bombardier, Boeing, General Dynamics, Hexcel, L3Harris, MTU, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Safran report first 2023 quarter earnings, mounting concern of US debt default as Fitch downgrades France, impact of debt on ability of United States and its allies to continue increasing defense spending, persistent supply chain concerns as Pentagon works to ramp up production, orders fro Comac’s C919 and ARJ21 airliners, EU move to broker deal that allows Ukraine to export much-needed grain through Europe to world market, and UK military role in evacuation of British nationals from Sudan and preparations for coronation of King Charles III.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for a US debt default as House Republicans pass a one-year borrowing limit increase and sharp spending cuts, the defense implications of the measure, impact of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s hold on general officer promotions, what’s next in the Ukraine war as Russia launches the deadliest missile barrage in weeks and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping talks to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aftermath of statement by China’s ambassador to France Lu Shaye that former Soviet republicans have no legal claim to sovereignty, takeaways from South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol’s state visit to Washington and Australia’s first new security strategy since the Cold War, China’s global base-building strategy including in the UAE, Israel on its 75th anniversary, and securing Armenia’s territorial integrity.
It’s all things B-21 on The Air Power Podcast this week, as the authors of two new studies on the clandestine bomber, Dr. Chris Bowie and Col. (ret) Mark Gunzinger, join us. Plus an update on the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, and the week’s airpower headlines. If it’s in the air, it’s on the air!
On this week’s Technology Report, AJ Piplica, the CEO of hypersonic aircraft company Hermeus, discusses how the innovative company he founded in 2018 aims to accelerate now Mach 5 aircraft for commercial and military aircraft are developed, powering the new planes by modifying existing engine designs, the challenge of raising money in a tight market, and the company’s growth strategy; and Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, discusses China’s efforts to hack adversary satellites, Russia’s cyber activity, and reviews the outlook for cyber and technology investment as Congress assesses the Biden administration’s budget request with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF Ret., the former commander of the US Air Forces Europe and Africa, discusses the years of effort to build NATO’s ability to surge air power to deter Russia from miscalculating on Feb. 24, 2022, as Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, organizational as well as technological and cultural changes needed to improve allied air capabilities, the keys to culture change, importance of empowering subordinates, convincing allies and Kyiv of the impending attack, wider lessons from the war, studying Ukraine’s ability to innovate under fire to improve future US capabilities, Russia as persistent threat, the vital importance of air power and 5th generation capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Ukraine’s drone attack today on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol, what to expect from Kyiv’s upcoming offensive and defensive Russian preparations, Moscow’s latest “manly” recruiting campaign, and comments by Armenia’s president that suggest trading Nagorno-Karabakh to secure the country’s territorial integrity on the 108th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide; Laura Winter, the host of The DownLink podcast, on key takeaways from the National Space Symposium and SpaceX’s Starship launch; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with highlights from last week’s congressional hearings, outlook on raising the debt ceiling as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put’s his plane for a one-year extension and spending cuts to a vote, Lockheed Martin’s first quarter 2023 earnings, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets, debt ceiling watch, Babcock’s charge on its fixed-price contract on its new generation Type 31 frigate, new leadership at Leonardo and Bell, Lockheed Martin first quarter 2023 earnings and what to expect as the group reports, a look ahead to Airbus returns, impact of limited industrial capacity and how governments can help increase it, market implications of Russia’s increasing cyber as well as undersea espionage and intimidation, SpaceX’s maiden Starship flight and the merits of history’s biggest and most powerful rocket, and takeaways from the National Space Symposium.
On this week’s Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss defense budget implications of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s proposal to sharply cut spending for a one-year debt ceiling increase, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit to Kyiv, alliance efforts to improve Ukraine’s capabilities in advance of its planned offensive, whether Sweden will join the alliance this summer, French efforts to walk back controversial comments by President Emmanuel Macron, Beijing’s response to US efforts to diminish tensions, a review of the week across the Indo-Pacific as new Chinese surveillance capabilities are revealed and senior US leaders testify before Congress, update on Israel’s drive to create a national guard, and Iran on the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the US embassy in Beirut that killed 63 including 17 Americans, injuring another 120.
Rep. Rob Wittman, chair of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee in the House, joins us to take apart the fiscal 2024 defense budget and look into its prospects in Congress. Plus we have the week’s airpower headlines. If it’s in the air, it’s on the air!
On this week’s Technology Report, Nigel Inkster, the former director of intelligence and operations at the Secret Intelligence Service otherwise known as MI6 who is now the senior advisor for cybersecurity and China at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses the UK’s new Offensive Cyber Capabilities Principles and its role in deterrence as part of integrated military as well as diplomatic and economic means, the need for allies and partners to improve their collective security and ability to deter conflict by adopting common offensive and overall cyber strategies, and using technology to prevent future intelligence breaches; and John CoFrancesco, the founder and CEO of Applied AI Company, on how ChatGPT and apps will comprehensively change national security, what thoughtful regulation of artificial intelligence looks like as lawmakers call for greater insight into algorithms and data sets, and benefits of apps like ChatGPT with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and former commander of US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses the latest and largest leak of top secret US documents in a decade allegedly by Massachussetts Air National Guard A1C Jack Teixiera, the common link among the three largest intelligence disclosures by Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden and now Teixeira, how technology can help mitigate future unauthorized disclosures, impact of the disclosures on intelligence cooperation with allies and partners, and whether Ukraine will have to change operational plans and Washington can continue to collect from Russian sources in the wake of the leaks with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russian perceptions of the recent disclosures of US intelligence, an update on Moscow’s war against Ukraine, Wagner Group recruiting of troops and drone operators, and harnessing advanced technology to crack down on Russian draft dodgers; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses how the intelligence leaks could change the defense debate in Washington, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s trip to New York and stance that debt ceiling increase should be negotiated first at the expense of forestalling additional government spending, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets as optimism of a “soft landing” for the US economy grows, the implications of strengthening British pound, the financial and market impact of revelations that the tail sections of 737 Max jets built over the past four years might contain defective components, the aftermath of French President Emmanuel Macron’s stance in the wake of his visit to Beijing, Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s agreement with China’s Xi Jinping to conduct trade directly in yuans and reals to undermine the US dollar, and the Pentagon’s new Defense Contract Finance Study.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Barry Pavel of the Rand Corporation, and former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Vago Muradian to discuss the top national security headlines from Washington and around the world.
War! What is it good for? Lessons. Dr. James Chow, director of RAND Project Air Force, joins us to talk lessons from Ukraine, shortening kill chains, Agile Combat Employment, and lots more. Plus we have the week’s airpower headlines. It’s your weekly avgeek fix!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Mark Lewis, the new CEO of Purdue University’s new Applied Research Institute, discusses the institute and university’s national security role, analyzes the technology elements of the Biden administration’s budget request, assess investment in hypersonic weapons technologies and programs, the long-term implications of the national investment in technology including the CHIPS effort to reinvigorate America’s semiconductor capabilities, how to think about artificial intelligence as public perceptions are shaped by apps like ChatGPT, and the technologies we should be paying more attention to with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bill Lynn, former deputy defense secretary who is now chairman and CEO of Leonardo DRS, discusses the budget outlook, inflation and supply chains, Ukraine war lessons, DoD’s Defense Contract Finance Study, benefits of becoming a NASDAQ listed company, the acquisition of RADA, and how the contract to provide the electric propulsion for the Columbia-class ballistic missile sub could transform future attack subs as well as the naval surface force; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on macroeconomic themes, key polling data, DoD’s contract study and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets as the US economy posted job growth but slower than in past quarters as investors debate whether the economy is in for a “soft” or “hard” landing as the Federal Reserve continues to battle inflation, analysis of statements by House China committee chair Rep. Mike Gallagher,” R-Wisc., that economic decoupling with Beijing would be selective on highly sensitive areas rather than across the board, implications of French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements on the need for Europe to not get pulled into rising US-China tensions and the need to reduce dependency on the US and the dollar in the wake of his visit to Beijing along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s trip to Beijing, China’s Airbus orders and the European jet maker’s second final assembly line in Tianjin, Virgin Orbit’s bankruptcy, what’s next in the wake of the Government Accountability Office’s decision to reject Lockheed Martin and Boeing protest of the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft Award to Bell, and Leonardo DRS’ $1 billion award to deliver electric propulsion for the US Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Barry Pavel of the Rand Corporation, and former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Vago Muradian to discuss French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Beijing, what’s next in the Ukraine war as US and NATO planning documents are leaked, the case for a comprehensive US and allied strategy to better counter China and Russia as both powers work increasingly closely together to reshape global affairs, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen’s visit to the United States and Beijing’s reaction including threat to board and inspect Taiwanese vessels, whether the China threat is more imminent than Washington anticipates, the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal after action report, and global perceptions of America in the wake of former President Trump’s indictment and move by Tennessee state house to expel two young Black members.
Navalist Bryan Clark, director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, joins us to talk the future of the carrier air wing, disaggregating carrier missions, going uninhabited, and lots more. (Pairs perfectly with our interview two weeks ago with his counterpart Jerry Hendrix.) Plus we have the week’s airpower headlines. It’s your weekly avgeek fix!
On this week’s Technology Report, Dale Swartz, a partner at the McKinsey consultancy specializing in technology, innovation and national security and co-author of the report — “Government CHIPS on the table: How higher DOD microelectronics funding is here to stay” — discusses the US investment in America’s semiconductor ecosystem vital for national security and economic prosperity; and from the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference a discussion on the importance of live virtual constructive training with Schuyler Moore, the chief technology officer of US Central Command, Capt. Tony Then, USN, the former commander of the US Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 22, Maj. Joe Silverio, USAF, of the US Air Force’s Air Combat Command, and John Bell, the technical director at HII LVC Solutions — the leading provider of live virtual constructive training across DoD — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the chief executive of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the latest global survey of security trends and sentiments with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bryon Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from a blockbuster set of hearings, why the decision against a new engine undermines the relevance of the F-35 Lighting II fighter, a look at the week ahead; and the cohosts of our Cavas Ships podcast — Chris Cavas and Chris Servello — discuss what to expect from the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets.
On this week’s Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago to discuss the week in Washington and around the world.
On this week's Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, we get deep into the FY24 budget request with the Air Force’s Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, The Honorable Andrew Hunter. You'll hear about the future of NGAD, F-35 constraints and possible production rate increases, and more. And we’ll have the week’s headlines in air power.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Andrea Schaumann of Fortress discusses a strategic approach to risk management, maintaining vigilance against pervasive and persistent threats, examples of successful public-private partnerships, supply chain security, ensuring cyber security investment throughout the life of weapons programs, and role of government and industry in warning of cyber threats with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
In the fourth of a six-part series on command and control, sponsored Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Maj. Gen. Dustin “Dusty” Schultz, USA, the director of strategic operations (G-3/5/7) at US Army headquarters, discusses the service’s approach to realizing Joint All-Domain Command and Control, what needs to be connected and how, the balance between technology and new operational practices, when to stop experimenting and start executing, how cooperation among the military services and combatant commands like US Central Command’s Scarlet Dragon effort to drive innovative approaches and technologies, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping and the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine including Moscow’s decision to return tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Russian and Turkish investment in unmanned systems; Dr. David Asher of the Hudson Institute discusses the inefficacy of US sanctions on Russia and what Washington has to do to inflict sufficient damage on Putin and the Russian economy to drive change, and the punitive sanctions that should be imposed on China to undermine Beijing’s military capabilities and hold Beijing accountable for covid-19; and Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners on what to expect from upcoming congressional defense spending hearings, the potential pitfalls of Raytheon’s single defense unit is, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets as the Federal Reserve and Bank of England raise interest rates to fight persistent inflation, the link between the banking crisis and increasing the US borrowing limit, outlook for Europe’s military helicopter industry as Australia joins Norway in grounding its NH-90 utility helicopters as week after Canberra decided to ditch its Tiger attack aircraft for Boeing AH-64 Apache, Boeing takes more charges on KC-46 Pegasus aerial tankers for the US Air Force as the service seeks to revamp it’s approach to future refueling aircraft, update on the 787 Dreamliner, takeaways from Bombardier’s virtual investors day, Virgin Orbit’s refinancing, Vladimir Putin’s meeting in Moscow with Xi Jinping, and an update on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Moscow’s offensive stalls as Kyiv prepares its offensive with new Western arms.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss how bank failures might impact efforts to increase America’s borrowing limit to prevent a debt default, GOP proposals to sharply cut federal spending, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s drive for defense reforms, the bipartisan holds that are derailing Biden administration defense confirmations, the outlook for French President Emmanuel Macron after pushing through legislation to increase the retirement age that’s sparked violent nationwide protests, Britain’s Parliament hears from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russia’s costly assault on Bakhmut runs out of steam as Ukraine gears up for its offensive as NATO nations increase arms deliveries, takeaways from Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Xi Jinping, update on the week in the Indo-Pacific including North Korea’s unmanned nuclear-powered undersea vehicle program, Iran moves closer to completing a nuclear weapon, and and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu advances controversial judicial reforms that would reduce the influence of the nation’s supreme court.
On this week's Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, retired Navy captain, naval aviator, and noted seapower strategist, Dr. Jerry Hendrix joins us to illuminate the future of Naval aviation. His article in the April issue of The Atlantic, “The Age of American Naval Dominance is Over,” takes a hard look at seapower; on this show, he adds the Naval air dimension. And we present the week's headlines in airpower.
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, discusses his drive to reinvigorate his force’s high-intensity warfighting skills, Canada’s unique role as an Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic power, re-learning the lessons that war at sea is violent and reward those who detect and shoot first, the imperative to strictly limit emissions and innovate to survive in an environment of ubiquitous surveillance and longer-range precision weapons, the need for survivability in a hypersonic age and more unmanned systems, better offensive and defensive weapons, and culture change to better prepare sailors to operate in contested waters far from assistance, more realistic training and instilling a culture that rewards prudent risk taking with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses what to expect from Xi Jinping’s visit with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, update on progress of Russian forces in Ukraine, Moscow’s return of Soviet era restrictions on speech, and lessons in the wake of Russia’s downing of a US Reaper over the Black Sea; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses details of the Biden administration’s defense budget request, whether the banking crisis will constrain the Federal Reserve’s ability to raise interest rates, whether arms control agreements are effectively dead, the impact of GOP anti-Ukraine statements mirroring Kremlin rhetoric, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the Aerodynamic advisory consultancy joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets, implications of a banking crisis on defense and commercial aerospace suppliers as well as air carriers and leasing companies, market impact of Pentagon’s $842 billion budget request and the outcome of Britain’s integrated review, whether a recent contract awards and program moves by the US Air Force and Army constitute an effort to throw Boeing a lifeline through radar and tanker as well as attack helicopter contracts, how many more NATO aircraft could be made available to Kyiv now that Poland and Slovenia have agreed to send 17 of their MiG-29s to Ukraine, the broader implications of Russia’s downing of a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea, Rheinmetall’s strong earnings and bright future outlook as Europe’s most dynamic land systems maker, and analysis of the AUKUS deal to supply Australia with nuclear powered attack submarines and whether Canberra will develop a join submarine with UK after acquiring US-made Virginia-class boats.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join host Vago Muradian to discuss stalled debt deliberations on Capitol Hill as the Federal Reserve grapples with a banking crisis that could impact the central bank’s ability to further raise interest rates to fight inflation much less bail out failed institutions as its borrowing capacity is constrained, analysis of the administration’s $842 billion defense budget request, whether French President Emmanuel Macron can survive after driving through much-needed if unpopular increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64, how Washington should respond to Russia’s downing of an American MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Black Sea to deter China from miscalculating regarding US and allied intelligence assets in the Indo-Pacific, what’s next as Poland and Slovenia agree to supply Ukraine with 16 MiG-29 fighters including possible escalation with Russia, what to expect from Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Moscow as reports surface that Beijing is supplying Russia with assault rifles and body armor, whether the AUKUS deal will deliver capability in time to deter China, new leadership in Beijing as Seoul and Tokyo warm relations and Pyongyang conducts a missile test, and fears that protests of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reforms could spark a civil war.
On this week's Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Mitchell Institute UAV expert Dr. Caitlin Lee joins us to dissect Russia's attack on an unarmed U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea. Lt. Gen. David Nahom details the challenges of guarding the United States, High North, the Arctic, and much of the Pacific from Alaska Command, as well as the balloon incident. And we present the week’s headlines in airpower, including the FY24 budget drop. Our coverage of the Air and Space Force’s Association’s annual Aerospace Warfare Symposium was sponsored by GE Aerospace, Leonardo DRS and Helicon Chemical.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses resources for the Biden administration’s National Cyber Strategy, analyzes the strategy, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict spans into its second year, the cyber threat from Moscow, and the national security implications of new commercial AI products like ChatGPT with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, the Defense & Aerospace Team, Chris Cavas, Chris Servello, Lara Winter and JJ Gertler, dissect and analyze DoD's FY 2024 budget submission with host Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses key takeaways from the Biden administration’s $842 billion defense budget request and looks at the week ahead, and Lt. Col. Alex “Stoiky” Goldberg, ANG, who is the director of the Defense Innovation Unit in Austin discusses implications of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on which so many innovative firms depend, rapidly harnessing innovation to more rapidly field capabilities needed in Ukraine or better deter China, creatively replenishing weapons stocks and why Austin’s innovation ecosystem is unique with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian from SXSW in Austin, Texas.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the Aerodynamic advisory consultancy joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets and the impact of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on the defense innovation ecosystem and whether the shock will prompt the Federal Reserve to forgo additional interest rate hikes to control inflation, the US government’s decision not to bail the bank out, the new Anglo-French accord and earnings of leading firms like Dassault Aviation as well as Leonardo and Thales, Embraer earnings and GE’s investor day, plans by Saudi Arabia’s new carrier to acquire 100 wide-body jetliners, the industrial and national security implications of the AUKUS deal to be announced tomorrow to furnish Canberra with nuclear-powered attack submarines, analysis of the Biden administration’s $842 billion defense budget request including US Air Force plans to develop an all-new aerial tanker able to operate in contested airspace and the cost-plus nature of Boeing’s contract for new E-7 radar planes, the Navy’s decision to gap amphibious ship purchases, and expectations that Congress will dramatically increase spending.
On this week’s Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and CavasShips co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for a deal to raise America’s borrowing limit, update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and the prospects for deliveries of new capabilities including combat aircraft as two Ukrainian pilots undergo assessment on F-16 simulators, whether Turkey or Hungary will allow Sweden to join NATO, the implications of Moscow’s transfer of highly enriched uranium to Beijing, Xi Jinping’s new muscular anti-American rhetoric, analysis of the AUKUS deal to be announced Monday by President Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that would equip Australia first with US-made attack subs until a suitable UK design is developed and enters production, first impressions of the Biden administration’s $842 billion defense spending request that falls short of expectations, and Beijing’s role in brokering a Saudi-Iranian on diplomatic recognition and its implications on the rising strife between Israel and Palestinians.
It's a mile-high show this week on the Defense & Aerospace Report Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace. Air Force Chief of Staff General CQ Brown and Vago Muradian discuss the challenges of changing service culture; Seventh Air Force commander Lt Gen Scott "Rolls" Pleus briefs Vago on the evolving North Korean threat; and we review the highlights of this year's Aerospace Warfare Symposium with Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners. All the conversations you wish you'd had if you'd been there. Leonardo DRS and Helicon Chemical sponsored our Symposium coverage along with GE.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, JC Vega, a retired US Army colonel who confounded the Army Cyber Institute, discusses the Biden administration’s National Cyber Strategy, investing for success, how to improve public l-private partnerships, accelerating government change through smarter incentives, harnessing technology to simplify security and ease personnel demands, and creating national cyber-mindedness with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, USAF, the commander of the US Air Force Recruiting Command, discusses what makes America’s newest generation tick, the challenges in attracting them to military service in a society where fewer Americans service in uniform and how that all impacts recruiting, the difficulties of retaining talent whether on the active-duty force or transitioning them to Reserve or Air National Guard units, how a new generation is helping change the force, and how the military services are cooperating closely despite competing intensely for talent with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s incremental advances on Bakhmut, the largest tank on tank engagement in Europe since the Battle of Kursk and why Russia was routed by Ukrainian forces, what Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to the front, claims by Wagner Group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin that his force isn’t able to advance because it can’t get enough ammunition, Belarus ramps up drone production to help Moscow as it gets harder to buy DJI commercial quad copters in Russia; and our producer Chris Servello discusses the messaging challenges facing the Biden administration as it prepares to submit it’s defense budget request — expected at about $850 billion — to Congress March 13, the potential perils of a defense budget nearing a trillion dollars as American question the state of the nation’s infrastructure and debt, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the Aerodynamic advisory consultancy joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to review the week on world markets and the performance of aerospace and defense equities, impact of new US aluminum tariffs on Russia and whether existing sanctions on titanium are effective, China’s new 5 percent growth target and commercial air travel, expectations from US defense budget submission on March 9 and Sunak government’s budget release on March 15, whether Europe can surge to produce the 250,000 artillery rounds a month Ukraine says it needs to fight Russia, how Washington would react to Saudi Arabia joining the UK-led Tempest combat aircraft program that includes Italy, Japan and Sweden or the UAE becoming the next partner in the French-German-Spanish SCAF future fighter effort, and the importance of the new US Air Force cost-plus contract with Boeing for E-7 radar planes to replace the venerable E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.
On this week’s Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago to discuss the week in Washington and around the world including stalled debt talks, how the Pentagon’s new abortion policy could impact defense spending, whether congressional and allied support for Ukraine is wavering as Washington imposes new sanctions and Russia suffers battlefield setbacks, how the House Select Committee on China could change the US and global consensus on how to approach Beijing, White House’s decision on F-16s for Taiwan and new Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, and update on concern that Iran could field a nuclear weapon in weeks rather than months, and worsening crisis between Israelis and Palestinians.
This week's Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, examines the United States’ ability to surge aircraft production in the wake of Boeing’s announcement that the F-18 production line is ending, with industrial base expert Dr. Jerry McGinn and aviation guru Richard Aboulafia. And a preview of next week’s Air and Space Forces Association warfare symposium, with Maj.Gen. Doug Raaberg.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses the Biden administration’s upcoming National Cyber Strategy, how to better secure the cloud, cyber elements of the Biden administration’s March 8 budget request, cyber lessons from Russia and whether deterrence and defending forward are working, CISA Director Jen Easterly’s warning that China would mount cyber attacks against the United States in the wake of a Taiwan crisis, and our producer Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) joins to discuss takeaways from the inaugural prime-time hearing of the House Select Committee on China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison, who leads Metrea Strategic Insights -- the think tank within the innovative defense and aerospace company -- who remains affiliated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses expectations as the Biden administration prepares to submit its 2024 budget request to Congress, how much will be requested as well as spending priorities, the impact of debt ceiling deliberations and ways to avoid a devastating default, the prospect for a full-year continuing resolution, and the perils of innovation theater with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s war on Ukraine on the conflict’s first anniversary, the prospect that the Wagner Group will have competition, new generation of US drones heading to Ukraine, and lessons Moscow has learned from the war; and Bryon Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on inflation, war lessons and budget expectations, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the week on world markets; BAE, Hensoldt and Rolls-Royce earnings; Boeing halts deliveries of 787 jetliners and decided to end production of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters in late 2025; lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict enters its second year; the implications of a world separated into those aligned with the West, support Russia and China, or don’t care; keeping Beijing from openly sending arms to Russia; new opportunities for innovative firms willing to invest new capabilities and deliver them at scale; and a look at McKinsey’s e-regional aircraft summit and more.
On this week’s Washington Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago to discuss the week in Washington and around the world including the US debt limit and defense spending, President Biden’s vow to help Kyiv win the war and what that means as Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its second year, the right way to respond to China if Beijing starts supplying arms to Moscow, American lawmakers visit Taipei, North Korea’s missile tests and pushback on Israel’s judicial reforms and implications of increasingly deadly strikes against Palestinians.
On this week’s episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, co-hosts Vago Muradian and JJ Gertler review the air war in Ukraine one year into the conflict with airpower and Defense observers Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn and Becca Wasser of the Center for a New American Security. And a bombshell announcement in this week’s airpower news.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Mike Canty, CEO of ARC — Armaments Research Company — an innovative artificial intelligence company he co-founded in 2016, discusses how the application of AI that helps soldiers track ammunition use and weapon health can change how the force fights and shape the service’s joint, all-domain command and control future with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Richard Fontaine, the president and CEO of the Center for a New American Security, discusses key takeaways from the Munich Security Conference, whether allies are committed to Ukraine’s victory or enough support for a negotiated settlement, how a Russian victory in Ukraine could encourage China to miscalculate over Taiwan, analyzing the alliance’s incremental approach to furnishing Ukraine with steadily more capable weapons, the message President Biden’s unprecedented trip to Kyiv sends to friends and enemies alike, the right long-term strategy toward Russia, Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend the New START treaty, whether the United States is sharpening its nuclear-mindedness as quickly as necessary given Russia, Chinese and North Korean atomic weapons programs, lessons from the Ukraine war that can better deter China in Asia. how Washington should respond if Beijing begins to overtly supply Moscow with weapons, deterring an united China and Russia, what a sound US long-term strategy toward China looks like, balancing a foreign policy with human rights at its core with the necessity for realpolitik, former President Carter’s legacy, adjusting US security policy and capabilities as new technologies disrupt societies and warfighting alike, examples good and bad strategy, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— Mixed week on Wall Street as investors worry inflation isn’t cooling fast enough and the economy might face a harder landing than hoped— Ukraine’s allies worldwide vow to send more equipment so the country can beat back Russia’s assault as Moscow steps up its attacks and President Biden shows his solidarity with a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital— All eyes are now on whether the United States and other powers will equip Ukraine with modern combat aircraft— The defense budget outlook as America’s debt limit looms and lawmakers vow to boos spending to better deter China in the wake of Beijing’s brazen spy balloon flight that appears to have triggered tectonic change— The Pentagon’s rising hypersonic investment, Bell’s new helicopter contracts, and Iran takes delivery of new fighter aircraft— Airbus and Safran report results as Saab holds its Capital Markets Day
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) and Dr. Kathleen McInnis who leads the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Topics:— US debt debate as the Treasury Department warns Washington will default on financial obligations in July as the Congressional Budget Office finds America is on track to borrow another $19 trillion over the coming decade— The impact of China’s spy balloon over America on the outlook for spending as the Biden administration prepares to submit its budget request to Congress early next month that is expected to be higher than the amount requested last year— US-China relationship in wake of balloon flight and Beijing’s threats as well as escalation of rhetoric while failing to answer calls from Washington— The reality that Vladimir Putin remains a threat irrespective of the outcome of the Ukraine War— What’s next in the conflict as the first anniversary of Moscow’s illegal attack on Ukraine approaches and Russia plans a new offensive that would also come from Belarus— Key themes of this weekend’s Munich Security Policy Conference days after NATO leaders met to supply Kyiv with more aid— Messages that China will be delivering in Munich as Beijing seeks to portray Western response to Russian aggression as the threat rather than Moscow’s invasion of a sovereign Ukraine— Equipment Ukraine needs to blunt the coming offensive and the Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s urgent message that speed with which aid is delivered is critical— Whether Washington has the ability, people, budget and mindset to simultaneously deter Russia and China— Roundup of Asia newsflow including the decision by key White House China hand Laura Rosenberger to step down, South Africa’s coming 10-day naval exercises with Russia and China— US-Philippine relations take another step forward— Israel’s constitutional crisis and Iran’s future as opposition to the Islamic Republic’s leadership grows but moves underground— Outlook for Iran’s relationship with China as Beijing also warms ties with Saudi Arabia
On this week’s episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, co-hosts JJ Gertler and Vago Muradian go to school with experts on radar, balloons, and missiles — all in the person of renowned technologist and former Air Force chief scientist Dr. Mark Lewis. It’s a lively discussion that gets into the technical world with humor and clarity. And we go behind the headlines in this week’s airpower news.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Scott Sloan, the president of Stratas Corp. — an innovative IT, logistics, cyber security, network operations and engineering services firm — discusses the challenges of growing fast as a DoD contractor, grading Pentagon efforts to foster innovation and harness it at speed, access to talent and capital, and keys to success; and Chris Servello, our producer and co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast with an update from the annual AFCEA-USNI West Conference in San Diego with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sabra Horne, an NSA and CISA veteran who is now the entrepreneur in residence at the BMNT consultancy, discusses efforts to accelerate US government and Pentagon innovation efforts are bearing fruit, where progress is being made, why real innovation is more than just technology but culture change and personnel practices, how to speed the process, the role of the Office of Personnel Management in crafting a talent management system that rewards prudent risk taking, and luring new talent to government service at a time when working for private industry is increasingly more lucrative with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses statement by Wagner Group chief and Kremlin insider Yevgeny Prigozhin that Russia’s war on Ukraine could span another two years for Moscow to achieve objectives like seizing territory to the Dnieper River, Russia transforms to a wartime economy in wake of weapons demands and international sanctions, Wagner Group decides against sending more prisoners to the front, the implications of the Russian unmanned surface vessel’s attack on a bridge in Odesa, and the assassination of a key Russian unmanned systems designer in Luhansk; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the four unidentified air vehicles downed over US and Canadian airspace over the past week and what it could mean for the defense spending as the Biden administration prepares its 2024 budget request, an update on prospects for budget, debt ceiling as well as continuing resolution, takeaways from last week’s House industrial base hearing, taxing share buybacks, defense sector margin trends and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— Week on world markets as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggests a less hawkish stance on future interest rate hikes— Look at Bombardier, HII, Saab, Spirit AeroSystems, and Transdigm Group earnings as Europe looks to results from Airbus, Safran and others— Mitsubishi cancels the SpaceJet program and what the move says about the regional aircraft market— Washington approves $10 billion arms package for Poland and impact of Norway’s decision to opt for 54 new Leopard over Korea’s K2 tanks— Outlook for NATO approval of Western combat aircraft for Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes his case for fighters to UK Parliament and allies— Roundup of President Biden’s State of the Union address and market expectations of the administration’s upcoming defense budget request— Analysis of the downing of two additional craft over US and Canadian airspace in the wake of the shoot down of a Chinese spy balloon last week— Takeaways from the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference last week in Seattle— Update on Air India’s order for some 500 Airbus and Boeing jetliners
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Update on raising the nation’s borrowing limit as talks stall— Analysis of President Biden’s State of the Union address and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the United States before it was shot down— What the balloon episode tells us about what to expect from the administration about defense spending and the future of the relationship between the United States and China— Roundup of Asia headlines including reaction to Shinzo Abe’s posthumous autobiography— Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful address to Britain’s Parliament and his call for combat aircraft and more weapons as Russia ramps up its offensive— Turkey’s response to the devastating earthquake that’s killed more than 20,000 and left millions homeless— The exodus of capital from Israel and Bibi Netanyahu seeks to upend the country’s legal system
On this week’s episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, co-hosts JJ Gertler and Vago Muradian analyze the news of the week and interview an expert on both remotely piloted aircraft like balloons and how to bring them down, airpower analyst and former F-16 pilot Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Power Studies. She discusses the lessons learned from the recent Chinese balloon incursion over the United States; challenges in bringing down such an aircraft; the intelligence benefits of studying it both in flight and on the ground; the seams in turning target detection to action, the need for more airpower in Ukraine, and more.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Jim Richberg, the former national intelligence manager for cyber who is now with cyber security firm Fortinet, discusses the cyber vulnerabilities of the nation’s air travel system in which government, industry and the public all interact, how to improve security as the internet of things rapidly expands and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX, an organization that promotes democracy worldwide and annually convenes the signature Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, discuss the importance of putting democracy and human rights at the center of national security, the right approach to balancing principles and realpolitik in dealing with unsavory regimes, why the world must help Ukraine beat Russia ad reclaim all its territory from Russian occupation, a long-term approach to changing Russia, a global approach to deterring an authoritarian and increasingly assertive China, assessing the health of democracies and countering authoritarian sentiments worldwide, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr David Asher, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank and one of the world’s leading experts on sanctions, discusses the efficacy of the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and how lessons from the harsh sanctions on Tehran can help ratchet up pressure on Moscow; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Marker UGV’s debut, that Vladimir Putin remains in charge; and whether Russia’s expected offensive has already started; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firms Capital Alpha Partners on earnings takeaways and share buybacks, Mercury Systems’ future, the implications of China’s spy balloon overflight and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— US aerospace and defense stock performance as America posts stunning jobs figures and Federal Reserve makes .25 percent short term borrowing rate rise— European performance by the group as Bank of England raises interest rates to fight inflation without sparking recession— Impact of Chinese reconnaissance balloon flight across America and eventual shoot down as Beijing tries to warm relations itself has frosted with Washington and its allies— Implications of Advent acquisition of Mercury Systems as the innovative US chip maker considers putting itself on the market and the private equity firm expresses interest in making a deal— Boeing to open new 737 production line at the company’s giant plant in Everett, Wash.— Update on supply chains and their impact on Airbus and Boeing production— Legacy of Boeing 747 jetliner as the last of 1,574 of the iconic aircraft that revolutionized air travel was delivered to Atlas Air— Update on the squabble between Qatar Airways and Airbus— France and Italy order 700 Aster anti air missiles as part of broader European drive to improve capabilities— What’s next as Russia steps up assault on Ukraine before Kyiv takes delivery of donated infantry fighting vehicles and tanks
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Prospects for a debt ceiling deal as President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meet— Impact of debt deliberations on defense spending outlook— New committee assignments and what they mean— What Beijing is messaging by sending reconnaissance balloons over the United States as White House calls off Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing in the wake of Chinese surveillance balloon flight over United States— The case for bringing down the balloon to study determine its capabilities and signal that violations of American airspace won’t be tolerated— What’s next as Russia speeds up offensive before Ukraine gets new armored vehicles and tanks— Whether NATO nations will supply Ukraine with combat aircraft as Biden rejects F-16 fighters as allies like France and other Viper operators express openness to transferring jets to Kyiv— Growing US perception that Britain’s military capabilities are eroding with economic prosperity— Agreements in the wake of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visits to Seoul and Manila, including landmark deal to return US forces to Philippines— US-India emerging tech initiative— Rift between American Jews and Israel’s Netanyahu government as Blinken visits Israel and Palestinian Authority— Israel’s drone attack on Iranian weapons sites
On this week’s program, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Vago Muradian and J.J. Gertler talk with retired lieutenant general Joseph “Gus” Guastella, senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. A former AFCENT commander and Air Force Director of Operations, Lt Gen Guastella has thoughtful views on Ukraine, warfighting culture, integrating appropriate technology into the battlefield, capability versus capacity, and many more subjects.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, John Cofrancesco, the founder of AAIC, an innovative company that uses AI to monitor cyber networks, discusses the threat posed by TikTok, how to mitigate the threat from such invasive apps, the looming threat from Russia as allied nations increase assistance to Ukraine, what to expect from the Biden administration’s upcoming National Cyber Strategy and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
In the third of a six-part series on command and control, sponsored Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Brig. Gen. Jeff “Spaniard” Valenzia, the Advanced Battle Management System Cross Functional Team Lead at Air Force headquarters, discusses the DoD’s new JADC2 approach, doing the hard work to craft the right architecture for joint command and control, focusing more on changing how people think about connectivity than merely relying on technology to interconnect forces, learning clear lessons from the past, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Servello, our producer who is a retired Navy public affairs officer and co-founder of the Provision Advisors PR firm, discusses lessons in the wake of the controversy caused by a draft email by Gen. Mike Minnehan, the commander of the Air Mobility Command, urging his force to improve its warfighting focus, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine including new Marker UGV as well as Israel’s drone attacks on Iran; Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm firm Capital Alpha Partners with a look at the week ahead; and Laura Winter, the host of The Downlink, our space podcast, discusses the global great power game on ground stations with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— Aerospace and defense stock performance as US posts strong jobs growth and Britain prepares interest rate hike— Preview of Airbus earnings to be released Feb. 16— Update of commercial aerospace market trends— Boeing, CACI, Crane, General Dynamics, Hexcel, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Teledyne and Textron report earnings— C-suite defense budget outlook as concerns in Washington mount over debt and Biden administration prepares spending request that includes $30 billion increase— Analysis of Boeing’s delivery figures and drive to hire 10,000 new workers, Northrop’s disclosure of B-21 Raider bomber delays, and Raytheon’s reorganization— Challenge Boeing will face recruiting, retaining and training talent and future of giant Everett facility as 747 production ends as last jet delivered on Jan. 31— Whether combat aviation will be exported next now that Washington, London and Berlin have approved tank exports to Ukraine
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Deliberations to avoid a US debt default as worries mount over full-year continuing resolution and prospect of defense cuts— New committee leadership assignments and members, as well as move by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to oust three prominent Democrats from panels— Washington approves M1 tanks for Ukraine, clearing the way for Germany to export Leopards— Concern that Russia might capture US M1s prompts Army to seek new build tanks without top secret armor protection rather than pull existing vehicles from inventory— What the public wrangling over weapons for Ukraine signals, and whether the alliance is still moving too slowly to equip Kyiv as Moscow prepares another offensive— Implications of White House move to designate Russia’s Wagner mercenary group as transnational terror organization— Turkey vows to block Sweden from joining NATO after man burns copy of Koran in from of Turkey’s embassy in Stockholm, complicating Sweden and Finland’s accession as Budapest signals reluctance to support the alliance’s expansion— What it will take to win over Ankara and Budapest— NATO Secretary General visits South Korea and Japan as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin prepares to visit Seoul and Manila— Update on AUKUS effort to equip Australia with nuclear powered submarines as AUKMIN convenes— Palestinians stage mass demonstrations in wake of Israeli raid on suspected militants that killed nine
On this week’s episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, co-hosts JJ Gertler and Vago Muradian analyze the news of the week and interview their first guest, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall who discusses the implications of a full-year continuing resolution and budget cuts — warning they would only help China as the service embarks on a generational modernization effort — lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, making the case for the importance of air power, the need to bolster the munitions industrial base for current programs like JASSM ER and LRASM as well as future hypersonic weapons, re-invigorating the Air Force’s high intensity warfighting culture, and more.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the right approach to unlocking the benefits of artificial intelligence without stifling innovation, a look ahead to the Biden administration’s upcoming cyber strategy, the cyber jobs market as tech firms shed workforce, and how the government’s antitrust suit against Google could change the future of online ads with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Former Reps. Tony Coelho, D-Calif., and Martin Frost, D-Texas, of the Council for a Secure America, discuss the energy lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, the importance of energy independence and bridging to a sustainable energy future; and Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute on the think tank’s new report be helped co-author — “Rocket’s Red Glare: Modernizing America’s Energetics Enterprise” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and a fellow at the Center fora New American Security on the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine including insights into the campaign to retake Soledar and Klishchiivka, Vladimir Putin tamps down on critics, implications of leadership changes and more; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on how the debt ceiling debate will be resolved, geopolitical risks to pay attention to, the need to bolster war production and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— Aerospace and defense stock performance as Wall Street posts its best Friday close in two weeks and markets hopes grow that next Federal Reserve rate increases will be small— Update on global air travel at the start of the Lunar New Year and China outlook as covid continues its deadly sweep across the nation— NASA’s partnership with Boeing to explore transonic truss-braced wing demonstrator to explore future airliner technologies— Whether the NASA program validates Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s reluctance to develop a new middle market jetliner to remain competitive with Airbus— Analysis of the logic behind major firms cutting independent research and development funding in favor of venture capital partnerships — What Germany’s reluctance to either export Leopard tanks to Ukraine nor allow allies to transfer their vehicles to Kyiv signals about Berlin’s reliability as an weapons development partner— Rosy future for Boeing F-15EX fighter as Israel joins US Air Force in ordering the revised version of the venerable Eagle — Look ahead to earnings as leading US firms prepare to report starting next week
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Global implications of a US debt default as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin warns that only “extraordinary measures” will allow the government to remain solvent unless Congress raises the nation’s borrowing limit— Political dynamics on the Hill as House members demand spending cuts across government and the White House refuses to negotiate— Moves the Pentagon can make to stretch out its budget— How US allies and partners view the debt spectacle and lessons on how the 2011 Budget Control Act just national security— Washington assures Ukraine of continuing support as allies meet in Germany to supply Kyiv with more heavy weapons— What’s driving Washington’s shift on backing Ukraine’s effort to retake Crimea — How Israel and South Korea as responding to US move to draw down arms from stockpiles in both nations to help Ukraine— Biden administration’s seeks 40 F-16s fighters for Turkey in exchange for Ankara’s support for Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership— China’s global charm offensive as Australia moves to restore trade ties— Whether Xi Jinping is actually pressuring Vladimir Putin on the Russian leader’s war on Ukraine or merely part of a PR posturing effort— Future of Israel’s democracy as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his support clash with the country’s Supreme Court
On this latest episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jack Watling, the senior research fellow for land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses the lessons of Russia’s war on Ukraine with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies as well as an Atlantic Council fellow and Wired magazine contributor, discusses LockBit’s ransomware attack on Britain’s Royal Mail, and the best approach to countering the potential negative implications of apps like TikTok, whether banning them entirely or allowing a third-party to monitor software and data; and Andrea Schaumann of Fortress discusses industry focus areas for 2023 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this inaugural episode of the weekly Defense & Aerospace Report’s Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, co-hosts JJ Gertler and Vago Muradian analyze the big stories, including the plan by the US Air Force to retire its RC-26 reconnaissance aircraft fleet, lessons the Air Force can learn from the Navy in selling air power on Capitol Hill and beyond, implications of buying fewer F-35 Lighting II fighters each year but stretching the program out by a decade, the freeze on new F135 engine deliveries by maker Pratt & Whitney after an accident late last year at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall interest in stealthy tanker aircraft and how such a requirement could shape the service’s air mobility fleet as leaders look to develop a new generation of transport aircraft.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory.Topics:— Aerospace and defense stock performance on Wall Street— Bank of America’s Savita Subramanian warning she expects corporate earnings to drop 10 percent in 2023 and what that means for the defense and aerospace group— Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin’s warning that America will hit its borrowing limit on Thursday— Impact of China’s new charm offensive on the outlook for globalization as Beijing looks to reverse setbacks from covid and the global political, economic and diplomatic backlash from its own aggressiveness— Analysis of Boeing’s commercial and military delivery figures— US Air Force move to seek new radar for F-35 Lightning II as series eyes new engine to ensure the multi-mission stealth fighter remains relevant— Maintain perceptive on the first space launch from British soil after a Virgin Orbit rocket with nine satellites aboard failed— As Britain sends Challenger tanks to Ukraine as other allies consider following suit, what Washington is doing to bolster weapons production
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Potential defense budget impact of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s promises to win the gavel as well as new committees and cardinal assignments— Whether Senate will follow House on everything from defunding the IRS to Pentagon spending— How the revelation of that classified documents were found at President Biden’s former post-vice presidential office as well as his Delaware home will impact congressional political dynamics— After Washington, Paris and Berlin agree to equip Ukraine with armored fighting vehicles, Washington and London consider sending tanks to bolster Kyiv’s capabilities— Claim by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group to have taken the tiny Ukrainian town of Soledar, a claim Ukraine rejects— Vladimir Putin fires Gen. Sergey Surovikin, replacing him with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s general staff— How the most muscular US and Allied approach in supporting Kyiv is being received in Beijing— Issues that are consuming Chinese leadership bandwidth aside from coping with a devastating covid infection and death rates— Japan’s accelerating drive to improve its defense and deterrent capabilities, including building its own capabilities and working more closely with partners across the Indo-Pacific— Warning by the FBI of the role of Chinese police stations in areas with large Chinese populations whether in the United States or around the world — Suggestion by Seoul that it would consider developing nuclear weapons— What to expect from summit between Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida — National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s comments in Mexico City that Washington is not making revival of the Iran nuclear deal a priority after Tehran’s military support for Russia in its war on Ukraine
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Vice Adm. Bill Galinis, USN, the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command, discusses inflation, supply chain, attracting as well as training and retaining talent, the need for a national approach to building better technical trade skills, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, building better battle damage repair skills, increasing both public and private shipbuilding and repair capacity, incentivizing speed through better contracts, lessons from recent shipbuilding programs that will improve upcoming destroyer, cruiser, amphibious and submarine development programs; and the cohosts of the Cavas Ships podcast — our Contributing Editor Chris Cavas and our Producer Chris Servello — with a recap of the Surface Navy Association’s national symposium and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. We are an SNA media partner and our coverage was sponsored by HII and GE Marine, a GE Aerospace company.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Kastner, the president and CEO of HII, discusses inflation pressures, supply chain, the impact of a full-year continuing resolution, recruiting as well as training and retaining top talent, working with the Navy to increase shipbuilding and maintenance capacity, how the company’s new capabilities can help shape more innovative capabilities, how better contracts can drive better program outcomes, the outlook for shipbuilding as Congress prepares to increase its role in shaping fleet size, and lessons from past programs that can help shape more successful future destroyer, cruiser and amphibious ship programs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, discusses the outlook for cyber funding as a fractious Congress reconvenes, the impact of a possible year-long continuing resolution on cyber contractors and new starts, why America’s cyber forces should be patterned after the US Special Operations Command, a look ahead to the Biden administration’s National Cyber Strategy that is to be released over the coming weeks, the legacy of Chris Inglis as he prepares to step down from his tenure as the first National Cyber Director, and issues to watch over the coming year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the defense spending implications in the wake of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s, R-Calif., election as house speaker, the prospect of a year-long continuing resolution, the year ahead for defense contractors and Ukraine aid as well as the Russo-Ukrainian war, the need for more talent across commercial and defense industries to increase capacity, China, other issues to watch and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:—Michael Herson of American Defense International explains the national security implications of promises made by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in exchange for votes to become nation’s 53rd speaker including on defense spending and Ukraine aid— Impact of year-long continuing resolution on defense contractors at home, and aboard— Update on aerospace and defense stock performance on US and European markets— China travel impact as Beijing lifts zero covid constraints— Boeing, Dassault and Lockheed Martin deliveries— How London, Washington and Canberra can work together to furnish Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and the industrial base to build them down under— Takeaways from Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s annual defense and aerospace outlook conference
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— National security implications of discord on Capitol Hill where on the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, chaos reigns as Republicans are unable to select a House Speaker— How American political discord is being perceived by adversaries like Russia and China as well as allies in Europe and Asia— Outlook for Ukraine war as Biden administration expected to follow France and Germany in exporting armored vehicles to Kyiv— What to expect from the Ukraine war in the coming year, especially if news reports are confirmed that Vladimir Putin has fired a second general leading Russian operations— How Chinese leaders expect to weather up to a million covid fatalities during and in the wake of the Lunar New Year, and emerge economically stronger in 2023— Update on increasing tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang over drone overflights and Japan’s steps up its security game— Warning by top US lawmakers against diverting much-needed American submarine industrial capability on providing nuclear subs to Australia at the expense of US Navy’s priority of one Columbia-class ballistic missile sub and two Virginia-class attack boats— A look at the big issues of 2023— Whether Turkey and Azerbaijan will try to seize the southern tip of Armenia, a move that could precipitate a conclude involving Russia and Iran
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— A look at US and European markets as investors closed out 2022— Boeing’s drive to deliver as many aircraft as possible before the end of the year— Pentagon’s $30 billion contract to Lockheed Martin for 398 F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft— L3Harris’ planned acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne— The big defense and aerospace trends of 2023 including whether covid will again emerge as a global challenge— A preview of the Defense & Aerospace Report’s new Air Power podcast, sponsored by GE Aviation and co-hosted by JJ Gertler and Vago Muradian
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Congress goes down to the wire to approve $1.7 trillion appropriations measure to keep government from closing— What chaotic year-end process tells us about legislative year to come— Whether Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington and powerful address to joint session of Congress will changer vector of US support for Kyiv in 2023— How Russia’s war on Ukraine has changed Washington, Europe and Aisa’s approach toward strategic thinking and security— Why those who criticize Europe for not doing enough to support Ukraine are wrong— French President Emmanuel Macron’s latest call for greater European security investment— Review of China’s moves this year, including Beijing’s escalation of rhetoric before Xi Jinping’s coronation, and the charm offensive that followed— Reversal of China’s covid policy and what it means for economic activity in the new year as many return to hometowns to celebrate lunar new year— Unraveling of Afghanistan and Iraq despite wars and US investment totaling more than $4 trillion and thousands of lives— Israel and Iran recap
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, a year in review with Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a Cyber Solarium 2.0 commission senior adviser, who discuss the cyber elements of the $1.7 trillion appropriations measure and the $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act, National Security Agency and US Cyber Command campaign plans to safeguard the 2022 election, cyber lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, the need for great cyber security regulation, the cost of addressing software and hardware vulnerabilities in US military systems, Biden administration efforts to reduce ransomware attacks, and the biggest cyber threats of 2023 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Steve Fetter, an award-winning nuclear physicist who is the dean of the Graduate School at the University of Maryland, discusses the national security implications of the National Ignition Facility’s Dec. 5 experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that for a millisecond produced more energy than it consumed, how the test that involved firing 192 lasers at hydrogen atoms was primarily intended to improve America’s thermonuclear arsenal, why the groundbreaking test would make for an impractical source of sustainable energy, whether the nation that invested the atom bomb still has the skills to make them, and lessons from the Manhattan Project with Defense & aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with a year-end review of Russia’s war on Ukraine, how the conflict has changed Washington and its allies, old lessons relearned, technologies that have changed the battlefield, the impact of sanctions on Russia’s economy, how Moscow is benefitting from its partnerships with Iran, North Korea, China, India as well as other nations, developments in China, Japan and Iran, and a look at key business developments in 2022 including L3Harris’ proposal to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— A look at another volatile week on world markets and how defense and aerospace firms fared— Surge in spending in both Washington as well as Europe where governments are racing to place orders before the end of the year— Aviation outlook at travel returns to pre-pandemic levels as aircraft makers struggle to fill demand— Recap of major 2022 story lines — Boeing’s challenges as commercial side of the giant delayed launching a new jetliner and new leadership works to restore confidence to the company’s Defense, Space and Security business— Whether the Pentagon is moving quickly enough to address capability gaps and weapons shortfalls— Robust space growth as Maxar acquired private equity firm Advent International for $6.4 billion— Merger and acquisition outlook nearly a year after the Biden administration blocked Lockheed Martin’s planned acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne— Demand for engineering talent across aerospace and defense— Recap of special purpose acquisition companies and the e-vtol market
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Analysis of the NDAA as Senate follows House in passing $858 billion measure that’s $45 billion higher than Biden administration’s request including increased spending for Navy, munitions and Ukraine as well as Taiwan assistance— Outlook for continuing resolution and omnibus— Update on Ukraine war as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and prepares not only defenses in occupied areas but plots offensive early next year in second, more competent effort to take the entire country— Whether Western nations appreciate the magnitude and focused efforts by Russia to learn lessons and play the long game to finish what it started in 2014— Update on Indo-Pacific headlines including North Korea’s latest missile test and the watershed nature of Japan’s new national security and defense strategies— Why Washington needs to more openly share technology with its closest allies and partners— President Biden’s summit with African nations and pledge to invest $55 billion in the content and whether jaded leaders are open to the latest effort by Washington to woo nations away from China and Russia
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry McGinn and Eric Lofgren of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University discuss new ways to help innovative small companies survive DoD’s acquisition process to grow into sustainable enterprises, whether change is happening fast enough, the Pentagon’s new strategic capital initiative and NDAA items to watch; and Dr. Caitlin Lee, the director of the Center for Unmanned and Autonomy Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies discusses the new report she co-authored with Mitchell’s Mark Gunzinger — “The Next Frontier: UAVs for Great Power Conflict, Part I: Penetrating Strike” — discusses takeaways from the report, the role of the unmanned modular collaborative combat aircraft the US Air Force is developing to improve its long-range strike, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capabilities, the network needed to target and strike with precision at range, the blend of new and old assets that can help realize this capability, and what’s next in the series with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, in one of his last interviews before retiring from Congress, Rep. Jim Langevin, D-RI, the chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities as well as the Homeland Security subcommittee on cybersecurity, infrastructure protection and innovation, discusses progress in improving the nation’s cyber defenses and what more needs to be done, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine that can help deter China from moving on Taiwan, the cost of addressing software and hardware vulnerabilities across US weapons systems, emerging threats, ways to more quickly acquire innovative technologies at scale, the need to improve America’s nuclear weapons production capabilities, and how to get things done despite increasing partisanship in Washington, and what’s next after more than two decades in Congress with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Angela Stent, professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University and director of its Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies — who also authored the 2019 book “Putin's World: Russia Against the West and with the Rest” — discusses Russia’s imperial history and nature shapes the country’s outlook and decision-making by leaders like Vladimir Putin, why Putin decided to invade Ukraine when he did, how the Russian leader might be forced from power and his likely successor, the effectiveness of Western sanctions when China as well as India and nations across Africa and Asia continue to trade with Russia, lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian war that can help better deter China from moving against Taiwan, how to the war might end, and what a long-term strategy toward Russia looks like with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest in Russia’s war on Ukraine and Kyiv’s momentum including long-range attacks on Russian airfields, Wagner Group’s upcoming hackathon, move by Alma-Antey to copy Chinese racing drones for military use, and update on Turkish role in improving Azerbaijan’s military and speculation regarding another offensive against Armenia while Moscow and Tehran are distracted; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses House NDAA, prospects in Senate, implications of delayed appropriations and live on prolonged continuing resolutions, rising contractor costs, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— Aerospace and defense stock performance in America and Europe as Wall Street closes down on higher than expected producer price index— Investor reaction to House version of the National Defense Authorization Act that increases Biden administration Pentagon spending request by $45 billion, but appropriations and debt ceiling outlook remain dim— Airbus dials back delivery targets for second time in a year on supplier challenges— Analysis of reports that Air India owner Tata Group plans massive investment in the air carrier including 500 narrow- and wide-body jets from Boeing and Airbus— Japan formally joins the British-led Tempest program to develop a next general combat aircraft that includes Italy and Sweden, now referred to as the Global Combat Air Program— US Army’s selection of Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor over the Defiant X by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky and Boeing for the service’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition— NASA’s flawless unmanned Artemis moon mission as Orion command module safely splashes down on time and target in the Eastern Pacific— Ingenuity unmanned aircraft makes 35th flight in Mars’ thin atmosphere, at nearly a minute and 46 feet altitude making it the longest and highest to date
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— House passes National Defense Authorization Act that’s $45 billion higher than Biden administration request as all eyes on whether Senate will follow— Long-term impact on military discipline of reversing DoD’s covid vaccination requirements that drove hundreds from uniform— Omnibus appropriations and debt ceiling talks stall raising fears of prolonged continuing resolution, and late 2023 borrowing limit battle— Senate power dynamic as Sen. Kirsten Sienama changes affiliation from Democrat to Independent— Turkey makes further demands in exchange for blessing Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership— Analysis of Biden administration’s decision to trade WNBA and Olympic star Brittney Griner for convicted arms merchant Viktor Bout— As America and France bolster their alliance, implications of Poland’s demands Germany pay $1.3 trillion in World War II reparations— Beijing backtracks on strict covid lockdowns in the wake of unprecedented nationwide demonstrations— China strikes strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia as Riyadh embraces Huawei technology despite US pressure to shut Chinese 5G gear— Update on AUSMIN and AUKUS, and whether Japan might join pact that includes US, UK and Australia— Japan’s decision to join British-led effort to develop Tempest next generation fighter that includes Italy and Sweden— Outlook for Iranian regime after violent demonstrations and suggestion morality police would be abolished— Binyamin Netanyahu shifts further right as be prepares his new Israeli government
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discusses the new B-21 Raider bomber by Northrop Grumman and efforts to improve force-wide cyber security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian from the Reagan National Defense Forum.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic Advisory consultancy discuss the US Army’s decision to tap Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor as the winner of its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition; and Pentagon comptroller Mike McCord discusses the outlook for defense spending, the prospect of a year-long continuing resolution, the likelihood of another Budget Control Act as part of a deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, internal DoD lessons learned during the course of US support for Ukraine, replenishing depleted American weapon stocks, views on how to reform the Planning, Programming, Budget & Execution process, and improving Pentagon auditability with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Reagan National Defense Forum, the Pentagon’s new strategic capital initiative, Leidos’ investor day at the company’s Dynetics unit in Huntsville, Ala., and the B-21 Raider bomber rollout last week; and an analysis of the Reagan Forum with former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and Dr. Kathleen McInnis who leads the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.Topics:— US and European aerospace and defense stock performance as American job growth remains strong and gas prices and inflation decrease— Market expectations that Federal Reserve will ease off on raising short-term borrowing rates to curb inflation as central bankers seek to avoid fueling recession— Job cuts at big tech firms and whether defense could benefit from flood flood of available talent— Prime constructors worry recession will hurt valuations and access to capital for themselves as well as their second- and third-tier suppliers— Airbus production falls short as the European giant cuts its dependence on Russian titanium— Reports of further delays for Boeing-Saab T-7 trainerfor the US Air Force— Prospect Japan will join UK-led Tempest program that includes Italy and Sweden— Implications of Stockholm acquiring F-35 fighters as Sweden prepares to a NATO alliance where the stealth jet is increasingly a common aircraft— Outlook for Saab’s Gripen E fighter and company’s vaunted combat aircraft capability— Analysis of Northrop Grumman’s new B-21 Raider bomber unveiled at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale and whether the new jet constrained by unit cost caps lacks speed, payload and range to be effective in the Indo-Pacific
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.Topics:— Congress moves on appropriations, omnibus, NDAA while also grappling with legislation in same sex marriage and to avoid economically damaging rail strike— Hopes dim that debt ceiling increase will happen during lame duck session, setting the stage for acrimonious budget battle— Democrats unite behind New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as new leader as California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy faces challenges— Whether US and Europe are pressuring Ukraine to negotiate an end to war as Washington and allies continue military and economic support— The need to provide Ukraine with even more hardware during the winter to improve its capabilities in 2023— Importance of President Biden’s first state visit hosting French President Emmanuel Macron as the two oldest allies nations work together on global security challenges from Ukraine to European security and China— As US and Australian officials prepare to meet next week, assessing options for advancing drive by the Australia-US-UK pact to produce nuclear submarines for the Royal Australian Navy and whether Japan and France have a role to play— Implications of unprecedented nationwide demonstrations across China protesting the government’s covid lockdowns and increasingly repressive nature— Pentagon’s annual assessment of Chinese military capabilities— Binyamin Netanyahu continues to shape his incoming government— What’s next as demonstrations continue to roil Iran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Ming-Yen Tsai, Taiwan’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, discusses lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine that can better prepare the island nation against a conflict with China, what Taipei needs to improve capabilities, Taiwanese confidence in President Biden’s pledge to defend the Taiwan should China attack, and Dr. Wes Naylor, the former commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training and Simulation Division, and our producer Chris Servello discuss key takeaways from the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Andrea Schaumann, Fortress’ director of federal programs and partnerships, on cyber takeaways from the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference and the need to better educate the non-cyber community about the need for software and hardware bills of origin and materials as well as lessons from commercial industry, and Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies who is also with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, discusses his recent issue brief — “GRU 26165: The Russian cyber unit that hacks targets on-site” — why the Russian military intelligence agency’s secret cyber arm hits the road globally, how to counter their operations, lessons from the recent ransomware attack on Suffolk County, NY, and the FCC’s latest ban on Chinese hardware with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses Vladimir Putin’s new drive to advance Russian artificial intelligence capabilities for military and economic advantage, the latest on Moscow’s war on Ukraine including precision strikes that have crippled the the country’s infrastructure, the state of Russia’s long-range strike arsenal including cruise missiles and unmanned systems, and the stability of the Putin regime as concerns about the war and its economic impact hits average Russians; and Dr. Darrell Bricker, the chief executive of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the latest global survey of security trends and sentiments released at the recent Halifax International Security Forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Joe Kochan, the executive director of the National Spectrum Consortium, and Dr. Christine Zhang, the chief research scientist at Peraton Labs, consortium board member and the chair of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ annual MILCOM conference, discuss the role of consortium, the importance of 5G and 6G technologies in future military networks like the Joint All Domain Command and Control System, what to expect at the upcoming MILCOM conference and more; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the implications of anti-government demonstrations in China, update on Pentagon budget in a lame duck Congress, the outlook for continued US defense assistance to Ukraine, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — A recap of aerospace and defense stock performance on a short Wall Street training week as well as world markets — Reuters report that Airbus might miss delivery targets on slowed jet engine production — US and European efforts to ramp up precision weapons and munitions production — Outlook for air travel as US Thanksgiving traffic hits prepandemic levels — Global implications of anti-covid lockdown riots hit Foxconn’s massive Zhengzhou facility and demonstrations erupt across China — Japan’s interest in joining the UK-loved Tempest future combat aircraft programs that includes Italy and Sweden — Poland’s order for two signals intelligence ships from Sweden’s Saab under $700 million contract — Brazil’s $2 billion order for tank destroyer vehicles from Leonardo and IVECO — Britain’s decision to export six ex-UK military Sea King helicopters to Ukraine and whether the move opens the door for transfer of higher-end combat aircraft and systems like Patriot air defense missile batteries to Kyiv — Bulgaria’s F-16 fighter order as Lockheed Martin completes relocation of Fighting Falcon production line from Fort Worth to Greenville, SC
On this special episode from the Halifax International Security Forum, Olga Stefanishnya, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, discusses what her country needs to prevail against Russian aggression; Latvia’s National Security Adviser Jānis Kažociņš on how to think about the threat from Russia and the reality that whoever succeeds Vladimir Putin may well be worse and more dangerous; Supreme Commander of Sweden’s Armed Forces Gen. Micael Bydén on preparing his country for NATO membership; and Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian discusses the brutality of Iran’s regime as it cracks down on antigovernment demonstrations with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Andrea Schaumann, Fortress’ director of federal programs and partnerships, discusses cyber issues that will be aired at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference or I/ITSEC in Orlando, the impact of the Biden administration’s software and hardware bills of origin and materials requirements, securing increasingly larger live and virtual synthetic training environments, incorporating ever more sophisticated commercial virtual reality technologies into military training ecosystems, the Pentagon’s new zero trust strategy and roadmap.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, the executive director of The McCain Institute at Arizona State University, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discuss key takeaways from this year’s Halifax International Security Forum including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s powerful address on the importance of helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, bipartisan unity among US lawmakers supporting Kyiv, NATO Military Chairman Adm. Rob Bauer’s call to bolster the alliance’s depleting armament stocks and more; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on how defense will fare during the lame duck session, the outlook for progress GOP House promises investigations into America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, Hunter Biden’s laptop and US aid to Ukraine with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Michael Herson of American Defense International, Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Michael Auslin, the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Topics: — Update on congressional races as Republicans retake House and Democrats hold Senate — Republican and Democratic Leadership elections and prospects for Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as minority leader and Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as next House speaker — Implications of decisions by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Stenny Hoyer to stand aside, clearing the way for a new generation of leaders including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY — Pelosi’s legacy as 52nd House Speaker — Latest on National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations — Agenda items for lame duck session, including debt ceiling increase — NATO response to missiles that killed two in Poland — Support for Ukraine as governments step up military aid — Why a new model for transatlantic security is needed to bolster capabilities — G20 meeting takeaways including statement denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — President Biden’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping and whether it changes the dynamic between the world’s leading powers — The case for expanding AUKUS to include Japan and France — A look ahead to the Halifax International Security Forum
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the executive director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University who served in the Pentagon’s office of manufacturing and industrial base policy and his colleague, Eric Lofgren, a research fellow specializing in government contracting, discuss their new report, with Lloyd Everhart — “Execution Flexibility and Bridging the Valley of Death” — on how innovative smaller companies with good ideas can survive the Pentagon acquisition process to grow into sustainable enterprises, grading DoD’s innovation initiatives aimed at more quickly harnessing technology to solve national security problems, how reforming the Planning, Programming, Budgeting & Execution could have a dramatic impact on both improving and accelerating the entire acquisition ecosystem, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Jeff Man, who was one of the first group of “Red Team” hackers at the National Security Agency’s “Pit” to improve US government security and is now a senior security consultant at IT services company Online Business Systems and the co-host of the Paul’s Security Weekly podcast along with Paul Asadoorian, discusses lessons from his nearly 40-year career including what constitutes a hacker, how threats and defenses have changed over his career, the balance of power between attacks and defenders, training a new generation of talent, the right partnership between government and industry, the efficacy of a certification approach to security, the threat posed by social media sites like TikTok and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Chris Miller, professor of international history at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, discusses his recent book “Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology,” why chips are so critical to global economic and military power, the global nature of the microchip industry, how America lost its technological lead, China’s strategy to gain chip supremacy, whether the CHIPS Act will return America to its leading position and how Washington should marshal its allies, the impact of the Biden administration’s embargo on ship making technology will delay Beijing’s chip capabilities, how America should balance cooperation and competition with China, the threat from Chinese chips and software in US weapons systems, the feasibility of driving a wedge between China and Russia as the two nations pledge “limitless” partnership, and examples of good and bad strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses what’s next now that Ukraine has liberated Kherson from Russian occupation, Moscow’s drive to circumvent the normal acquisition system to rush new equipment to the frontlines, and impact of mounting criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dr. Michael Shurkin of the Atlantic Council and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, discusses France’s new defense strategy, priorities, building new capabilities and how Washington has to regard its oldest ally, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses how the meeting between President Biden and China’s Xi Jinping changes the vector for US defense spending, the impact of the midterm on the Pentagon’s budget outlook, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance as Wall Street has it’s best day in two years driven by lower than expected US Consumer Price Index raising hopes that Federal Reserve will forego additional planned short-term borrowing rate increases to reduce inflation — Investor views of US midterm election outcome consistent with expectations that Democrats control Senate and Republicans narrowly retake House — What to expect from President Biden’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping on Monday at G20 meeting in Bali — France’s updated defense strategy that notes the centrality of NATO and need for greater investment in capabilities — Key takeaways from Zhuhai Air Show including analysis Comac’s announcement of 330 new orders for C919 jets and ARJ21 regional aircraft and latest partnership between Boeing and the Chinese jetmaker to develop sustainable aviation technologies — Whether China can advance its commercial aviation industry without Western support as great decoupling with Beijing continues — Update on war as Ukraine liberates Kherson from brutal Russian occupation — Bulgaria’s decision to buy eight new Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from and Indonesia’s interest in 36 new Boeing F-15 fighters — South Korea’s growing role in rearming Europe and Ukraine
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, EJ Herold, the executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies-Americas and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — The implications of the surprise mid-term outcome that is characterized as the best for a sitting president since the 1930s — Political dynamics is Democrats retain Senate but Republicans narrowly control the House — The “governability” of a fractious House Republican majority, should GOP retake the chamber — New defense leadership in House and Senate and their priorities and how change in power could impact US policy toward Ukraine, China and Europe — Whether former President Trump — and Trumpism’s — hold on Republicans Party has been broken as long-time allies turn on him for failing to win more seats — Message America’s allies and adversaries are drawing from the mid-terms — What’s next now that Russia has evacuated Kherson as Ukrainian forces retake the key southern city — White House pledges unwavering support for Ukraine as it urges Kyiv to remain open to negotiations to end the conflict — President Biden’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Bali — Key US meetings in Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia — Waiting for North Korea’s nuclear test — Update on Binyamin Netayahu efforts to form the most right-wing government in Israel’s history — Ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Iran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Caitlin Dohrman, the president of Improbable US Defense & National Security, discusses the company’s unique synthetic environment capabilities, the role of cutting-edge commercial capabilities for defense applications for better wargaming, scenario development as well as immersive synthetic training environments, the future of the technology and how small companies can grow into tomorrow’s giants with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Suzanne Spaulding, the senior adviser for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses efforts to secure US elections including Tuesday’s midterms, the interagency process to safeguard America’s voting infrastructure, countering domestic and foreign disinformation, how to ensure fair elections in the wake of the election of secretaries of state who have said they may change outcomes irrespective of legitimate vote counts, what changed House and Senate leadership will mean for cyber legislation, and priorities for the Cyber Solarium 2.0 commission with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
In the second of a six-part series on command and control, sponsored Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security, and Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discuss the Pentagon’s new Joint All-Domain Command and Control strategy, whether the new approach will field capability at the speed of relevance, an update on each of the service’s command and control efforts — the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, the Army’s Project Convergence, and the Navy’s Project Overmatch — and how to best integrate these efforts, and move faster with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s strikes against Ukraine’s power, water and heating networks, how Ukrainian forces are defending against Russia’s Iranian-made drones, Ukraine’s forces’ advance on Kherson, impact of Russian mobilization and fresh forces on the Kherson front, Washington’s suggestion that Kyiv be open to negotiations, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the impact of inflation on defense contractors, defense implications of Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s statement last week that the company won’t develop a new jetliner until the mid-2030s, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance on US and European markets and reaction to move by Federal Reserve to raise short-term borrowing rates by 75 basis points — Analysis of Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s comments during the company’s investor day in Seattle that the jet maker won’t develop an new aircraft until the mid-2030s, citing changing nature of engine technology — Takeaways from touring Boeing’s 737 plant in Renton, Wash., and what it says about state of supply chain and inventory management — Beijing’s messaging as German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz leads large trade delegation to China as orders placed for Airbus jets and China Southern takes 737 Max out of service, after recently returning it to service — What to expect from this year’s Zhuhai Airshow — Investor reaction to pointed comments by Adm. Chas Richard, the commander of US Strategic Command, at the Naval Submarine League’s annual conference that America has to boost its capabilities to continue deterring an every more capable China — Australia’s decision to order the C-130J, ensuring robust production of Hercules — Sweden’s complaints about NH90 helicopter and what it means for Airbus’ performance on that and the Tiger attack helicopter programs — A service-by-service look at UK defense as government-wide spending cuts are imposed that make 3 percent of GDP for military spending an “aspiration” until later this decade — Latest trends in Ukraine’s drive to retake territory occupied by Russia as Moscow pounds Ukrainian power, water and heating grids — European support for Ukraine as White House urges Kyiv to be open to negotiations with Russia — Spending outlook in the wake of US midterm elections that are expected to return the House and Senate to Republican control
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on NDAA and prospects for another brief continuing resolution as appropriations stall — Midterm elections outcome as Republicans return to power in House and Senate loom, sparking worries among allies in Europe and Asia — Contours of a debt ceiling discussion within Biden administration and with lawmakers — Outlook on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Moscow targets power and water grids to force Ukrainians to pressure their leaders for a peace deal and spur Western commentators to urge Kyiv toward a negotiated settlement — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls on Turkey to approve Finland and Sweden’s membership in the alliance as Ankara demands all manner of concessions from Europe and America in exchange for its “yes” vote — UK defense update as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace concedes government-wide spending cuts directed by his boss, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, make 3 percent of GDP investment goal “aspirational” — Unprecedented barrage of North Korean cruise and ballistic missile tests toward South Korea and Japan, violating Seoul’s territorial waters for the first time since 1952 — The outlook for South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s tenure after 156 were crushed to death in a Seoul ally while celebrating Halloween — The aggressive global diplomatic stance of China’s premier, Xi Jinping, in the wake of the Chinese Communist Party’s congress last week — The global implications of Bibi Netanyahu’s return to power on Israel’s relationships with the United States, Europe, Russia and Gulf partners
On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, John Kirby, a retired US Navy rear admiral and former Pentagon, State Department, and Navy chief spokesman who is now the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, discusses the changing communications landscape and the increasing need to respond rapidly to emerging news and narratives, the critical importance of story telling when crafting strategic messaging campaigns, why leaders must prioritize communications, how to counter lies and disinformation, reaching audiences in their information silos, bridging the civil-military divide, why a close relationship between a senior leader and their communicator can generate better policy and strategy outcomes, balancing the need for message discipline agains the need to empower subordinates to communicate with agility and speed, and what good messaging strategy looks like with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and commander of the US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses the cyber and intelligence aspects of the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy, the importance of both deterring China and Russia while working to improve cybersecurity cooperation with Beijing and Moscow as well as nations worldwide, why Russia has not mounted more aggressive cyber operations against America and its allies supporting Kyiv, the role of cyber in deterring Moscow from using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, cyber and broader takeaways from the Chinese Communist Party’s recent congress, the impact of the Biden administration’s efforts to curb the export of computer chip making technology to China in curbing Beijing’s cyber and AI capabilities, US efforts to ensure the security of America’s voting system and countering dis and misinformation as the mid-term elections loom, and whether the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency should be independent with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, discusses the annual workforce study the trade body the organization develops with the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Ernst & Young consultancy — “How do you reshape today’s workforce and attract tomorrow’s talent?” — the impact of the CHIPS Act on developing future talent, the impact of inflation and supply chains on defense and aerospace manufacturing, the defense budget outlook as mid-term elections loom, the importance of congressional action on research and development tax credits that spur innovation, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses who is also affiliated with the Center for a New American Security discuses Ukraine’s coordinated attack against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol using unmanned air and surface vehicles; Dr. Bill Conley, the chief technology officer at Mercury Systems who is also the chairman of the Association of Old Crows, discusses on takeaways from AOC’s 59th annual conference and tradeshow last week, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, and moving faster to deliver electromagnetic, cyber and information capabilities; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses recent corporate earnings and emerging trends, the defense spending implications of next week’s national elections, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Wall Street rallies on as positive earnings and encouraging American economic growth — Airbus, Boeing, General Dynamics, L3Harris, MTU, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Saab and Thales earnings — Whether pressure will mount on industry over share buybacks as political pressure mounts regarding the practice as President Biden criticizes ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods — Trade outlook as hardliners take power in Beijing and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz prepares to lead trade delegation to China — Boeing’s prospects in China as 737 Max quietly re-enters service — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak retains Ben Wallace as defense secretary, but orders government-wide cuts including to military spending — Market impact of Biden administration’s new National Defense Strategy as well as nuclear posture and missile defense reviews — War update as Ukraine strikes Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on National Defense Authorization Act and debt ceiling increase during the “lame duck” session after the election next week and the new Congress in January — Support for Ukraine on Capitol Hill as 30 progressives propose then rescind letter calling for talks with Russia — Gauging whether Republicans retake both House and Senate or just the House — How Washington and NATO counter Moscow should Russian officials make good on their threats to target US commercial spacecraft supporting Ukraine — Why Vladimir Putin appears to be easing off his nuclear rhetoric and whether he will be removed from power over the coming months — Takeaways from Chinese Communist Party’s congress as Xi Jinping and a phalanx of hardliners take power, humiliating moderates including former premier Hu Jintao by physically removing him from the Great Hall during the closing ceremony, but also from the Standing Committee and Politburo — Implications of US Air Force’s proposal to retire it’s last two active duty F-15C fighter squadrons from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa and replace it with a rotational force — Demonstrations grow more violent in Iran as analysts debate longevity of the Islamic Republic — Analysis of the Biden administration’s new National Defense Strategy as well as nuclear posture and missile defense reviews — Remembering the life and extraordinary legacy of the nation’s 25th defense secretary, Dr. Ash Carter, who passed away of a heart attack at age 68
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Randy Schriver, a former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs who is now the chairman of the Project 2049 Institute to fully normalize relations between the United States and Taiwan, discusses think tank’s new China Economic Strategy Initiative that aims to help US leaders craft better strategies to compete against China — and do it more quickly — assessing the Biden administration’s toughening approach to Beijing, the competitive strategy Washington needs, takeaways from the Chinese Communist Party’s recent congress, the capabilities America and Taiwan need to field to deter Chinese aggression, lessons Beijing and Taipei are drawing from Russia’s war on Ukraine and the global response to Moscow’s aggression, update on the Taiwan Policy Act and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Nick Nilan’s, Fortress’ new chief revenue officer, discusses the implications of the Biden administration’s drive to shift from attestation to certifiable software bills of origin and materials to improve supply chain security, what it will take to improve security across government and industry, and how cyber threats continue to evolve; and Bulelani Jili, a Yenching scholar, cybersecurity fellow and PhD candidate at Harvard University who is also affiliated with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, discusses his issue paper — “China’s Surveillance Ecosystem and the Global Spread of its Tools” — China’s increasingly capable domestic cyber and surveillance industry, why governments turn to Beijing and how China benefits from exporting surveillance tools, how to the international community can stymie Chinese as well as Israeli and Russian surveillance exports, and whether the Biden administration’s export ban on chip making technology can stymie Beijing’s cyber surveillance ecosystem with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Harlan Ullman, an Atlantic Council senior advisor, strategist and author who is the chairman of the Killowen Group consultancy, discusses the Biden administration’s National Security Strategy and why it and the upcoming National Defense Strategy are both aspirational and unaffordable in his column “A National Security Strategy that is Viable and Affordable,” and the life and legacy of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter who died suddenly on Oct. 24 at age 68; and Paul Scharre, the vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the new report he co-authored with his colleague Megan Lambert, “Artificial Intelligence and Arms Control,” why it may prove important to control AI, past arms control models that could prove effective, enforcement and how the Biden administration’s export bans on chip making equipment to China are a means of AI arms control against Beijing with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison, the managing director for Metrea Strategic Insights, discusses his analysis of the Biden administration’s defense budget plans including growing personnel costs even before a planned 4.6 percent pay raise, what happens if the pay raise jumps to 6 percent because of inflation, a possible shortfall in operations and maintenance funding, budget share by military service and why Air Force funding is falling short, and whether the administration has launched a series of major top secret programs or has created a “bishop’s” fund to cover future costs; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on the administration’s export ban on chip making technology to China, whether additional countries will adopt Washington’s stance, curtailing Western hardware and software exports that improve Beijing’s military capabilities, lessons from Britain’s ruinous financial missteps and whether the GOP could follow suit in the wake of November electoral victory, Russia and Iran newsflow, and look at Lockheed Martin’s earnings and share buybacks and what to expect from the defense group as companies report earnings, and the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance as Wall Street posts its strongest day since June on growing sense coming recession is likely to be mild than severe as earnings continue to worry and Fed prepares to again raise rates — What Lockheed Martin’s earnings and L3Harris’ decision to buy back shares suggests about what to expect from other defense and aerospace companies as they prepare to report earnings over the coming weeks — Air travel demand grows reducing parked aircraft and increasing demand for new jets — Takeaways from the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in Orlando — Federal appears judge’s decision allow families of the 346 who died in two 737 Max crashes to challenge $2.5 billion settlement between Boeing and the Justice Department — Update on Moscow’s war on Ukraine as Russia pummels its neighbors infrastructure to impede Kyiv’s ability to fight — Outlook for European defense spending and continent’s ability to satisfy its own capability needs as Poland turns to Korea for heavy self-propelled artillery — Europe’s concern of possible Russian use of nuclear weapons as Vladimir Putin continues to intimidate Washington and its allies to end support for Kyiv — Battle to replace Liz Truss as Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister resigns
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — European sentiment on Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine as Kyiv plans major offensive to retake Kherson and Moscow uses Iranian drones to hit Ukrainian power, water and rail — Outlook for defense spending in US, Europe and Asia as concerns mount of an impending worldwide recession — Impact of statements by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., that Ukraine as well as Pentagon spending would be curtailed should Republicans retake Congress in November elections — How US and Europe must respond to Russian grey zone and intimidation operations in cyber, destroying Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, cutting undersea cables connecting Shetland Islands to Britain, impacting German rail, a Russian sub transiting the Bay of Biscay or firing missile near RAF reconnaissance plane over Black Sea — Lessons China is learning as Washington and allies fail to respond to Russian provocations — Takeaways from Chinese Communist Party’s quinquennial meeting in Beijing — China’s new approach to Taiwan that would subjugate the island nation — Deterring China from invading Taiwan whether through new legislation like Taiwan Policy Act, modernizing Taipei’s forces, economic pressure, or event posting US troops on the island — North Korea’s upcoming nuclear test — Impact of Russia’s reduction of forces in Syria on Israel’s campaign against ISIS as Iran steps up attacks on Kurdish Iraq — Iran’s crackdown on worsening demonstrations and outlook for overthrowing the clerical rule
Dr. Philip Karber, the president of the Potomac Foundation think tank, discusses the difference between good and bad strategy, the importance of crafting long-term competitive strategies, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, how those lessons apply to China, the need for renewed focus and attention on nuclear warfighting and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment. The strategy series is not affiliated with the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Philip Niedermair, a managing director at the Ward & Berry law firm who is also chairman of the board of advisers at the National Cyber Group and a senior advisor to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission 2.0, discusses commission priorities, changing the prevalent mindset that cyber security is a costly burden rather than a critically important economic and security enabler, attracting more diverse talent to the cyber workforce, cyber takeaways from recent national security and law enforcement gatherings and remembering the legacy of Dr. Scott Dade, the director of the schools of cyber security, cryptology, business and foreign languages at Fort Gordon, with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Britain’s secretary of state for transportation, discusses the UK government’s new maritime strategy and the vital links between maritime trade and seapower, and Mark Goldsack, a retired British Army brigadier who now serves as the director of the Department for International Trade’s Defence and Security Exports, discusses Britain’s security assistance to Ukraine including systems and training, global demand for UK defense products and services, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Faine Greenwood of Tarentum Consulting and contributor to Slate and Foreign Policy who is an expert on commercial drones discusses how commercially available systems are being used on the battlefield by both Ukraine and Russia, how they are being used, future capabilities and how governments can better defend themselves against weaponized commercial systems; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and tradeshow last week, implications of US concerns with China’s civil-military fusion strategy, November elections and how they may shape the defense budget outlook, a look ahead to earnings and the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Rising inflation prompts worries of further Fed rate hikes drives Wall Street down 1.6 percent for the week and S&P 500 down a quarter since beginning of year — Erroneous perception by some investors that Ukraine’s success and recent statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin suggest war is ending and demand for defense goods will decline — Outlook for Prime Minister Liz Truss as her government makes a u-turn on pledge to cut taxes and increase spending in wake of political and market pressure — Defense spending implications of new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s pledge to raise taxes and sharply cut spending to restore UK fiscal credibility — Market implications of the Biden administration’s long-awaited National Security Strategy — Defense industry impact should Congress block arms exports to Saudi Arabia and outlook for UK, France and other nations to garner sales — Sully Sullenberger adds his voice to those opposing certification waivers for 737 Max — United Airlines interest in new widebody jetliners — Takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference and tradeshow last week in Washington — What to expect at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Orlando next week
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Topics: — Russian decision to evacuate Kherson as Ukrainian forces continue their drive to liberate occupied territories as Moscow strikes Ukraine’s cities, infrastructure and military units with missiles and Iranian drones — NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels to craft 14-nation Sky Shield program to protect Europe from air and missile threats as alliance steps up air and missile defenses for Ukraine — Nuclear tensions as NATO declines to discuss options as France declares it would not retaliate if Russia strikes Ukraine with atomic weapons — Need for US and allied leaders in Europe and Asia to renew nuclear planning and training as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran resort to nuclear saber rattling and intimidation — As the Chinese Communist Party convenes on Sunday to make Xi Jinping leader for life, Beijing tries to use AUKUS agreement to fracture Australian politics and diminish role of “Anglo-Saxon” nations in Asia — North Korea’s continued missile tests — Taipei’s warning that China risks war by continuing to overly Taiwan with drones and missiles — Analysis of Biden administration’s National Security Strategy and what to expect from upcoming Nuclear Posture Reviews and National Defense Strategy — Role of women in demonstrations demanding regime change in Iran and whether the Islamic Republic will collapse as quickly as Shah’s — Whether latest Jan. 6 insurrection hearing revelations change political dynamics in November elections
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and director of the bipartisan Cyber Solarium 2.0 Commission, discusses the White House meeting next week to craft a national strategy to secure the Internet of Things, legislative changes and spending needed to improve IoT security, whether the Biden administration’s clampdown on exporting chip making technology to China is effective, Russia’s recent hacks and link between cyber capabilities and nuclear deterrence, key storylines from the Cipher Brief’s 2022 Threat Conference including impediments to greater government-industry collaboration and whether the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency should be independent, the cyber implications of the new National Security Strategy, and the cyber elements of the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gabe Camarillo, the 35th under secretary of the US Army, discusses lessons learned from Russia’s war on Ukraine, replenishing weapons stocks, capabilities the service is developing for future conflicts, the new Field Manual 3.0, the role of the US Army and Air Force in America’s long-range precision strike architecture, the service’s Pacific role and case against shrinking the force to cover air and naval capacity, and the persistent concern that defense spending could become a casualty of congressional debt ceiling negotiations with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, private equity veteran Philip Bilden and former DIU chief Raj Shah discuss the new venture capital fund they founded, Shield Capital, on the $120 million fund’s first anniversary, the firm’s investments in more than 70 companies, technology areas of focus, how the teams picks the right investment candidates, the fund’s partnership with L3Harris, the concept of “clean capital” and how the VC community can be harnessed for more quickly field critically needed capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s war on Ukraine and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the United States Army’s conference and tradeshow and a looks at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Update on US and European markets and impact on defense and aerospace shares as worries grow that central banks will further increase borrowing rates and impending recession — Implications of OPEC Plus decision to cut production to drive up oil prices — Boeing update that 737 Max jetliner unlikely to be ready for certification until next spring, after the congressionally mandated certification deadline at the end of December — American Airlines pilots union urges Congress not to exempt the Max 7 and 10 from certification requirements, while pilots from the world’s largest 737 operator, Southwest Airlines, does — Eviation’s successful test flight of company’s all-electric Alice passenger aircraft and implications for regional air travel — Truss government’s about face on plan to cut taxes while increasing government spending as Institute for Fiscal Studies suggests that 200,000 UK government jobs may have to be cut over coming years to meet budget targets — Update on Conservative Party conference and outlook for UK defense spending as recession fears loom — L3Harris’ acquisition of ViaSat’s Link 16 business and divesture of services unit to CAE — Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim territory from Russian occupation including strike on Kerch bridge that connects Russia to occupied Crimea
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on legislation that could impact national security that Congress will have to address during lame duck session after November elections, including debt ceiling increase — Congressional reaction to decision by OPEC Plus nations to cut oil production to accelerate energy price increases, including punishing Saudi Arabia in particular — How Washington should respond given Riyadh’s brazen attempt to undermine President Biden and Democratic electoral prospects in upcoming elections — Europe and Asia’s response to the OPEC Plus move and whether it ultimately undermines the long-term interests of the cartel — Update on Ukraine’s advances are Washington declines to export ATACMS long-range missiles to Kyiv as Russian forces suffer setbacks despite mobilization drive — Washington and allies continuing robust support for Ukraine despite Russian threats and nuclear saber rattling — The nuanced interpretation of Biden’s “armageddon” remarks — North Korea’s long-range ballistic missile tests and the combined US-South Korean response — What’s next from Pyongyang including nuclear test expected as soon as this weekend — Russia and China’s shielding of North Korea in the United Nations — Beijing’s rhetoric as Chinese Communist Party prepares to clear life term for Xi Jinping — Biden administration’s new clamp down on China’s access to chip-making technology — Growing demonstrations in Iran and their implications for the longevity of the Islamic regime and outlook for a revived nuclear deal — Shifting from stopping Tehran’s nuclear program to deterring a nuclear Iran
Sponsored Content On this special edition of the Defense & Aerospace Report, Raytheon Missiles and Defense’s Abel Ghanooni, the Senior Director leading Short Range Air Defense and Rapid Development Programs discusses the company’s sensors and weapon systems to detect, engage and defend against Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) with Special Productions Producer John Schofield. This conversation is part of our Association of the United States Army coverage and was sponsored Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
In the first of a six-part series on command and control, sponsored Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Dr. David Pustai, the company’s senior vice president and chief technology officer, discusses technological advances that will enable the realization of the Pentagon’s top priority Joint All-Domain Command and Control program, the role of cognitive sciences in future battle networks, how automation will change decision making, trust and increasingly automated systems, how military culture and training have to change to take fullest advantage of enabling technological advances, how to interconnect existing and future systems into a resilient battle network, the role of the cloud and improving security and resilience in contested communications environments with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Juliette Wilcox, Britain’s Cyber Security Ambassador with Department for International Trade, discusses emerging global cyber threats, improving security, the products and skills in demand on global markets, training a new generation of cyber talent, why it’s vital to draw experienced professionals from beyond technical fields to the cyber field, and determining what to export — and what not — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s war on Ukraine including Kyiv’s gains as Moscow annexed four occupied Ukraine provinces, criticism of Vladimir Putin’s handling of the war including from the president’s close allies, and how Russia is using Iranian drones; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses implications of Russian use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, Moscow’s attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, seven questions he wants to answered at the Association of the United States Army’s conference and tradeshow next week, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Down week on Wall Street that included drop in defense and aerospace equities — Impact of Truss government’s announcement of tax cuts and higher government spending on the British pound and UK borrowing rates — Longevity of the Truss administration and outlook on UK defense spending — Beijing’s certification of Comac’s C919 regional jetliner as Boeing’s 737 Max faces certification challenges in America — Rostec’s claim it will buy 1,000 Russian jetliners by 2030 — What Taiwan’s China Airlines’ purchase of 787 jetliners means for the wide-body market — Transatlantic commitment to help Ukraine in its war against Russia and efforts to bolster depleting weapons stocks — What Russia’s sabotage of both Nordstream pipelines means as Moscow signals it can also target Western undersea infrastructure — Outlook for Boom’s drive to develop a new supersonic passenger aircraft in the wake of Rolls-Royce’s withdrawal from the program
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Congress on verge of passing continuing resolution as NDAA and appropriations remain stalled until Congress returns after November elections, and approval of additional Ukraine aid — Financial and economic impact of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian — Improving political fortunes for Republicans as hopes rise that GOP will take both House and Senate — Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and West’s response as more aid as well as new command to arm Kyiv — Moscow’s sabotage of Baltic Sea pipelines and how NATO must respond to Russia’s grey zone warfare, and lessons China is learning in the episode — Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s request for fast track NATO membership and Biden administration’s new sanctions on Moscow — Joint Chinese and Russian naval operations off Alaska as Beijing practices amphibious landings in the South China Sea — Aftermath of false speculation that China’s leader Xi Jinping was overthrown in military coup as he raises his public profile in advance of 20th Party Congress — Lessons for Beijing from Russia’s ongoing struggle — The political prospects for British Prime Minister Liz Truss in the wake of the new economic plan to cut taxes while increasing government investment that undermined confidence in the British economy, drove down the pound and drove a jump in borrowing rates across Europe — The future of the Iranian regime as demonstrations nationwide mount in the wake of the killing of a young woman by the country’s religious police — Why it’s important to dissuade Benjamin Netanyahu from annexing parts of the West Bank in advance of the former Israeli prime minister’s expected return to power
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tristan Crawford, the CEO of AERALIS, discusses the innovative British company’s approach to developing a family of modular manned and unmanned aircraft for strike, training, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions based on a common center fuselage that can except a range of power plants, wings, cockpits and mission modules to lower acquisition, sustainment an upgrade costs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative who also is a Wired Magazine contributor, discusses the new report by the think tank that he co-authored — “Security in the Billions: Toward a Multinational Strategy to Better Secure the IoT Ecosystem” — to craft a systemic global approach to improve the cyber security as internet-connected and enabled devices proliferate with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Other co-authors include Patrick Mitchell and Liv Rowley, with Nima Agah, Gabrielle Young, and Tianjiu Zuo.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dave Deptula, a retired US Air Force lieutenant general who is now the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace studies, discusses key takeaways from the Air and Space Forces Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow, Raanan Horowitz, the president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, discusses the strategic business environment, inflation, supply chains, the changing nature of competition as new firms enter the sector, as well as ways the industrial base can better help the Pentagon solve its big problems; Duane Hawkins, the president of the defense and space business at Spirit Aerosystems, discusses his strategy to grow the aerostructures giant’s defense and space business to diversify from its historic reliance on commercial aviation work with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific Security chair at the Hudson Institute, discusses erroneous social media speculation over the weekend that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was deposed in a coup and what can be learned from the episode; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security with an update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and whether Vladimir Putin’s manpower mobilization, annexation of Donbas and Luhansk and nuclear threats will change the conflict as well as countering Iranian drones now in Russian service; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with takeaways from last week’s Air Force Association conference, CSIS’ industrial base event, Wharton’s Palo Alto gathering, how the Russo-Ukrainian war may change defense demand and the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — US and European defense and aerospace equities as world markets react to rising interest and yield rates as signs of impending recession — Impact of rising dollar as pound and euro fall, and British government rolls out new budget that includes tax cuts — Takeaways from Airbus’ capital markets day as CEO Guillaume Faury discusses inflation, supply chains, jetliner production rates, market share versus Boeing, sustainable aviation, importance of defense and corporate governance — Move by Chinese air carrier Xiamen Airlines with an all-Boeing fleet to cancel order for 27 Boeing 737 Max jets in favor of 40 Airbus A320 aircraft — Securities and Exchange Commission fines Boeing $200 million and former CEO Dennis Muilenburg $1 million over statements in wake of two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 — Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Vladimir Putin mobilizes reserves and renews nuclear threats — Analysis of newsflow from the Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference including the Next-Generation Air Dominance program, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the B-21 bomber, the new partnership between L3Harris and Embraer on the KC-390 program — Outlook for the Russo-Ukrainian war as Moscow mobilizes reserves as winter approaches — Truss government launches defense review as British military performs flawlessly during funeral ceremonies for late Queen Elizabeth
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on National Defense Authorization Act and continuing resolution as lawmakers gear up for campaign season — Congressional support for additional Ukraine aid — Impact of former President Trump’s legal woes on support among Republican lawmakers and the party’s base — Vladimir Putin’s move to annex Donbas and Luhansk as well as renewed nuclear threat to deter further US and European support for Ukraine and half Kyiv’s efforts to regain its territory — Whether Putin’s gambit will prevent Western aid or Ukraine’s advance, or the call up of 300,000 reservists will change the course of the war given poor Russian leadership and morale — World leaders’ response to Putin at the United Nation’s annual General Assembly meeting — How Washington and its allies can deter Putin from using nuclear or unconventional weapons or respond should he do so — The failure to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, precipitating an expensive war, and how it should change the approach to deterring China from moving against Taiwan — President Biden’s latest unambiguous declaration that the United States will defend Taiwan if Beijing invades — Meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to address mounting Taiwan and other tensions on sidelines of UN General Assembly gathering — UN report on North Korean nuclear weapons and strategic missiles — The message the port visit of the USS Ronald Reagan to Busan sends to Pyongyang and Beijing — The outlook for the Iranian regime in the wake of mass demonstrations following the death of a 16-year-old girl who was killed by the government’s religious police for wearing her hijab too loosely — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Yerevan, becoming the highest ranking American official to visit Armenia since its independence, and subsequent cease fire after Azerbaijan’s latest attack on Armenia
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyber Solarium 2.0 commission, discusses the new report he co-authored with FDD’s Jiwon Ma —“2022 Report on Implementation” of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s recommendations — including legislations that’s passed, in process, remaining challenges and impediments, as well as an update on what leadership changes in the House and Senate will mean for cyber legislation; and Fortress’ Andrea Schaumann discusses cyber lessons from the revelation that Chinese alloys made it into a magnet in F-35 Lightning II fighters made by Lockheed Martin with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Greg Ulmer, the executive Vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics sector, discusses the future of combat aviation, the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, lessons the US Navy is learning from operating the F-35C Lightning II, how to ensure the Next-Generation Air Dominance aircraft, the keys to speed, integrating with allies and partners, F-35 production rates, coping with inflation and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Amir Adnani, the president and CEO of Uranium Energy Corporation, America’s leading nuclear fuels firm, discusses the need for the United States to end its reliance on Russian nuclear fuels and increase investment in a sovereign source for both energy for clean energy and national security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses who is also affiliated with the Center for a New American Security discusses the latest from Russo-Ukraian conflict, types of foreign weapons making their way on to the battlefield and the domestic political challenges Vladimir Putin faces in light of Russian setbacks; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners also analyses the war and consensus views of the conflict, inflation affect on DoD and defense contractors , what he hopes to hear and see at the AFA Sea, Air and Cyber Conference and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Performance of defense and aerospace equities during “brutal” week on Wall Street driven by recession fears after Federal Reserve suggests higher rates and FedEx posts 22 percent drop — UK and European efforts to control energy prices as EC President Ursula von der Leyen warns of tougher times ahead — Right-wing political successes in Italy and Sweden and whether they undermine EU cohesion — Ukraine makes more battlefield gains against Russian forces as Vladimir Putin rebuked by Xi Jinping who makes clear the limits on the partnership between the countries and Narendra Modi calls for peace — US-China decoupling accelerate as Beijing sanctions Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes and Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security — Statement by Hayes that Boeing’s narrow-body airliner market share is likely to drop to 40 percent by 2025 — Look head to Airbus Capital Markets day next week — The US Air Force’s Adaptive Engine Technology Program and whether the F-35 Lightning II fighter will get a new power plane to improve range and performance — What to expect at the Air Force Association’s 2022 Air Space Cyber conference and trade show that celebrates the 75th anniversary of the US Air Force
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — How Washington and Brussels should support Kyiv as Ukraine’s offensive regains thousands of square miles of territory from Russian forces that appear to have fled in disarray — Ways Russia may respond to Ukrainian battlefield successes — Reports of atrocities committed by Russians after areas like Izium were liberated by Ukrainian forces and how revelations will shape — Implications of Xi Jinping’s message to Vladimir Putin in Samarkand that the “limitless” partnership between China and Russia has clear limits — Whether China sees opportunity in rebuilding Ukraine in the wake of devastating war that’s left the country in ruins — Powerful address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the EU’s success and the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s victory and Russia’s defeat, and whether EU will remain united as right-wing parties gain power across Europe including Sweden and Italy — The appetite in the US Congress for continued support for Ukraine — Pressure that Washington may have to exert on Gulf states that have offered Russians haven from sanctions and move closer to China — Update on National Defense Authorization Act, appropriations and continuing resolution to fund government — Outlook for November elections as Trump-backed candidates continue to win Republican primaries and how Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., proposed national legislation to ban abortions at 15 weeks will impact House and Senate races — Whether Donald Trump will face any penalties for taking and failing to return highly classified documents — Roundup of major developments across Asia as the United Nations General Assembly prepares to convene
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies previews the upcoming Air Force Association Air Space and Cyber Conference.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Betsy Soehren-Jones, Fortress’s chief operating officer, discusses the Biden administration’s new cyber standards, using bills of origin and materials to identify and correct software and hardware vulnerabilities, and the importance of attracting a new generation of more diverse talent; and JC Vega, a retired US Army colonel who co-founded the Army Cyber Institute, discusses how deliver the diversity that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency seeks in its future workforce, how efforts to date have failed to deliver diversity, and what has to change to broaden access to desperately needed talent to improve the nation’s security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Tom Mahnken, the president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discusses how to prepare for a security environment where China, Russia, Iran and North Korea work together against the rules based order, lessons China is drawing from Russia’s war on Ukraine and the international diplomatic-information-military-economic response to Moscow’s aggression, his think tank’s new China Strategic Choices tool and how it can shape better US and allied decision-making, lessons from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces agreement that are relevant today, the importance of a munitions strategy and properly resourcing weapons, the Biden administration’s new approach to Joint All Domain Command and Control, and the Taiwan Policy Act with Defense & aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses who is also affiliated with the Center for a New American Security discusses Ukraine’s counteroffensive that’s clawed back thousands of square kilometers from Russian forces, how Moscow is likely to retaliate, Ukrainian and Russian capabilities, and how the setbacks are impacting Vladimir Putin’s popularity; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners also analyses the war and consensus views of the conflict, next possible steps by Russia, why analysts are so wrong about the nature of threats going back to 9/11, whether a defeat in Ukraine changes European perceptions of Russia as a threat, Polish and German defense investment plans, the bullish case for US defense and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance as Wall Street has its first winning week in a month — European markets as pound and euro drop to new lows against the dollar as European Central Bank works common approach to fighting inflation and warns energy firms it might not be able to help with liquidity — Global economic outlook as European struggles with energy and inflation, change in government in Rome sparks worries, Russia’s war on Ukraine continues and China’s covid lockdown spreads — Ukraine’s counteroffensive gains ground from Russia as Washington pledges another $3 billion in arms for Kyiv and Eastern European NATO members — What’s next from Russia as North Korea supplies millions of rockets and may deploy troops to help Moscow in Ukraine — Whether a Russian military collapse would change rising defense spending levels — Poland’s order of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing that would be Europe’s largest operator of the two-seat aircraft — What next now that the Defense Contract Management Agency has halted delivery of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter after finding a banned Chinese alloy was included in a magnet made by a Honeywell subcontractor in all of the more than 800 jets already delivered — What to expect from Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss and her cabinet in which Ben Wallace remains defence secretary — Legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and her lifetime of exemplary service from World War II to seven decades on the throne and what to expect from King Charles and his extraordinary contacts among global leaders in government, industry and academia
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics:
— Washington pledges another $3 billion in aide to Ukraine as Kyiv regains grounds from Russian forces — North Korea’s move to replenish Russia’s depleted munitions stocks with millions of rockets as well as troop — Russia’s move to cut gas supplies to Europe, demanding sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded Ukraine to be dropped as European nations move to impose price, profit and energy-use caps — The White House view of the Taiwan Policy Act as the Senate prepares to markup the measure to deepen and formalize cooperation between Washington and Taipei — The future of the special relationship as Liz Truss becomes Britain’s new prime minister — The implications of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who passed away at age 96 yesterday after seven decades of exemplary service to the nation and ascension of King Charles III — The global implications of the nature of classified materials found at former President Trump’s Florida residence
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Chip Gregson, USMC Ret., a former assistant secretary of defense for Asia Pacific Security affairs who is affiliated with the Center for the National Interest and advises the Global Taiwan Institute, and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USM Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and director of the bipartisan Cyber Solarium 2.0 Commission, discuss the Taiwan Policy Act under consideration by Congress with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies who also the director of the bipartisan Cyber Solarium 2.0, discusses when Russia is likely to wage a cyber counteroffensive against the United States and its allies, how government and industry should prepare, how the Biden administration should address the cyber workforce shortfall across the US government, update on cyber elements of the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act, and why the Navy’s officer and enlisted cyber communities needs to be designated as warfighters; and Ardalyst’s President Michael Speca discusses the importance of the joint connector software his company developed in partnership with Mandiant for Microsoft’s Sentinel, security threats, an update on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Mike Brown, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit, in his final interview before stepping down from his post, discusses the nature of technological competition with adversaries like China and Russia, the imperative for speed and innovation, lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, how to help the Pentagon be a rapid adopter of ever faster moving commercial technology, the keys to speed as well as the impediments, talent management and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — The week in world markets as investors grapple with end of bear market rally as fears that US hiring is slowing and concerns over European inflation and soaring energy prices — Russia’s move to stop gas exports to Europe until sanctions are lifted and whether demonstrations against rising gas and food prices in Czech Republic could spread — European defense program impact as governments scramble to offset rising energy costs — Impact of inflation and weak euro on European industry — Inflation impact on commercial air travel — US defense contractors call on Pentagon to cover higher materials, services and labor costs — Departure of Airbus CFO Dominik Asam — Tory party picks Liz Truss to succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister sparking worries in Washington, Brussels, Paris and elsewhere — US Air Force and Israel order KC-46 tanker aircraft from Boeing — Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Whether Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola victory over former Gov. Sarah Palin, who was widely expected to fill the state’s open congressional seat, suggests that Democrats might retain the House in November — Ukraine launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia as Moscow cuts off gas to Europe and international inspectors finally arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Danish referendum clears way for Copenhagen to join EU defense structure — What’s next as China increases intrusions into Taiwanese airspace that prompted Taipei to shoot down a Chinese drone last week — Japan’s defense cooperation agreement with Israel — Days after the US Air Force struck Iranian-backed militia in Syria accused of attacking Americans, Iran attempted to hijack an unmanned Saildrone Explorer surface vessel operated by the US Navy in the Arabian Gulf — Latest on negotiations to revive Iran nuclear deal — Legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev who crafted strategy of perestroika and glasnost — of restructuring and openness — that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and inadvertently the rise of Vladimir Putin who lamented the end of the Soviet empire as one of the 20th century’s greatest tragedies
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council and a Wired Magazine contributor, discusses Russian efforts to sow disinformation in the West, how to counter it, why it’s an important issue for the cyber community, the recent Atlantic Council report he coauthored — “Hackers, Hoodies, and Helmets: Technology and the Changing Face of Russian Private Military Contractors” — how such groups are expanding their capabilities beyond the battlefield to political and cyber warfare including offensive cyber operations, how to consider their role as combatants under the laws of war, and the latest revelations from a Twitter whistleblower with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Wes Naylor, a retired US Navy captain who is now the CEO of Helicon, who is developing drop-in-ready, upgraded propellant binder that will improve the performance of missiles, rockets, aerospace propulsion systems and munitions for government and commercial customers.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses many elements of Russia’s stalemated war on Ukraine and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Down broader market and performance of aerospace and defense group as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks in Jackson Hole collide with Wall Street’s perceptions on battle against inflation — Further decoupling between China and rest of the world on commercial aviation as well as industrials — Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and failure of European governments to more clearly explain that rising energy prices are Vladimir Putin’s fault — Whether rising energy prices will force European governments to dial back support for Ukraine as Moscow continues to use energy as a weapon — Impact on commercial and business aviation as Europe pushes for more environmental sustainability in the wake of record heat wave — Australia’s acquisition of 60 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and delivery of Boeing-Leonardo MH-139 Grey Wolf aircraft to the US Air Force — Lessons from NH-90 and Tiger programs for Airbus Helicopters — Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall expresses interest interest in Australia’s Ghost Bat aircraft for USAF’s Next-Generation Air Dominance program — Keel laying of the ninth Enterprise for the US Navy at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding and outlook for multi-year contract for two more Ford-class aircraft carriers — Impending launch of NASA’s Artemis mission on 42-day unmanned journey that returns America to the moon
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — With five legislative weeks left in this Congress and members leaving Washington to hit the campaign trail, an update on prospects for a continuing resolution, National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations — Primary outcomes including in New York’s 19th district and what they mean for upcoming elections — Whether President Biden’s college debt relief package will help his party’s prospects and how it could impact defense spending — What’s next in Russia’s war against Ukraine as Vladimir Putin authorizes another 137,000 troops for the Army in the wake of ultranationalist propagandist Darya Dugin’s reported killing — Implications of two power interruptions forcing Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia to resort to backup power — How Washington and its allies have to better plan and prepare for Russia’s brand of nefarious warfare that includes brutality and targeting nuclear plants, and other actions considered out of bounds by Western powers — Whether the $4 billion in new US arms assistance to Ukraine changes the game — Roundup of Asia news, including China’s continues provocations in the wake of additional visits to Taipei by international lawmakers in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan — Rising concerns over South Korea’s reliability as an ally as Seoul refrains from criticizing China in the wake of Beijing’s intimidation of Taiwan and move to acquire more than $2 billion in Russian components for nuclear project in Egypt — Importance of focusing on North Korea as attention focuses on China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan — Latest Turkish-Israeli rapprochement as hopes rise that new India-Israel-UAE-US “quad” will become a positive force for regional stability, and prospect for a new Iran nuclear deal
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the executive director of the Center for Government Contracting in the School of Business at George Mason University, and Dr. Bill Greenwalt of the American Enterprise Institute, discuss how to accelerate production of weapons needed to deter China and Russia, how to work more closely with allies and partners, better identify supply chain bottlenecks at home and aboard for faster component and system substitution, and how the Pentagon can do better including more effectively harness the Defense Innovation Unit with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, our guests are Michael Robbins, executive vice president, government & public affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Tobias Whitney, vice president of strategy and policy for Fortress Information Security discuss their effort to establish an industry-wide cybersecurity model and a suite of voluntary standards to address cyber risks specific to uncrewed systems and robotics.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Leigh Madden, the CEO of Epirus, an innovative power management company founded in 2018 — named for the magical bow with infinite arrows wielded by the Greek hero Theseus — to develop high-power microwave systems to counter drones and cruise missiles, discusses the firm’s innovative approach, the growing threat, lessons from the Russia’s war on Ukraine, growing a small business in the Pentagon’s defense innovation ecosystem, competing against established primes and the difference between leading a new small firm and the national security arm of industry titan Microsoft with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from this year's Primer 2.2, Russia’s war on Ukraine and a look at the week ahead and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s Army 2022 conference and tradeshow as well as the latest from the Russo-Ukraine conflict.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance as bull market ends and investors ponder inflation and reception outlook as eyes turn to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments next Friday in at Jackson Hole symposium — European outlook as level of the Rhine River rises to permit greater traffic as record heat wave expected to take wider agricultural and economic toll across Europe — Commercial air travel future as cancellations, hassles and remote work gain in popularity — UK leadership contest as Liz Truss appears poised to beat Rishi Sunak to become Britain’s 78th prime minister — Implications of suborning the independence of the Bank of England to No. 10’s authority — Turkey’s order for second S-400 surface-to-air missile battery from Russia and implications of the deal on filling Ankara’s need for new combat aircraft American Airlines order for 20 Overture supersonic jets from Boom — Future of supersonic commercial travel as inflight connectivity improves and climate worries mount
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — Role of past Republican leaders including former Vice President Dick Cheney in the political culture that claimed his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., who lost her primary race to Harriet Hageman — Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and potential triggers that could change the course of the conflict, including whether battlefield defeat for Russia is the only way to topple Vladimir Putin — How Ukraine war has already spread globally, including potential North Korean role in the conflict indirectly through arms supplies and directly through troop deployment — Impact of Wagner Group mercenaries and whether they can tip the battlefield balance — China’s new stance in the wake of its wargames around Taiwan to protest visits by leading American lawmakers to Taipei — Outlook for the relationship as Beijing hardens its stance and Washington looks to expand support for Taiwan — Prospects for the Taiwan Policy Act and anticipating Beijing’s reaction — China’s encouragement of North Korea’s role on Russia’s behalf in Ukraine conflict — Political upheaval for LDP leaders in wake of assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after revelations of links between party and the Unification Church — Roundup of Middle East news flow including Iran nuclear talksOn this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics:
— Role of past Republican leaders including former Vice President Dick Cheney in the political culture that claimed his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., who lost her primary race to Harriet Hageman — Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and potential triggers that could change the course of the conflict, including whether battlefield defeat for Russia is the only way to topple Vladimir Putin — How Ukraine war has already spread globally, including potential North Korean role in the conflict indirectly through arms supplies and directly through troop deployment — Impact of Wagner Group mercenaries and whether they can tip the battlefield balance — China’s new stance in the wake of its wargames around Taiwan to protest visits by leading American lawmakers to Taipei — Outlook for the relationship as Beijing hardens its stance and Washington looks to expand support for Taiwan — Prospects for the Taiwan Policy Act and anticipating Beijing’s reaction — China’s encouragement of North Korea’s role on Russia’s behalf in Ukraine conflict — Political upheaval for LDP leaders in wake of assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after revelations of links between party and the Unification Church — Roundup of Middle East news flow including Iran nuclear talks
Dr. Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at the RAND Corporation who served as the senior analyst for the US Pacific Command’s China Strategic Focus Group, discusses the new report — co-authored with Kristen Gunness and Tristan Finazzo — “The Return of Great Power War:Scenarios of Systemic Conflict Between the United States and China,” what would drive Beijing to change its global posture, how best to deter China from miscalculating, the stability of the regime, and how Washington should shore up its global alliances and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment. The strategy series is not affiliated with the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, our guests Andrea Schaumann, the director of federal programs and partnerships at Fortress and Joshua Steinman, co-founder of Galvanick and former deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for cyber security, discuss growing the cyber workforce, highlights from this year's Black Hat and Defcon cyber conferences and best practices for keeping the United States ahead of adversaries and competitors.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Jerry Hendrix, PhD, President of Hendrix and Associates LLC and Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute on his recent National Review article "The Navy’s Littoral Hubris," how the service bet its future on a mistaken assumption. During our conversation we discussed the troubled Littoral Combat Ship program, Navy force structure and why culture may be the root cause of many of the Navy's recent operational and programatic stumbles.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s Army 2022 conference and tradeshow as Moscow continues its war on Ukraine, what’s next in the conflict, an assessment of the impact of Kyiv’s strikes on Russian-occupied Crimea; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways a year after America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the threat of terrorism from foreign and domestic extremism, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Wall Street rebounds as Consumer Price Index drops on falling oil prices and core inflation rate dips to 3.8 percent — Market still sees US recession after two quarters of negative growth — Commercial aircraft travel outlook as traffic appears to peak — Outlook for further decoupling with China in the wake of CHIPS Plus legislation accelerating US technology, workforce and industrial investment — Europe and decoupling with China in wake of Beijing’s alliance with Russia — Economic impact of Europe’s energy and water problems — Airbus and Boeing delivery figures — Boeing resumed 787 deliveries to American Airlines after 14-month delay — Ukraine war update as Kyiv employs superior Western weaponry — Update on US earnings and QinetiQ’s acquisition of Avantus — USAF comments whether powerplants produced through the Adaptive Engine Technology Program will be the adaptive cycle jet engines that will power the service’s future combat aircraft
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson of American Defense International, Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson, USMC Ret., former assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs who is also a distinguished senior fellow with Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
Topics: — House passage of Inflation Reduction Act and implications on midterm elections — Defense authorization and appropriations update — Why Congress should approve Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s request for $500 million to fund “critical munitions” for Ukraine — Primaries and former President Trump’s hold on Republican Party — Whether Biden administration’s increased military assistance to Ukraine is enough to help Kyiv prevail — Ukraine’s strikes in Russian-occupied Crimea as Moscow turns Europe’s largest nuclear power plant into a base to attack Ukrainian targets — China’s continued intimidation of Taiwan and whether Beijing has shifted its strategy to forcibly uniting with the island democracy — Wider political and civil-military implications of FBI raid Trump’s Florida home to secure nuclear-related documents — Analysis of the unprecedented challenges faced by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley during his tenure as Trump’s senior military adviser — Iran nuclear talks progress to uncertain outcome — Biden signs legislation to treat active duty and veterans suffering from burn pit-related health problems
Col. Mark Cancian, USMC Ret., a senior advisor with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses how to structure productive wargames, their value, the importance of playing games repeatedly, the takeaways from his ongoing series of games focused on a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that could improve US strategy and capabilities acquisition, capabilities needed against China and Russia, examples of good and bad strategy and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment. The strategy series is not affiliated with the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Ezra Cohen, an adjunct senior fellow at the Hudson Institute who served as the acting under secretary of defense for intelligence during the Trump administration, discusses authorities needed to improve national cyber defenses, the logic of separating the National Security Agency and the US Cyber Command, cyber lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine and Chinese operations, role of US government in information warfare, and speeding security clearances with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, discusses takeaways from the recent Farnborough International Airshow, the outlook for US defense spending, implications of the CHIPS plus legislation and the climate-healthcare-tax package that cleared the Senate over the weekend and faces House passage, how to address inflation, supply chain and workforce challenges, improving the relationship between government and industry, and the evolving antitrust approach of the Biden administration as officials revisit Northrop Grumman‘s acquisition of OrbitalATK with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses China’s effort to intimidate Taiwan with military exercises around the island nation, analyses the defense and aerospace implications of the new climate-healthcare-tax deal as well as the Chips Plus legislation, and deeper analysis of trends in recent second quarter earnings, and looks at the week ahead; and Kevin Seymour, the CEO of ASTRAIUS, discusses how the UK-US based small and medium satellite launch company can revolutionize the market for truly operationally responsive space using military and civilian transport aircraft with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market update and defense and aerospace performance as positive jobs numbers drive inflation concerns — Low cost as the driver of JetBlue Airways’ $3.7 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines and the US Special Operations Command’s decision to pick the Sky Warden by L3Harris and Air Tractor for the Armed Overwatch Program — A look at earnings takeaways as Air Lease, Bombardier, Embraer, Hensoldt, HII, Leidos, Mercury Systems, Parsons, Rheinmetall, Rolls-Royce, Spirit Aerosystems, Teledyne, and Triumph Group report second quarter and first half 2022 results — Airbus cancels Qatar Airways A350 order in the wake of the suppliers’ cancellation of the Gulf carrier’s A321 purchase in a dispute over the quality of the European company’s aircraft — Insights from Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s meeting with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and CFO Dominic Asam
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Dr. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Topics:
— Update on National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations deliberations that are expected to yield a $60 billion increase over the Biden administration’s 2023 Pentagon budget request — President Biden’s successful weeks that include CHIPS Plus passage and PACT Act votes, plus the reconciliation deal that will secure Senate passage of his signature climate, healthcare and tax package — Whether dropping gas prices, legislative wins and opposition to abortion bans change political prospects for mid-term elections in November for GOP to retake House and Democrats to retain Senate — Whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s historic visit to Taipei was an unnecessary provocation or merely an opportunity for China to manufacture outrage to stage live-fire aimed at intimidating Taiwan and the region — What’s next in Russia’s war on Ukraine as Washington increases sanctions and promises more amid as Kyiv prepares an new offensive — Will Washington send Moscow the wrong signal by trading arms dealer Victor Bout and KGB murderer Vadin Krasikov for hostages like Brittany Griner and Paul Whelan — Message in 95-1 Senate approval for Finland and Sweden to join NATO — Biden’s precision strike that killed Al Qaida leader and 9/11 Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul and whether the move validates the administration’s over the horizon strategy to hold terrorists at risk, a year after America’s shambolic withdrawal from Afghanistan — Deputy Defense Secretary Kath Hicks’ decision to tap the US Air Force for the homeland cruise missile and unmanned aircraft defense mission and funding a mission that is equally important in the Pacific as in Europe
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tom Siebel, the chairman and CEO of C3.ai, discusses the Pentagon’s approach to harnessing artificial intelligence for military applications, the importance of leveraging commercial technology for rapid adoption, AI as a service, and how the company plans to grow its DoD business through investment in technology and people like former Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten, USAF Ret., with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, Daniel Silverberg, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and the managing director of the corporate practice at the Capstone consultancy discusses cybersecurity threats and information sharing following the July 28 CNAS hosted virtual discussion with Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology at the National Security Council.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the status of Russia’s war on Ukraine, what’s next in the conflict, how new weapons are changing Kyiv’s capabilities and how Moscow is responding, and ways that China could help Russia in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei; and Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo on the company’s Raider and Defiant aircraft competing for the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift competitions, supply chains and inflation, and delivering programs faster with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses DoD’s budget increase, Russia’s stalemated war on Ukraine, Poland’s decision to buy South Korean weapons and new entrants into the defense market, takeaways from recent defense and aerospace earnings disclosures, share buybacks and corporate investment, the Biden administrations move to revisit Northrop Grumman’s acquisition of Orbital ATK, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Wall Street posts a strong week as Washington debates whether America is in recession and markets brace for higher inflation — Performance of aerospace and defense shares on markets as companies report second quarter and first half 2022 earnings — Potential travel impact of World Health Organization’s decision to label monkeypox as a public health emergency — Expectations and reality regarding defense spending as Poland sends Germany a message in major arms order from South Korea — How supply chain challenges might give South Korean suppliers a tail wind — Supply chain, inflation and workforce emerge as common themes as Airbus, Albany, Babcock, BAE Systems, Boeing, Crane, Garmin, General Dynamics, HEICO, Hexcel, L3Harris, Leonardo, MTU, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Rheinmetall, Safran, Teledyne, and Textron report — Analysis of Airbus and Boeing results as giants grapple with supply chain challenges with implications across the commercial aviation ecosystem
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, in segment one on our guest is Gareth Rogers, CEO of Farnborough International; in segment two we talk to our round table “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market and Farnborough International Airshow impact on defense and aerospace stocks — Lockheed Martin, Saab and Thales earnings takeaways — Analysis of major Farnborough headlines including commercial aircraft orders, defense spending and announcements, sustainability and supply chains — Japan joins UK-Sweden-Italy Tempest next-generation combat aircraft program — Whether industrial partners on French-German-Spanish SCAF future fighter program will reach agreement by year’s end and absent agreement Airbus might turn toward Team Tempest — Czech decision to acquire F-35 Lightning II — Cost of replacing Russian and Chinese firms from supply chains as well as energy impact — Federal Trade Commission decision to open investigation into Northrop Grumman’s 2018 acquisition of Orbital ATK — Look ahead to Boeing, General Dynamics, Hexcel, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies earnings
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on Senate version of National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations process — CHIPS-USICA, Reconciliation and Build Back Better sagas — Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington and congressional support for Kyiv — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement that Moscow’s plan is to seize more Ukrainian territory than Donbas and Luhansk — EU moves to curb demand for Russian energy as Moscow restarts gas flows to Europe to demonstrate Vladimir Putin’s leverage and divide the alliance — Whether this is President Biden’s “Berlin Airlift” moment to quickly ship oil and gas to Europe to counter Russia’s weaponization of energy supplies — China’s alliance with Russia and the new weapons Beijing is preparing to field — Chinese reaction to reports at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is planning to visit Taiwan — Sri Lanka’s instability and implications for the region — Tehran meeting of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Turkey’s Recip Tayip Erdogan and Putin — Assessment of Biden’s Saudi Arabia visit
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tom Jones, the president of Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems sector, discusses accelerating acquisition, how the B-21 bomber program is moving fast, what it will take to ensure the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance effort is a success, USAF Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown’s Integrated by Design concept, and mitigating supply chains and inflation impacts; and Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch with his key takeaways from this week’s Farnborough International Airshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Mike Schoellhorn, the chief executive officer of Airbus Defence & Space, discusses the change in security environment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, grappling with supply chain challenges, substituting Russian and Chinese suppliers, the France-German-Spanish SCAF combat aircraft program, and growing in the US market; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from the first three days of the Farnborough International Airshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Ted Colbert, the president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, discusses lessons from the company’s challenges, culture change, improving integration with allies and partners, moving faster and the future of military aviation; and Richard Aboulafia of the Aerodynamic Advisory consultancy on key headlines from Day Two of the Farnborough International Airshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discusses lessons from Russia’s Ukraine war, improving alliance interoperability, addressing fast-moving needs, nuclear modernization and the Next Generation Air Dominance program; and Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners discusses the British government’s announcement that Japan would be joining the UK-Sweden-Italy Tempest future combat aircraft program with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, in segment one on our guest is Gareth Rogers, CEO of Farnborough International; in segment two we talk to our round table “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Countdown to the start of the Farnborough International Airshow — US and European defense and aerospace market performance — Commercial air travel update as domestic and international flights delayed by range of factors — Look ahead to key issues and themes worth tracking at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on authorization and appropriations, reconciliation, BBB and USICA — Latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine as Moscow grinds ahead while using energy and food as weapons to divide the Western alliance — The need to accelerate weapons shipments to Ukraine while also helping speed training — China’s increasing propaganda campaign to undermine US leadership in Asia against Beijing — Japan’s security agenda in the wake of LDP victory and the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — President Biden’s warm welcome to Israel and pledge with Prime Minister Yair Lapid to prevent a nuclear Iran — What Biden can achieve in Saudi Arabia — Concerns among America’s allies on slow pace of arms exports
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Randy Schriver, a former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs who’s now the chairman of the Project 2049 Institute discuss major issues with China and across Indo-Pacom during the first half of 2022 that will shape the rest of the year and beyond with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a Cyberspace Solarium Commission senior advisor, review key cyber events in 2022 and what to expect through the end of the year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Cavas and Chris Servello, the co-hosts of the CavasShips podcast discuss major Navy issues in the first half of 2022 that will shape the rest of the year and beyond with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses major issues in the first half of 2022 that will shape the rest of the year and beyond, and a look ahead at the week with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, in segment one on our guest is David Tweedie, the general manager for advanced combat engines at GE Edison Works dedicated to the research, development and production of advanced technology military power plants; in segment two our guest is Joe Muir, the aerospace commercial director at Farnborough International; in segment three we talk to our round table “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Update on GE’s XA100 adaptive cycle jet engine for future programs as well as an alternative power plant for the F-35 Lightning II — Look ahead to the Aerospace Global Forum at the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow — Analysis of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation and who will replace him as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace withdraws from race — Analysis of Boeing CEO David Calhoun’s comments regarding possible termination of 737 Max 10 jetliner — Broader market drivers for the week and defense and aerospace stock performance — Airbus six-month delivery figures — Move by Russian commercial aircraft lessors to return their Western aircraft
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — Legacy of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the wake of his assassination during a campaign rally outside Osaka — Beijing’s statement that unification with Taiwan a matter of Chinese rejeuvenation — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation, his legacy and who might succeed him at No. 10 — Joint MI5-FBI statement on China, and Director of National Intelligence’s warning on Beijing’s efforts to influence US state and local governments — Turkey’s decision to allow a Russian ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain to leave a Turkish port — Update on President Biden’s trip to the Middle East and status of Iran nuclear talks
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and a visiting fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses Russia’s grinding advance into Ukrainian territory, how Western weapons are helping Kyiv, Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on Russians, and an update on Moscow’s tactics and new weapons; and Dr. Alex Walmsley of the Royal United Services Institute among many other affiliations on the resignation of Boris Johnson as Britain’s prime minister, likely successors and the budget outlook for UK military modernization with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Robert Salvia, Fortress’ vice president for professional services, discusses WatchGuard’s first quarter threat report on ransomware, how threat awareness is improving and the balance between good guys and bad ones; and Philip Niedermair and David Moon of the National Cyber Group discuss how the company is working to fill a growing workforce gap that needs to be bridged for the nation’s security and economic prosperity, and the need for better through life cyber literacy and education with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Cdr. Bryan Clark, USN Ret., the director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defence Concepts and Technology, discusses the report he co-authored with his colleague Dan Patt — “Building a Team for Next Generation Air Dominance” — what’s needed to achieve the necessary teaming across manned and unmanned platforms as well as between the Air Force and Navy as well as with allies, the need for subsystems commonality across platforms, and an update on Japanese-American military cooperation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group; in segment two our roundtable with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— US and European markets roundup including defense and aerospace sector stock performance — Takeaways from NATO’s summit meeting and whether readiness goals are realistic much less achievable — US move to allow Turkey to acquire more F-16 fighters and Sweden’s decision to buy as many as four Saab GlobalEye airborne warning and control aircraft — Air travel outlook as carriers struggle to meet surging post-pandemic demand — Chinese orders for some 200 Airbus A321neo aircraft as Boeing urges the US government to soften stance on China so Beijing orders more American jets — Update commercial space launch market as Virgin Orbit places seven DoD satellites into orbit
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Heather A. Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Key takeaways from consequential NATO summit that included a new strategy, new US headquarters in Poland, growing rapid reaction force to 300,000, and technology investment — Analysis of alliance’s new strategic concept and Turkey’s decision, for now, to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO in exchange for tougher stance on terrorism — Whether alliance has staying power in the face of Russian efforts to undermine cohesion using energy, food and propaganda as weapons — Beijing’s view of NATO summit and G7 pressure on Russia — Xi Jinping’s trip to Hong Kong on 25th anniversary of city’s turnover from British to Chinese rule — Update on impending Israeli election and Iran nuclear talks — Challenges recent Supreme Court verdicts on guns, abortion, religion and government’s regulatory limits have on the Pentagon and military members — Global perceptions of high court’s rulings
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Hondo Geurts, a former US Air Force colonel who served as both Special Operations Forces acquisition chief as well as the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, discusses the article he co-wrote with Gen. Joe Votel, USA Ret., the president at Business Executives for National Security — “Forging the Industrial Network the Nation Needs” that ran on The National Interest website — why DoD needs a guiding vision for its industrial base and why a networked approach is critical, how to drive change, overcoming bureaucratic and cultural barriers, lessons learned from failed major programs like Littoral Combat Ship and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies who is also a senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses cyber-related appropriations as well as House and Senate budget markups with a roundup of key service-specific moves; and Heather Penney, a senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses why it’s so important to get operators and technical personal on the same page when it comes to cyber and artificial intelligence with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Northrop Grumman also support our cyber coverage overall.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, Trae' Stephens, the co-founder and executive chairman of Anduril Industries who is also a partner at the Founders Fund, discusses what’s different about Anduril, lessons from new entrants into the Pentagon market, how the defense acquisition model has to change to favor rapid-cycle innovation, the keys to moving faster, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the G7 and upcoming NATO meetings, lessons update from the Russo-Ukrainian war, analysis of comments by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., on weapons development and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on the Next Generation Air Dominance program, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS Group; in segment two our roundtable with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look ahead to major themes at the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow as well as the new Aerospace Growth Forum — Inflation and supply chain impact on UK aerospace and defense sector — Defense and aerospace stock performance as market regains composure as Federal Reserve hints at more rate increases to combat inflation — Program implications of markup as lawmakers appear to achieve consensus on defense plus up of about $40 billion — Takeaways from the ILA Berlin Air Show including Spain’s decision to acquire more Eurofighter Typhoon jets and the impact of the move on the Eurofighter program — Emirates call for more big jets — Analysis of Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s statement that the service’s Next Generation Air Dominance program is in the engineering and manufacturing development phase even though the competition for the effort to develop a new teamed manned and unmanned platforms — Boeing decision to add former Collins Aerospace President and CEO Dave Gitlin to its board and whether the move foreshadows larger role for the widely well-respected executive
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.
Topics:
— US defense spending outlook as House Armed Services Committee finishes it’s markup of the Biden administration’s 2022 military spending request — Update on BBB, covid, USICA-Competes and other key legislation — Impact of recent primaries on national security and how recent Supreme Court decisions on abortion, guns and religion will shape November elections — EU move to grant candidacy to Ukraine and Moldova — Russia’s energy threats and Lithuania’s move to block EU sanctions trade via Russia’s rail link with Kaliningrad — Need for NATO and EU to prepare for Moscow’s military threat should Kaliningrad link remain impaired — Overcoming Turkey’s continuing opposition to Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO — Link between the Korean War and international support for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression — Whether the Biden administration’s tamping down on China rhetoric in a bid to improve dialogue with Beijing will pay dividends — What’s next in Israel after Bennett government collapses and Bibi Netanyahu works to return to power — How Biden could broker a golf pact between PGA and Saudi-backed LIV league to garner Riyadh’s support for higher oil production — Impact of Supreme Court decisions and Jan. 6 revelations on global perceptions of the United States as a model constitutional democracy
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Andrea Schaumann, the director of federal programs and partnerships at Fortress, discusses public-private cyber security partnership language in the proposed National Defense Authorization Act, what successful government-industry cooperation looks like, challenges, and improving defenses in the face of sustained cyber operations by Russia and other nations; and Emma Schroeder, the assistant director of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, on improving EU-US cyber cooperation, Microsoft’s new report that 30 percent of Moscow’s recent cyber operations targeting America and Europe have been successful, and efforts by Brussels and Washington to curb online dis- and misinformation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Mark Stokes, cofounder and CEO of Magdrive — one of the 10 startups selected by Amazon Web Services for the 2022 AWS Space Accelerator — discusses the British company’s innovative satellite control technology, how the accelerator will help it grow, the importance of new control technologies to enable longer-satellite lifespan as well as long-endurance space travel and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, John Whitley, the former acting US Army secretary, discusses learning from Formula 1 racing’s extraordinarily rapid technology development and fielding cycles to accelerate defense innovation, importance of cultural and organizational change to deliver speed and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance and markets react to decision by Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by .75 percent to check inflation and minimize a recession — Market’s view of growing consensus that Congress will boost Biden administration’s defense budget request by about $50 billion — Causes of widespread delays and rampant flight cancellations across the US air traffic system — Boeing’s bullish stance on widebody jetliner outlook and first flight of Airbus’ A321xlr — Analysis of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith’s comments on Pentagon weapons development and skepticism about US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance effort — Netherland’s decision to buyt Embraer’s KC-390 tanker transport aircraft to replace its aging Lockheed Martin C-130s — Takeaways from the Eurosatory land warfare exhibition last week in Paris — Update on the AUKUS partnership’s effort to furnish Australia with a nuclear attack submarine
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Roundup of US congressional news including update on defense markup, growing consensus on Pentagon budget plus-up, USICA-Competes, covid, BBB, primary outcomes and Jan. 6 commission revelations — EU move to start accession process for Ukraine as leaders ease off pressing Kyiv for diplomatic solution that saves face for Vladimir Putin — Putin’s countermove to cut European gas supplies to pressure governments to back off support for Ukraine and Russia sanctions — Political impact of Russia’s gas cut off on Germany, Italy and other nations highly dependent on Russian energy — Increasing military support for Ukraine as Kyiv fights for survival in Donbas — Need for long-term support especially through next winter — Look ahead to upcoming NATO summit and importance of Australian and Japanese participation in the gathering — Readout on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s world-girdling trip starting in Asia and finishing in Brussels — Takeaways from IISS’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue as both America and China deliver tough messages — Biden administration’s drive to balance resolve against China’s increasing assertiveness without alienating partners that want to avoid choosing between Beijing and Washington
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Ian Easton, the senior director at Project 2049 Institute to fully normalize relations between the United States and Taiwan, discusses his new book, — “The Final Struggle: Inside China’s Global Strategy” — Beijing’s strategy of global domination through its economic, diplomatic and growing military might, how the United States and its allies need to respond, lessons Beijing and Taipei are drawing from Russia’s war on Ukraine and the world’s sanctions on Moscow, the window to deter China from attacking Taiwan, and bow President Biden’s pledge to defend Taiwan improves deterrence with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and a former commander of US Cyber Command who is now a cyber consultant and chairman of the advisory board at cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the need to better integrate government and industry defenses, the importance of resilience and deterrence, balancing the disclosure of classified information and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Northrop Grumman also supports our cyber coverage.
On the US Army’s 247th birthday and during the Eurosatory land warfare exhibition in Paris, Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak, the deputy commanding general of the US Army Europe and Africa, discusses lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, vital importance of logistics and connectivity, US role in NATO surge of personnel and capabilities in wake of Moscow’s invasion, building Arctic warfighting skills; and Marc Darmon, the executive vice president of Thales Secure Communications and Information Systems and chairman of GICAT and the Eurosatory exhibition, discusses the outlook for defense investment in Europe, the company’s new Combat Digital Platform for battlefield command and control, and the importance of investing in cyber and AI capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the role of Russia’s war on Ukraine on rising food and energy prices, inflation and potential impact on defense, Kyiv’s need for weapons as Russia grinds ahead to seize control of Donbas, House and Senate markups, CAE’s investor day and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — US and European aerospace and defense stock performance as inflation hits a 40-year high of 8.6 percent, 70 percent of economists fear US will have a recession next year and worries most that oil will hit $150 a barrel — Impact of high oil prices on air travel and airlines — Inflation impact on defense contracts as well as commercial aircraft pricing via escalation clauses — Raytheon Technologies to move headquarters to northern Virginia — Strategic partnership between Spirit Aerosystems and Sierra Nevada on space systems — Moscow driver merger of aircraft makers MiG and Sukhoi — Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier’s comments to France’s National Assembly on France-Germany-Spain SCAF fighter effort — Look at new crop of unmanned aircraft in Bentonville, Ark., last week — Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and likely key topics at Eurosatory land warfare exposition next week in Paris
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Update on congressional markup, prospects for BBB, reconciliation, covid relief and gun control legislation — Implications of primary outcomes — What’s next as Russia’s war on Ukraine grows bloodier and Kyiv calls for more assistance and Moscow works to take Donbas — Outlook for Sweden’s accession to NATO as Swedish lawmakers of Kurdish decent saves Andersson government in exchange for Stockholm’s support for Kurds in Syria — Role Washington can play to resolve Swedish-Turkish rift to get Sweden and Finland into NATO — China’s rising military belligerence including recent incidents involving Chinese fighters and Australian and Canadian aircraft — Beijing’s new base in Cambodia as China expands its global operational footprint — North Korea’s expected June 12 nuclear test as international security leaders meet in person at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue — Whether commission into Jan. 6 insurrection will change any minds — What’s next for the JCPOA now that IAEA has lost confidence in Iran and Tehran switched off key cameras monitoring the country’s nuclear program
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tim Walton, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, discusses the report he co-authored with his director, Bryan Clark — “Resilient Aerial Refueling: Safeguarding the US Military’s Global Reach” — and why aerial refueling should be a top modernization priority and the fleet that will be needed for the challenges the nation faces especially in the Pacific with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Technology, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses the new commission report he co-authored with Laura Bate — “Workforce Development Agenda for the National Cyber Director” — why the market hasn’t addressed the need for federal cyber talent, capabilities needed for the future, and how to improve recruiting, training, education and retention; and Betsy Soehren Jones, Fortress Information Security’s chief operating officer, and Tobias Whitney, the company’s vice president for strategy and policy, discuss industry feedback for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on software and hardware bill of materials — SBOMs and HBOMs — and how to improve the supply chain at the coding and component levels with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Zack Krevor, the CEO of Stratolaunch, discusses how the company — created in 2011 by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen and Scaled Composites founder and aircraft design legend Burt Rutan — looks to drive innovation in hypersonic weapons development through rapid prototyping and testing, the company’s role in the development ecosystem, keys to speed and how US capabilities in the field compare against adversaries like China and Russia with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses who is also affiliated with the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s war on Ukraine and what’s next, Moscow’s strategy to use food as a weapon, impact of Western aid for Kyiv, and an update on unmanned warfare; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on how to think of key developments over the past week including the Russo-Ukrainian war, defense supply chains, China’s assault on an Australian P-8 aircraft and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — US and European Market performance as investors grapple with broad market drivers and magnitude of coming recession — Air travel update as appetite continues strong despite rising fares — Analysis of Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun’s statement that the company wouldn’t develop a new jetliner for at least two years — US Air Force announcement that it’s top priority Next-Generation Air Dominance program has entered engineering and manufacturing development, suggesting a blistering pace for the top secret effort — Update on Europe’s two next-generation combat aircraft programs, the UK-Sweden-Italy Tempest and France-Germany-Spain SCAF efforts
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — Congress prepares to markup Biden administration’s budget request and weighs magnitude of defense spending plus up — Bipartisan sentiment on increasing Pentagon budget — What next in Russia’s war on Ukraine as conflict passed the 100-day mark — European efforts to stand up to Russia and whether unity remains as France, Germany and Italy work to find “face saving” way for Vladimir Putin to end war — New aid for Ukraine including US long-range precision rocket artillery — Negotiating Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO with Turkey, Hungary and Slovenia — China’s continuing balancing act between supporting Russia and avoiding US ire over Ukraine war — Beijing’s economic woes as COVID lockdowns are eased in Shanghai and elsewhere — New Chinese trade and security pact and the 10 nations targeted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi — Australia’s regional diplomacy — Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia and burying the hatchet with Mohamed bin Salman — What’s next for Iran nuclear deal in the wake of IAEA report finding radioactive residue at three “undeclared” Iranian sites
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Monique Mansoura, the executive director for Global Health Security and Biotechnology at the MITRE think tank, discusses the report — “Building a Sustainable Biopreparedness Industrial Base” — as COVID cases rise and Biden administration prepares its $88 billion package to prepare for future biological threats and pandemics, lessons from the COVID pandemic to help prepare for future crisis whether naturally occurring or manmade, how to improve American and allied industrial capacity, specific necessary capabilities, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Jeff Schloesser, USA Ret., the former director of US Army Aviation who commanded the 101st Airborne Division and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, now the executive vice president for strategic pursuits at Bell, discusses battlefield aviation lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine and how they might shape programs including the Arm’s Future Vertical Lift effort and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Schloesser is also a former president of the Army Aviation Association of America and Bell sponsored our coverage of AAAA.
Brig. Ben Barry, British Army Ret., the land warfare fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses lessons learned from Russia’s war on Ukraine, learning the right lessons, improving NATO’s capabilities, trends in battlefield mobility, long-range precision fires, connectivity and unmanned systems, how Ukraine shapes future Taiwan scenarios and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment. The strategy series is not affiliated with the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Up Wall Street market after the worst sustained downturn since 1923 as investors break for Memorial Day holiday — US and European broader market drivers — China’s continuing covid lockdowns and impact on global travel — Rift in Europe as France and Germany negotiate with Vladimir Putin as other nations war Russian leader is seeking sanctions relief while continuing his war on Ukraine — Whether UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be impacted by recent investigation into parties that violated covid lockdown rules — Outlook for continued Ukraine aid and higher US defense budgets as growing numbers of Republicans balk at higher government spending — Rheinmetall develops new lightweight cannon artillery — Value of tubed and rocket artillery as Washington considers furnishing Kyiv with Multiple Launch Rocket System — Takeaways from NBAA’s European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in Geneva — National Reconnaissance Office awards Electro-Optical Commercial Layer contract
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics:
— Analysis of President Biden’s first trip to Asia including fourth Quad heads-of-state meeting, new trade and maritime surveillance pacts — Key takeaways from Biden administration’s broad new Pacific strategy outlined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken — Analysis of Biden’s pledge to defend Taiwan against Chinese attack — European views of Biden’s Asia trip — Ways to address Turkish opposition to Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership — What’s next in Russia’s war on Ukraine and whether recent criticisms from Ukrainian leaders could backfire — Nuances and potential pitfalls in the Administration’s broader communications strategy — Role Pentagon spokesman John Kirby will play when he reports to his new job at the White House — Quick-take review of “Top Gun: Maverick”
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Dr. Jim Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the Biden administration’s new National Security Memorandum on quantum computing and other moves to ensure America’s lead in the critical field from technology to training the right workforce for the future with Defense & Aerospace Report Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Clint Crosier, USAF Ret., the former director of Space Force force planning who now heads Amazon Web Services’ Aerospace and Satellite Solutions business, discusses 2022 AWS Space Accelerator finalists, unique role of the company in an evolving space ecosystem, harnessing commercial capabilities to help make sense of vast and growing volume of data, harnessing innovation for military advantage, data rights and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of Center for Naval Analyses and a visiting fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the latest in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the importance of the salient developing in Eastern Ukraine, judging Russians’ shifting perceptions of the war, Moscow’s ability to recruit more manpower and develop capabilities as the war grinds on, who might succeed Vladimir Putin and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Analysis as Wall Street descends into bear market territory over long-range economic concerns — European performance and a look at impact of China’s continuing covid lockdowns — How inflation will impact global air traffic, including for business travelers — US and European defense spending update in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and whether Republican lawmakers will put the brakes on American military investment over debt concerns — Economic impact of London’s move to change Brexit agreement and implications for other UK treaties — Future of the AUKUS partnership with the election Anthony Albanese to succeed Scott Morrison as Australia’s new Labor prime minister — Boeing’s Starliner successfully docks with the International Space Station and investigators suspect aircrew deliberately crashed China Eastern 737, but concerns mount over giant’s leadership — Rising covid rates as global health officials monitor monkeypox outbreaks
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.
Topics: — Senate approves $40 billion in Ukraine aid, but dissenting GOP votes suggests contentious legislative future on spending — What primary outcomes mean for upcoming November elections that will determine control of Congress and fate of key Democratic members — Update on baby formula supplemental, gas price legislation, USICA conference and BBB — Whether a Biden administration focused on China will be able to maintain sustained attention on a prolonged Russian war on Ukraine — A view from Poland on the war and what’s next — What it will take to overcome Turkey opposition to Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO — President Biden’s tour of Asia as administration works to marshal allies and partners — Addressing perception the administration has eased pressure and rhetoric off China in big to keep Beijing from helping Russia — Concerns about the pro-China rhetoric from the new Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — Outcome of the Australian election and what a Labor victory will mean for regional security — The civil war within the US Marine Corps
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Jim Boozer, USA Ret., the executive vice president of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses key takeaways from the NDIA’s 2022 SOFIC conference and tradeshow as the US Special Operations community returns to great power competition; and Alistair Wilson, the strategy, sales and marketing director at JFD — an innovative British company that is a leading supplier of swimmer delivery vehicles, diving and submarine rescue equipment — and a US Navy SEAL veteran Jim Emmert, who heads the company’s US operations, discuss the changing environment for US special operators, key elements of their product portfolio, enticing the community to be more open to innovative approaches, and areas of investment for future growth with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Dr. Greg Austin who heads the Cyber Power and Future Conflict program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, discusses Russia’s cyber capabilities, Moscow’s approach to cyber, US and allied offensive and defensive cyber abilities, how brain drain will undermine Russian information and communications technology, Western efforts to live without Russian labor and Russia’s ability to substitute for banned Western technologies, cyber lessons from the Ukraine War, what China is learning from international sanctions on Russia and how Beijing is working hard to avoid running afoul of US export law with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Amb. Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow, the former US ambassador to NATO, South Korea and Russia, as well as former Pentagon international security policy chief and NATO deputy Secretary General now with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, discusses a long-term approach to countering Russia, helping Ukraine, holding Moscow to account for its atrocities, encouraging regime change, capabilities Finland and Sweden will bring to the Atlantic alliance, addressing Turkey’s accession concerns, coping with obstructionist member states like Hungary and Turkey, how to keep China from helping Russia while avoiding sending the wrong signals to Beijing regarding Taiwan, and lessons learned from the Russo-Ukrainian war with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Finland and Swedish membership in NATO, key factors to consider as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ways the international community could break Moscow’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, continuing lessons from the war, what the Maginot Line can teach modern strategists and planners, and a look ahead at the week in Washington with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Analysis of the biggest sustained drop on world markets since 2008 and how aerospace and defense equities fared — Disconnect between stately pace of US and European defense spending in wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine and investor expectations of rapid budget increases — Defense industrial implications of Finland’s decision to join NATO, with Sweden expected to follow soon, and Britain’s security agreements with Helsinki and Stockholm — Security agreement between Japan and UK and whether Japan and Saudi Arabia might be the next partners in the British-led Tempest next-generation fighter development program and what expanded membership means for other Italy and Sweden that are already part of the effort — Investors punish Boeing stock over company’s debt loading and whether new management needed in wake of program missteps — Speculation that Boeing might end troubled development of 777X, a view the firm has dismissed — Reuters report that Federal Aviation Administration has concerns with Boeing’s proposed fixes to 787 jetliner, production of which has been suspended over manufacturing concerns — Comac’s 919 regional airliners moves toward service — Update on US Army Aviation’s approach to modernization that will include Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program that will be downselected in September as well as sustained role for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Topics:
— Implications of one lawmakers, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocking move by Congress to approve $40 billion in aid for Ukraine, $7 billion more than requested by President Biden — Finland’s formal move to join NATO and what Helsinki brings to the alliance and how Russia will respond — Whether Sweden will follow suit and if enlargement will face opposition from Hungary and Turkey — How Ukraine war will shape the strategic concept to be adopted by NATO members at upcoming summit in Madrid — Value of UK move to strike security pacts with Finland and Sweden in advance of NATO membership announcements — Need for national leaders to make the case for continued support for Ukraine to avoid the conflict becoming “frozen,” handing Russia a victory — Grading President Biden and his team on making the same for Ukraine support — Key takeaways from extraordinary meeting of ASEAN leaders at the White House — Update on newsflow across the Pacific including North Korea’s admission of covid outbreak — Britain’s strategic security agreement with Japan — Deadly violence in Israel and what it means
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Barry Pavel, the director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, discusses the Biden administration’s national and defense strategies, the administration’s effort to help Ukraine defeat Russia’s invasion, how Washington needs to change its message to win over nations that are now reluctant to join anti-Russian coalition, why Vladimir Putin is a rational actor and why his nuclear threats can be discounted, capabilities Ukraine needs to win and Ukraine lessons that can help deter China from taking military action against Taiwan with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, David Berteau, the president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, discusses the Defense Department’s plans to roll out the second version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification — CMMC 2.0 — next March, why the effort is taking so long, what getting it “right” means, the importance of improving the security of services and government contractors overall, and why recent surveys of public cyber sentiments that on the surface appear grim are actually encouraging with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Raanan Horowitz, the president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, discusses priorities as life returns to normal after the pandemic, the defense budget outlook, inflation, recruiting and growing new talent, retaining key skills, moving faster, helping the United States and its allies support Ukraine and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses continuing lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, inflation and the Pentagon budget, takeaways from Oshkosh’s investor day, and a look at the week ahead; and Sam Bendett from the Center for Naval Analyses who is also with the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s May 9 Victory Day commemoration, Vladimir Putin’s messaging, what’s next in the way, use of unmanned aircraft over Ukraine and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look at the most volatile week on world markets since 2008 as American investors punish Federal Reserve for not raising interest rates 1 percent but half that — Volatility index hits 3.1 percent as some analysts suggest key figure could double — Air travel update as China continues lockdowns and how lower volume will international traffic and aircraft production rates — Airbus, Air Lease, Bombardier, Hensoldt, Rheinmetall, Rocket Lab, Spirit Aerosystems and Virgin Galactic first quarter 2022 earnings — Whether Airbus A320-series production will hit 75 aircraft per month as planned and what that means for Boeing’s 737 Max manufacture — What’s next in Moscow’s campaign as Vladimir Putin seeks to show battlefield success before Russia’s annual May 9 Victory Day commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany — How quickly US and European governments can replenish their weapons inventories after large-scale donations of equipment to Kyiv to help Ukraine defeat Russian invasion forces — Analysis of Boeing’s decision to move its headquarters from Chicago to Northern Virginia
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Status of Ukraine supplemental, covid aid, CHIPS-USICA conference and defense budget discussion — Impact of Supreme Court’s expected Roe v. Wade repeal on bipartisanship and whether reproductive rights debate will crowd out national security — Takeaways from Deputy Defense Secretary Dr. Kathleen Hicks’ remarks at the Reagan Institute on May 6 — Implications of news reports that US intelligence helped Ukraine kill Russian generals and sink Russia’s Black Sea flagship Moskva — How allies, partners and adversaries regard Washington’s inability to keep secrets — Falkland Islands War lessons found decades after Britain and Argentina clashed in the South Atlantic including the importance of secrecy, sustainment and weapons stocks — Japanese Defense Minister Nobu Kishi’s meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Tokyo’s worry that the danger from North Korea is imminent — Update on China’s rhetoric regarding its alliance with Moscow — Saudi Arabia crafts rapprochement with Turkey as Riyadh remains furious at Washington over Iran nuclear deal and criticism for assassination of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi — Russia resorts to antisemitism for its poor military performance on Ukraine
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, discusses the outlook for his members and priorities as world emerges from the pandemic, potential increases to US defense spending over the Biden administration’s $773 billion Pentagon budget request, impact of inflation and supply chain problems, the implication’s of the administration’s Buy American approach and how to strike the best balance between security of supply and benefitting from global trade, substituting Russian titanium and Chinese rare earths, how the slow pace of filling top administration and diplomatic posts impacts the policy process, lessons from the covid pandemic, addressing the need for more talent across defense and commercial aviation industries, and how the US defense industrial base can better help Ukraine in it’s fight for survival against Russian aggression with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Suzanne Spaulding, the former cyber director at the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses the Biden administration’s efforts to improve cyber security and what more should be done, Russian cyber operations in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, issues the second Cyberspace Solarium Commission will address, improving operational technology vulnerabilities, and the importance of better cyber defenses for the nation’s court systems; and Andrea Schaumann of Fortress discusses the technological, operational and business cyber concerns regarding unmanned systems and how to address them with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Suzanne Spaulding, the former cyber director at the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses the Biden administration’s efforts to improve cyber security and what more should be done, Russian cyber operations in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, issues the second Cyberspace Solarium Commission will address, improving operational technology vulnerabilities, and the importance of better cyber defenses for the nation’s court systems; and Andrea Schaumann of Fortress discusses the technological, operational and business cyber concerns regarding unmanned systems and how to address them with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Cdr. Jonty Powis, Royal Navy Ret., who served as navigator aboard HMS Conqueror during the Falkland Islands war when the British nuclear-powered attack submarine sank the Argentine light cruiser General Belgrano, discusses the significance of the attack and how it changed the course of the war, the importance of clear and simple rules of engagement, lessons of the war, how the Royal Navy and UK military’s culture of flexibility combined with rigorous training were key to victory, broader lessons from the conflict, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. The interview was recorded on the 40th anniversary of the sinking on May 2, 1982. Powis also commanded the conventionally powered attack submarine HMS Unseen and two nuclear-powered ballistic missiles subs, HMS Resolution and HMS Victorious, and also served on the naval staff at the British embassy in Washington. He is now retired and does occasional consulting.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from last week’s first quarter 2022 earnings results by leading US defense contractors, how President Biden’s $33 billion aid package for Ukraine changes industrial prospects, whether European defense spending will be sustained, and a look at the week ahead; and Dr. David Asher, one of the world’s leading experts on sanctions who served in the Bush and Obama administrations and now with the Hudson Institute, discusses the efficacy of unprecedented sanctions already imposed on Russia, how to make them even tougher, and imposing secondary sanctions on China, India and other nations that continue to trade with Moscow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — The week on world markets as S&P 500 experiences its second correction of 2022 and worries mount over China’s covid lockdown as well as Russia’s war on Ukraine — Analysis of first quarter earnings reports, including Embraer, General Dynamics, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, MTU, Raytheon, Safran, Textron and Thales — A look at Boeing’s first quarter results that includes $1.5 billion “abnormal” charge, write down and update on problematic program performance — Impact of China’s growing covid restrictions on travel and supply chains — Sanctions impact on access to Russian titanium and sourcing alternatives — US defense industrial implications of President Biden’s pledge to provide Ukraine with $33 billion in assistance to better fight Russia — European industrial perspective on growing military assistance for Kyiv — Update on Russia’s campaign in eastern Ukraine and what’s next
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Teri Schultz, a Brussels-based freelance Reporter for NPR and Deutsche Welle and podcast host for the Atlantic Council. Topics: — Congress returns to session to assess defense spending increase, President Biden’s request for $33 billion in Ukraine aid, new covid package and BBB, border measures, and Competes-USICA — NATO’s assessment on what’s next in Russia’s war on Ukraine and likelihood Moscow will resort to nuclear weapons — Message Biden’s $33 billion package and Ukraine moves to date send to China — Whether Chinese government’s brutal response of covid outbreaks in Shanghai, Beijing and elsewhere will end up undermining popular support for the Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party — Outlook for secondary US and European sanctions to prevent China, India and other states from continuing to do business with Russia in violation of sanctions in wake of Ukraine war — Biden’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Randy Schriver, a former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs who is now with the Pacific Solutions consultancy and chairman of the Project 2049 Institute to fully normalize relations between the United States and Taiwan, discusses lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine that are applicable to Taiwan, whether the strong global reaction to Moscow’s war changes Beijing’s calculus to unite with the island nation, does China decide to accelerate its move on Taiwan as the Ukraine war serves as a wake up call for Washington and its allies to step up their great power game, takeaways from the US delegation to Taipei led by Adm. Mike Mullen, USN Ret., helping Taiwan improve its deterrent and warfighting capabilities, and the legacy of independence and democracy advocate Pen Ming Min with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Fortress’ John Cofrancesco on cyber attack on Russia’s Gazprom, how increasingly effective US defensive and offensive capabilities may lead of complacency across industry-government-public, and whether cyber defenders are improving their agility; and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies who is also a senior adviser on the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses cyber elements of key legislations like the Competes-USICA, cyber spending priorities in Biden administration’s 2023 budget request, military service J-book cyber details and the White House move to rewrite elements of National Security Presidential Memorandum 13 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Steve Blank, a Silicon Valley pioneer and founder of the K&S Ranch who is an adjunct professor at Stanford University, and Dr. Joe Felter, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania who is now the director of Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation and coauthor of Hacking for Defense, discuss the imperative for tectonic change in solving US national security challenges, the importance of a faster moving innovation ecosystem, more rapidly harnessing commercial technologies, learning lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force spending details released in each of the service’s budget justification books, the Biden administration’s broader strategy, why it may be too early to draw lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine, how Western nations are helping Kyiv, what the US Air Force’s decision to accelerate development and production of the Aevex Aerospace’s Phoenix Ghost loitering munition for Ukraine, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market performance as investors worry slow response Federal Reserve response to inflation fuels recession concerns — Delays on Boeing key 787, 777x and 737 Max programs — Look at results including Lockheed Marin, QinetiQ and Saab — Low first quarter 2022 Embraer deliveries including six commercial and eight business aircraft — Air travel outlook as West emerges from pandemic, but China lockdowns slow return — Rise in first- and business-class ticketing as travelers emerge from lengthy pandemic — How changing Russian strategy in Ukraine impacts future fight and role of Western military aid to Kyiv — Slow rate of German defense spending and help to Ukraine as American, Britain, Canada, France and other nations increase assistance including heavy weapons — Implications of US Air Force move to accelerate development and production of Phoenix Ghost loitering munition by Aevex Aerospace for Ukraine — Challenge of ending global dependence on Russian titanium — French President Emmanuel Macron’s victory over Marine Le Pen
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Issues for Congress as it returns from spring break on Tuesday including Title 42 and the reopening the US border, covid relief legislation, USICA-Competes, another Ukraine supplemental and congressional reaction to Biden administration’s decision to end anti-satellite weapon testing — Biden administration’s increasing support for Ukraine including more heavy weapons and US Air Force’s rapid development and production of Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions — What’s next now that Russian commanders have admitted they plan to take half of Ukraine and the country’s entire south — Whether revelations of Marine Le Pen’s financial and political ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin will hurt her chances against Emmanuel Macron in the runoff for France’s presidency — How change in French leadership could impact European and global security given France’s pivotal role — China doubles down on its alliance with Russia despite Russian atrocities in Ukraine as US diplomatic scramble to convince the Solomon Islands against partnering with Beijing — Chinese amphibious exercises specifically aimed at underscoring threat to invade Taiwan if necessary to unite the island democracy with the mainland — India’s continuing reluctance to break with Moscow despite Ukraine war — Complex dynamics in relationships among the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel — Update on whether Bennett government will remain in power as Bibi Netanyahu gains momentum to regain office — Issues for Congress as it returns from spring break on Tuesday including Title 42 and the reopening the US border, covid relief legislation, USICA-Competes, another Ukraine supplemental and congressional reaction to Biden administration’s decision to end anti-satellite weapon testing — Biden administration’s increasing support for Ukraine including more heavy weapons and US Air Force’s rapid development and production of Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions — What’s next now that Russian commanders have admitted they plan to take half of Ukraine and the country’s entire south — Whether revelations of Marine Le Pen’s financial and political ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin will hurt her chances against Emmanuel Macron in the runoff for France’s presidency — How change in French leadership could impact European and global security given France’s pivotal role — China doubles down on its alliance with Russia despite Russian atrocities in Ukraine as US diplomatic scramble to convince the Solomon Islands against partnering with Beijing — Chinese amphibious exercises specifically aimed at underscoring threat to invade Taiwan if necessary to unite the island democracy with the mainland — India’s continuing reluctance to break with Moscow despite Ukraine war — Complex dynamics in relationships among the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel — Update on whether Bennett government will remain in power as Bibi Netanyahu gains momentum to regain office
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Dougherty, senior fellow in the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses lessons from Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the mix of bespoke and commodity capabilities needed for future threats, importance of volume in weapons and production capacities needed for US and allied needs, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Fortress Information Security, Justin Sherman, a Wired Magazine contributor and visiting fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, discusses the latest attack on Ukraine’s infrastructure by the “Sandworm” cyber unit of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU — officially known as Unit 74455 — how defenders are improving their game, the value and perils of disclosing classified information, takeaways from the FBI’s successful operations to clean Russian malware from global networks, factors shaping Moscow’s approach to global cyber operations, and the German-US designation of Kaspersky as a national cyber threat; and Fortress Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Peter Kassabov discusses growth plans for his company in the wake of Goldman Sachs’ recent $125 million investment in the threat intelligence firm with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses the role of air and space capabilities in the conflict including commercial satellite imagery and signals intelligence, how Ukraine is using air power, the implications of the loss of Russia’s Black Sea Flagship Moskva, assesses Russia’ poor operational performance, lessons from the conflict that could shape US capabilities, the importance of air and missile defenses, and Ukraine war takeaways that could shape American planning regarding China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the state of Russia’s war on Ukraine and whether Moscow’s war aims are limited to Ukraine’s east and south, how Western aid is helping Kyiv, the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva and impact on Vladimir Putin’s popularity and the role of commercially available unmanned systems are playing in the conflict; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on the prospects for an $90-$100 billion increase in defense spending, how the Russo-Ukraine war might shape acquisition decisions and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
Topics:
— Congress adjourns to celebrate Passover, Easter and Ramadan, debate on wisdom of increasing Pentagon spending by $100 billion as some suggest is needed to counteract impact of 8.5 percent inflation — Whether Europe will support prolonged war in Ukraine and sanctions on an increasingly brutal Russia — Finland and Sweden move toward NATO membership as French election runoff heads to final week between anti-EU, anti-NATO Marine Le Pen and President Emmanuel Macron — West surges more military equipment to Ukraine as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asks top US defense firms to quickly address Ukrainian warfighting needs — At what point Western arms ships will cross Vladimir Putin’s red lines for unspecified retaliation — China’s long-range logistical demonstration in shipping air defense systems to Serbia as US lawmakers visit Taiwan and diplomats head to Solomon Islands — India’s reliability as a Quad partner — Administration’s Ukraine war messaging and impact of sinking of Russia’s Black Sea flagship, the Moskva — built in 1979 in Mykolayiv as the Slava, Russian for Glory — How administration should respond if Russia used chemical weapons in Mariupol
On this episode of the Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Dr. Bill Conley, the chief technology officer at Mercury Systems, discusses commercial advances that will improve defense capabilities, how best to adapt civilian technology for demanding military applications, accelerating innovation and program development, sovereignty and global supply chains, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Stephen Flanagan and Gene Germanovich of the Rand Corporation think tank discuss Finland and Sweden’s desire to join NATO in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and drive to reorder European security, what the two countries would bring the alliance, what’s next in Moscow’s campaign to conquer eastern Ukraine, the outlook for European and transatlantic unity to support Kyiv and punish Russia, and whether we are already in World War III with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the JADC2 Report, sponsored by L3Harris, Sean Stackley, a former assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition who is now the president of L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems segment, discusses the Pentagon’s approach to fielding its top priority Joint All Domain Command and Control system with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what’s next in Russia’s attack on Ukraine, how a shift in Moscow’s focus from conventional to strategic weapons could shape US and allied investment, military implications of restricting Russia’s access to technology, whether the Pentagon can wisely spend $100 billion more in 2023, and takeaways from budget hearings and the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market overview as investors worry about a longer Russian war against Ukraine, inflation trends and potential recession — UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s surprise visit to Kyiv and more weapons for Ukraine — European spending update as Washington insiders hint at dramatic US budget increase — Security implications of French election and prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO — Outlook for European trade with China in wake of EU leaders meeting with Premier Xi Jinping — Cancellation of Airbus jetliner orders and outlook for wide-body aircraft — JetBlue’s move to acquire Spirit — Takeaways from National Space Symposium
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, in segment one our guest is Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior advisor to the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; in segment two we speak with Navy Principal Cyber Adviser Chris Cleary.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va.; in segment two our guest is Maj. Gen. Walter Rugen, US Army Director, US Army Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro; in segment two we sit down with HII's new President and CEO Chris Kastner; finally in segment three we wrap-up day two of Sea Air and Space with Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group and host of the CAVASShips Podcast Christopher P. Cavas.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Bryan Clark and Dan Patt of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank; in segment two we speak with Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. James Jones, USMC Ret., a former National Security Adviser, former Supreme Allied Commander and former Marine Corps commandant who is now president of Jones Group International.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, in segment one our guest is Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior advisor to the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; in segment two we speak with Maretta Morovitz of MITRE’s Engage team lead.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; in segment two our guest is Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Dr. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Teri Schultz, a Brussels-based freelance Reporter for NPR and Deutsche Welle and podcast host for the Atlantic Council.
On this episode of the Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Dr. Keoki Jackson, the senior vice president and general manager for the national security sector at MITRE.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security and Dr. Amanda Muller, the lead for Responsible AI at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest developments in Russia and Ukraine.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, our guest is Nigel Inkster, the former director of intelligence and operations at Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service otherwise known as MI6 who is now a senior adviser at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the latest developments in Russia and Ukraine.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, our guest is James Lewis, PhD, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our interviews with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond from the Air Force Association’s 2022 Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando. Our coverage is sponsored by Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest to help commemorate International Women's Day is Fiona McKay, founder of the Leading Ladies of Defense. Fiona's organization is preparing for their annual virtual summit which will be held--click here to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Dave Alexander, president of aviation systems at General Atomics.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we interview Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall at the Air Force Association’s 2022 Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando. Our coverage is sponsored by Leonardo DRS.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, JC Vega, a retired US Army colonel and former chief information security officer who confounded and served as a director of the Army Cyber Institute at the US Military Academy, discusses defending against anticipated Russian cyber attacks on America, prioritizing threats to better focus defenses, investing and better public-private partnerships to improve cyber security, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Nicholas Myers, a post-graduate researcher at the University of Glasgow and a senior fellow at the Strategy and future think tank in Warsaw, discusses the early lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how Ukrainian forces have managed to stymie Moscow’s plans for a quick takeover of the country, the next phase of the conflict as the Russian military increases both the number of its forces as well as logistics and more brutal tactics, how long Ukraine’s government can hold out, and how Vladimir Putin could yet use nuclear weapons and where else he might strike with Defense & Aerospace report editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners analyzes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how long the conflict could span, the international response to Moscow’s unprovoked attack, how the outcome of the conflict could shape defense spending, and the week ahead; and Dr. David Asher of the Hudson Institute think tank discusses the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia, their economic and financial impact, the need to control sanctions exemptions, closing loopholes that allow Moscow and Beijing to circumvent sanctions, and the need to anticipate Vladimir Putin’s next moves with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Roundup of week on world markets as Russia invades Ukraine under false pretenses, prompting Western governments to impose sanctions on Russian banks, leaders and technology — Implications of the war and sanctions on aerospace and defense markets — War impact on energy and commodity prices as global economy confronts rising inflation and supply chain instability — Defense spending update, including announcement from the German Chancellor, as nations mobilize to improve capabilities, including cyber investment as prospect of full scale offensive cyber operations between Russia and West — Lessons and takeaways from Russia’s invasion and deterring Moscow from striking elsewhere — Air travel update as governments ease covid mandates — Look at Babcock, BAE Systems, Hensoldt, Rolls-Royce and Safran earnings
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics:
— Whether US defense spending will top $800 billion as Russia invades Ukraine in the largest combat action in Europe since World War II — Republican criticism of President Biden as US leads global sanctions on Russia — Impending retirement of Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and who could succeed the veteran lawmakers as ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee — What’s next in Russia’s military campaign as Ukrainian resistance mounts and Vladimir Putin calls for Kyiv to surrender and “demilitarize”— Whether Putin stops at Ukraine or moves to seize Moldova or NATO territory — Grading Biden’s performance in marshaling global response to Putin, including unprecedented sanctions on Russian banks, leading individuals and their families, and restricting technology exports — China’s role in the conflict after striking a partnership with Russia — View of conflict from the perspective is Indo-Pacific powers as they worry whether Beijing will learn lessons from Moscow that will shape it’s plans for militarily retaking Taiwan — How China can use its CHIPS clearing house in Hong Kong as well as new digital renminbi to circumvent sanctions on Russia — Prospects for and potential size of supplemental funding measure to cover Ukraine-related costs
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific security chair at the Hudson Institute think tank, discusses China’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, how Beijing could aid Moscow as the world imposes unprecedented sanctions on the Russian banks, businesses and individuals, how America’s Asia-Pacific allies regard the Ukraine invasion and will support punishing Russia; and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) on President Biden and his administration’s messaging on the lead up to the invasion and the challenging ahead in keeping attention and punishment efforts focused on Vladimir Putin with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discusses Russia’s cyber operations in Ukraine, the kind of offensive cyber operations the US intelligence expects Russia to execute against American government, infrastructure and industry, what companies can do to protect themselves, prioritizing defenses, what lawmakers have to do over the coming months, and how to hold Russia to account for its misdeeds; and Michael Kofman, who heads the Russia team at the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses the kinds of capabilities Vladimir Putin will demonstrate in invading Ukraine, the nature and goals of the invasion, whether there will be a nuclear messaging dimension to the conflict, and the importance of regarding Russia as a long-term threat to US and international stability with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Dr. Hal Brands, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and American Enterprise Institute resident scholar, discusses Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his new book, how the Biden administration should manage the crisis, and his new book “The Twilight Struggle: What the Cold War Teaches Us about Great-Power Rivalry Today,” the long-term approach to countering and cooperating with China and Russia, and what constitutes good and bad strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series with leading strategists and national security thinkers that is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and dedicated to the memory of Andrew Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the lessons from Russia’s intimidation of Ukraine and what war might look like and mean for investment in weapon systems, US defense spending outlook, GD-GM Defense partnership for the US Army’s Optionally Manned Combat Vehicle program, and the week ahead; and Doug Jankovich, the vice president for growth and strategy at the new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance business group at Huntington Ingalls Industries, discusses how the company is expanding its reach into the ISR market with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Week on world markets as international community and investors brace for Russian attack on Ukraine — Reports that Biden administration will request $773 billion for defense in 2023 — Look at Airbus and MTU earnings as well as how string of recent Rafale fighter sales changes outlook for Dassault as well as the French-German-Spanish SCAF future fighter effort — Update on Embraer’s E2 175 program as well as company plans for a new regional turboprop — Singapore Air Show newsflow and aircraft orders
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — Senate keeps government open until March 11 as lawmakers move toward full-year appropriations measure — Analysis of Reuters report that Biden administration will ask for $773 billion for defense in 2023 — Limits of bipartisanship as GOP donors pressure lawmakers after recent cross-aisle cooperation on sanctions and other measures — Whether Russia will invade Ukraine now that Duma has moved to recognize Russian separatist enclaves of Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine, and Moscow has massed 190,000 around Ukraine and ramped up cyber attacks and artillery strikes — What Vice President Kamala Harris and US leadership team need to marshal allies and partners against Russia at the Munich Security Conference — Motivation for French President Emmanuel Macron’s drive for European sovereignty — Analysis of the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy — Outlook for AUKUS partnership to equip Australia with nuclear powered attack submarines — DoD’s new competition strategy to help reduce cost and drive innovation — Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s historic trip to Bahrain and update on Iran nuclear negotiations — Warming Israeli-Turkish relations as a consequence of Ukraine crisis and possible gas cutoff to Europe
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Rear Adm. Steve Moorhouse, RN, the Royal Navy’s director of force generation, discusses takeaways from the record-setting maiden seven-month UK Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment centered around HMS Queen Elizabeth last year, US-UK naval cooperation worldwide, improving logistical capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, vital importance of coalition interoperability as the United States embraces the Joint All-Domain Command and Control System, increasing UK naval capabilities, role of seapower in future conflict and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior advisor to the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, discusses the NSA-FBI-CISA guidance issued today on “Protecting Cleared Defense Contractor Networks Against Years-Long Activity by Russian State-Sponsored Actors,” what more Washington should be doing to protect the US national industrial base band critical infrastructure from Russian offensive operations, and update on status of cybersecurity legislation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Frédéric “Zo” Parisot, the vice chief of the French Air Force, discusses France’s role in reassuring NATO partners as Moscow threatens Ukraine, the future of collaboration between his force and the US Air Force in the Pacific and worldwide, modernization, training and interoperability priorities, and lessons learned from his Pentagon tour with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses the report he co-authored with his colleague Jeff Edmonds — “Russian Military Autonomy in a Ukraine Conflict” — as Washington and its allies say Moscow is moving to invade Ukraine and what Kiev can do to counter Russia’s unmanned systems; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses how Russia might respond to Western sanctions should it invade Ukraine, what invasion means for the notion of sanctions as a deterrent, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance in Europe as Western government brace for Russian invasion of Ukraine — Gauging magnitude of expected defense spending increases as European governments bolster munitions and battlefield weapon inventories — Look at CAE, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Saab and Triumph Group earnings and Rheinmetall’s pre-announcement — Worldwide commercial air travel update as omicron wave dissipates — Indonesia’s selection of the Rafale by Dassault Aviation over Su-35 by Sukhoi, and implications of for French-German-Spanish SCAF program — Late US move to entice Jakarta to embrace Boeing’s F-15 — French push to return Rafale to Canada’s contest for a new fighter now involving Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II and Saab’s JAS-39E/F Gripen — Takeaways from the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance annual conference
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security. Topics: — Congress moves to toward appropriations measure in March, but political hurdles remain in Senate as House moves ahead on another temporary measure — Whether Russia’s manufactured Ukraine crisis marks an inflection point that drives Washington and the West to toughen up or stick with business-as-usual approach — Russia crisis and the Biden administration’s tepid approach to hard power as White House prepares new strategies and defense spending requests — Ways China can support Russia, whether Moscow invades Ukraine or not — Implications of disregarding the 1994 Budapest Memorandum that extended security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for Kiev giving up Russian nuclear weapons on its territory — Why Washington has to weigh in as Argentina joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the two nations backed each other’s territorial claims to the Falklands and Taiwan — Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy that includes new Pacific partnership with US, UK, France, Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the Quad begins to look increasingly like an alliance — Grading Biden on handling of Ukraine crisis — Diverting $7 billion in frozen Afghan assists for 9/11 fund and humanitarian aid for Kabul — Irrelevance of RNC censure of Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and former President Trump’s mishandling and destruction of documents on GOP
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, discusses decision-centric warfare, his recent commentary authored with his colleague Dan Patt — “Russia is Teaching a Master Class on Decision-Centric Warfare” that appeared on the DefenseOne website — how the approach can be applied to China and why the Biden administration should adopt it in its upcoming strategy documents, why Russia may be approaching the end of its decision-centric advantage, and the importance of capability and will in the application of successful deterrent strategy, and the new Hudson report “Can the US Regain Battlefield Superiority against China? Applying New Metrics to Build an Adaptable and Resilient Military” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and Wired magazine, discusses the the cyber aspects of Russia’s ongoing buildup of air, land and naval forces around Ukraine, how the conflict could escalate in cyberspace, US role in helping Kiev improve its defenses, defending America from offensive Russian cyber moves, Moscow’s ability to disrupt global internet traffic by severing key undersea cables, and an update on efforts to counter the Log4j vulnerability with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tony Long, the innovation manager at Northrop Grumman, discusses how the company’s Fab Labs — pioneered at a warehouse in the corner of the historic Space Park campus in Redondo Beach, Calif. — are changing the aerospace and defense giant’s culture by fostering greater collaboration and innovation as well as accelerating engineering and development with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses key takeaways from a panel discussion with Washington’s top defense budget analysts convened on Monday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Gen. Hawk Carlisle, USAF Ret., the president and CEO of National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the organizations third annual Vital Signs report on the health of the US national security industrial base and the bipartisan commission to update the Pentagon’s Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution system with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance during a roller coast week on US and European markets — Key news flow for the week, including Quebec government’s investment in Airbus’ A220, and earnings analysis as companies struggle with supply chain problems — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s political fate and whether UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General later this year — Qatar’s decision to acquire 50 Boeing 777 freighters, weeks after Airbus cancelled the Gulf carrier’s aircraft order — Implications of rising inflation rates on the aerospace and defense sector — How the United States Innovation and Competition Act as well as America COMPETES Act will impact US industry — Europe’s efforts to improve competitive capabilities against China — US-Japan agreement to develop hypersonic, counter hypersonic, artificial intelligence and quantum computing technologies — Commercial satellite imagery of novel aircraft under development at US Air Force’s Area 51 test complex
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Topics: — Update on defense appropriations, Russia sanctions, and USICA-COMPETES — Takeaways from meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during which the two leaders pledged “limitless” cooperation — How Washington can pressure China if it helps Russia break US and allied sanctions — Whether excessive US use of sanctions would backfire if friends and foes work together to circumvent the dollar and Washington’s hold on global finance — Putin’s timetable for Ukraine invasion and Moscow’s ability to successfully divide NATO without firing a shot — Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s visit to Bahrain and Israel’s first-ever participation in US-led naval exercises that include Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen, Oman and others — North Korea’s missile tests and how Pyongyang is challenging UN restrictions — Update on Iran nuclear talks — GOP censure of Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, French Navy Adm. Pierre Vandier, the chief of staff of the French Navy, discusses global naval trends that are shaping his planning, training and investment decisions, France’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific, increasing Franco-American naval cooperation and interoperability, tougher and more realistic at-sea training for a new generation of naval leaders, modernization priorities, capabilities for France’s next 80,000-ton nuclear powers aircraft carrier, and case for integrated sea-space-cyber power in future conflict with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger’s trip to Europe to improve NATO and Ukraine’s cyber defenses, lessons from Russia’s recent cyber operations, defending America against possible Russian offensive cyber operations, and the Biden administration’s new zero trust executive order; and Michael Speca, the president of cybersecurity firm Ardalyst, discusses the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Bridge Colby, the co-founder and principal at the Marathon Institute who is the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development during the Trump administration where he was the official leading the development of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, discusses his book “The Strategy of Denial: Defense in the Age of Great Power Conflict,” how China plans to fight, how the United States and its allies need to deter China and other powers, creating and maintaining an Anti-Hegemonic Coalition, countering a united alliance among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and what constitutes good and bad strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series of discussions with leading thinkers and strategists and dedicated to the memory of Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the long-range strike as well as integrated air and missile defenses that Russia would bring to bear against Ukraine in the event of an invariant, how Saudi Arabia and UAE are defending against Houthi, North Koreas missile programs, and the US Army’s progress on hypersonic weapons; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses recent defense and aerospace industry earnings, whether Russia-Ukraine tensions will drive higher European military spending and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are, in segment one Jeff Bialos, a partner at the Eversheds Sutherland law firm who was a former deputy undersecretary of defense for industrial policy; in segment two “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Week on world markets as US posts 5.7 percent economic growth but inflation concerns, Ukraine crisis and earnings weigh on investors — Survey of fourth quarter and year end 2021 earnings released last week including Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies and Textron — Deep dive into Boeing’s results that included second annual loss and charges across key programs including 737, 787 and KC-46 — Analysis of Boeing $450 million investment in air taxi company WISK — Philippines decision to buy three BrahMos anti ship missile batteries from India as Beijing continues to intimidate Manila — Air travel update as omicron wave crests in Europe and America — Legacy of Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters as he prepares to hand the reins to CFO Chris Kastner
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This Week…Navies and militaries around the world are operating at an usually high level, particularly Russia, but also the US, its NATO allies and other partners, and much of it related to the Russian threat of invasion aimed at Ukraine. Is this all just so much movement and motion or is there real purpose behind it? And what are the risks of unintended consequences? We’ll talk about that, as well as what happens when so-called unauthorized imagery appears of military mishaps, and have a look at a major change at the top of the US Navy’s primary shipbuilder.
In this Week’s Squawk Chris Cavas challenges Congress to do their job and pass a budget.
Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Topics: — Whether the threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine will spur Congress to approve defense appropriations measure — What’s next in Ukraine and the scope of Moscow’s possible incursion — Concerns that NATO is not as united as the rhetoric suggests — How Russia-Ukraine crisis signals weakness to US allies and partners worldwide as well as adversaries like an increasingly assertive China — Implications of far-right Republicans parroting Kremlin talking points — Need for the US to craft a strategy to counter China and Russia, which are boosting their cooperation — Rethinking whether offensive cyber is equal to a physical invasion that should trigger retaliatory action and sanctions — Latest on Iran nuclear talks and why Arab nations are embracing their Jewish minorities as well as restoring ancient temples
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia during the Obama administration who now leads the Farkas Global Strategies consultancy, discusses Russia’s gambit in Ukraine, the menus of steps America and its allies can take to deter Moscow or punish it for again invading its neighbor, how Russia might respond to punitive sanctions, and lessons the administration has learned since Putin’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and the first commander of US Cyber Command who is now a cyber consultant and chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses Russia’s cyber and information operations against Ukraine, NATO nations and the United States, how the cyber and electromagnetic elements of a Russian invasion of Ukraine would play out, how America and its allies should respond, the importance of viewing cyber as a key warfighting domain, deterrence in cyber, how Moscow will use proxies and Allie’s including China, North Korea, Iran and criminal groups in cyber operations, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tom Siebel, founder and CEO of C3.ai, discusses artificial intelligence, its uses, state of the commercial art, the role of commercial providers for defense applications and potential opportunities in the wake of the National Defense Authorization Act with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Kofman, head of the Russia team at the Center for Naval Analyses, and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discuss the impending Russian invasion of Ukraine, what that invasion will look like, what the failure to deter Russia means, how Moscow may respond kinetically after the West imposes sanctions and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance on US and European markets as investors worry about inflation impact and tighter monetary policy — Look ahead to earnings as leading companies prepare to report 2021 returns — Possible impact should British Airbus workforce strike and Rory Kennedy’s documentary on Boeing’s 737 Max — Air travel outlook as omicron crests and potential impact of Washington responds to China’s ban on US flights — Update on 5G impact on US commercial aviation — Implications for the French-German-Spanish SCAF program to develop a new sixth generation fighter should Berlin acquire the F-35 Lighting II to fill nuclear mission after retiring its Tornado jets
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
Topics:
— Update on President Biden’s legislative agenda after Democrats lost vote on filibuster changes and voting reform, Build Back Better and omnibus — Implications of surprise retirement announcement by Rep. Jim Langevin, D-RI, and FBI investigation of Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas — Analysis of Biden’s lengthy press conference on first year of his presidency as his popularity sinks to all-time low — Impact of Biden’s comments on Ukraine as NATO alliance grapples with common approach to either deter Moscow from again invading Ukraine or punish it after doing so — Beijing’s slate of challenges, from fighting omicron, coping with demographic challenges stemming from one-child policy and economic challenges that will force a one-third cut in civil servant salary and perks — US-Japan talks that cover Russia, China and North Korea — Iran nuclear negotiations update — Implications of Saudi Arabian attack on Yemen that killed at least 70 and knocked out internet service
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Harlan Ullman, a retired US Navy captain, strategist and chairman of the Killlowen Group consultancy, discusses his new book — “The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dmitri Alperovich, the co-founder and executive chairman of the bipartisan Silverado Policy Accelerator, discusses his organization’s six cyber priorities for 2022 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the growing concern that Russia will again invade Ukraine, what it will take to deter Moscow, look ahead to upcoming corporate earnings disclosures, key takeaways from the Surface Navy Association’s symposium last week, interservice parochialism, the Treasury Department’s most recent outlays report and what’s ahead this week with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance on US and European markets — China’s impact on already strained global supply chains as Beijing enforces tougher covid lockdown — Airbus and Boeing order and delivery figures — Evolving Environmental, Social and Governance trends that are trending against defense and aerospace investment — Analysis of implosion of eVtol Special Purpose Acquisition Companies — Sweden increases troop presence on Gotland as Stockholm and capitals across Europe boost defense focus as Russia prepares to again invade Ukraine — Potential impact of the film “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing” that will debut next Friday at the Sundance Film Festival
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Michael Herson of American Defense International and Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Topics: — Defense appropriations outlook as service leaders warn of the perils of living under a full-year continuing resolution — What’s next now that US-NATO talks with Russia have failed and Moscow craft pretexts to press ahead with its planned invasion of Ukraine — How to deter Russia after a decade of failing to adequately stand up to Moscow’s transgressions and provocations — Lessons that Beijing is drawing from Russia’s continuous and effective breaking of international norms as China rises tensions over Taiwan — Implications of Beijing’s expanding influence in the Gulf — Key takeaways from the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Vice Adm. Bill Galinis, USN, the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command, discusses the impact of continuing resolutions on ship repair, how his team is addressing a massive maintenance and overhaul backlog, how new contracting approaches can improve availabilities at private shipyards, work to determine extra drydock and personnel needed to address wartime battle damage, improving battle damage repair skill at the upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercise as well as from the Bonhomme Richard after fire gutted the amphibious assault ship, survivability in an era of hypersonic anti-ship weaponry, and lessons from the Constellation-class frigate that can be applied to the Navy’s future destroyer with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Surface Navy Association’s 2022 symposium.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council think tank and a Wired magazine contributor discusses what to look for in '22. In our SNA recap Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm and co-host of the Cavas Ships podcast discusses messaging at the Surface Navy Association Conference during days one and two. Our SNA coverage is sponsored by Huntington Ingalls Industries and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Amb. Linc Bloomfield, who served at the White House, Pentagon and State Department across five administrations, discusses the recent US-Russia meetings to dissuade Moscow from again invading Ukraine and how best to deter further Russian aggression; Tom Reynolds, the senior director for business development at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Technical Solutions Unmanned Systems, discusses the company’s unmanned strategy, new products like Remus 300, an update on the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, expanding its reach into land and air markets; and Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, discusses key takeaways from the first day of the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Our SNA coverage is sponsored by HII and Raytheon Technologies.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) discuss the upcoming national security issues and events that will dominate this week's news cycle, including the Surface Navy Association National Symposium being held in Crystal City, Virginia.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense, commercial aviation and space stock performance on Wall Street and European markets — Analysis of Dassault Aviation’s Falcon business jet and Rafale fighter deliveries — Takeaways from Bank of America’s annual defense and aerospace conference — Implications of rising inflation on defense budgets and what it means for military programs and their contractors — Update on omicron impact on air travel — What to expect in the week ahead
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Michael Herson of American Defense International.
Topics:
— As worries of a full-year continuing resolution increase, House Appropriations Committee chair suggests $740 billion funding measure, plus next week's HAC-D hearing on CRs — Implications of Jan. 6 on 2022 legislation and politics, including President Biden’s address this week commemorating a year since the insurrection — US-China relations and Xi Jinping struggles with a faltering economy — Washington’s failure to rejoin Trans-Pacific Partnership as Beijing organizes rival bloc — Deterring Russia as Moscow moves forces to quell uprising in neighboring Kazakhstan — Whether bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission can serve as a model to solve other pressing national security challenges — Latest on national security, defense and military strategies — Update on Iran nuclear negotiations
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Darrell Bricker, PhD, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses results of a survey about Americans’ outlook on US democracy on the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection and key issues for 2022 and beyond with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discusses the latest on the Log4J vulnerability and what cyber stories to watch for in 2022 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Cavas and Chris Servello, the co-hosts of the CavasShips podcast, and Laura Winter, the host of The Downlink podcast, discuss the key naval and space issues of 2022 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the importance of speed as a factor in deterring Russia from further aggression against Ukraine, lessons from the 1991 Gulf War, threats from Iran and North Korea, his latest Defense Scorecard and expectations for the Treasury Department’s Jan. 12 fourth quarter 2021 figures and other issues to consider over the coming year with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Top stories from the holidays you may have missed — Key issues defense, commercial aviation and space stories of 2022 — Threats that are driving a positive outlook for defense spending in US, Europe and beyond — Changing investor consensus on decoupling of trade with China — Possible positive, and negative, shocks that could shape the coming year
On this last episode of 2021, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the key stories of the year that will help shape 2022; and in celebration of Festivus, Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the top bad national security ideas of the year, airs his grievances and celebrates little miracles with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this final 2021 episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report’s weekly Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and the commander of US Cyber Command who is now a cyber consultant and chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, and Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discuss the key cyber events of the year that will shape 2022 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Max Brooks, author “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War” and his latest book “Minecraft: The Island” who is also affiliated with the Institute for Modern War at the US Military Academy where he also teaches, discusses strategy, lessons from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as covid, deterring China and Russia, accelerating capabilities development and culture change, the threat from domestic extremism, and the importance of collaboration between the arts and military members with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series of discussions with leading thinkers and strategists and dedicated to the memory of Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this episode of the Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Paul Beaker, the chief engineer and director of advanced product development at GM Defense, discusses the company’s approach to product design, engineering, technology and production and how to accelerate program cycles, new families of US Army vehicles, and electrifying new and legacy vehicles with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market reaction to Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates to control inflation, passage of the National Defense Authorization Act and collapse of President Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better initiative — Impact of surging covid infection rates on once-bullish air travel forecasts through the holidays and beyond — Airbus A350F freighter and A321neo jetliner orders — Challenges facing Boeing’s 787 program as Italian authorities investigate subcontractor MPS that supplied defective titanium parts to Leonardo that makes carbon composite aircraft components for the wide-body aircraft — Delays on Boeing’s Space Launch System — Latest on British Army’s Ajax cavalry vehicle — Resignation of UK Brexit negotiator Lord Frost and growing perception that Boris Johnson will be out as prime minister by mid-2022 — Will governments will resort to more covid stimulus as pandemic is prolonged and whether failure of BBB frees resources in Washington to fight pandemic — Big stories of 2021 that will shape 2022
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Michael Herson of American Defense International. Topics: — Analysis of the National Defense Authorization Act passed this week by Congress — Update on appropriations and Build Back Better as Congress raises the nation’s debt limit — Russia’s demands as Moscow masses troops on Ukraine border and Washington and NATO work to defuse crisis — Biden administration moves against Chinese state-owned companies’ ability to operate in the United States, stopping diplomats from attending Beijing Winter Olympics and the nomination of Caroline Kennedy, the former US ambassador to Japan as America’s next ambassador to Australia — Update on the Iran nuclear deal as Israel deftly negotiates behind the scenes and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett makes historic visit to Abu Dhabi — Expectations of the Biden administration’s upcoming 2022 and out year spending plans to be released early next year — Look at the key events of 2021 that will shape 2022
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Emmanuel Mignot, the diplomatic advisor to the chairman of the French defense staff, Gen. Thierry Burkhard, discusses the chairman’s new Strategic Vision, threats, capabilities and cooperation with the United States; and Michael Kofman who heads the Russia team at the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s troop buildup on the Ukraine border, how Moscow can be deterred or punished, and how Ukraine should improve its capabilities with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Col. Dean “Data” Clothier, USAF Ret., the director of Joint Cyber Campaigns & Survivability at the Cyber and Information Solutions unit of Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems sector, discusses the Log4j vulnerability, lessons from past vulnerabilities that have accelerated response times, how to craft a Joint All Domain Command and Control architecture that is secure and resilient, technology and culture change and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this edition of the Defense & Aerospace Report’s Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Dr. Mark Lewis, a former director of Defense Research and Engineering who is now the director of the Emerging Technologies Institute of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses China’s hypersonic weapons program and the capabilities the United States must develop for hypersonic strike as well as defense against adversary systems with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discusses the magnitude of the vulnerability in the widely used Java logging library Log4j that can be exploited to take control of servers across cyberspace; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on the F-35 Lightning II win in Finland, Chinese violations of Taiwanese airspace and the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Performance of defense and aerospace shares on world markets as inflation hits 40-year high and omicron variant spreads — Global travel update as holidays approach and covid lockdowns, testing, mask and vaccine mandates return — Impact on plans to return mothballed aircraft to service as well as new jet deliveries — Finland’s decision to pick the F-35 Lightning II to replace aging F-18s now in service — What Helsinki’s decision means for Saab’s Gripen and Boeing’s F-18 — Germany’s defense outlook under new Chancellor Olaf Scholz — House passes National Defense Authorization Act as Senate takes up measure
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Michael Herson of American Defense International; in segment two we talk Army-Navy with John Schofield, co-founder of theProvision Advisors PR firm and co-host of the Sing Second Sports podcast. Topics: — Update on the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act — Talks to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, prospects for Build Back Better as inflation hits a 40-year high and a look at appropriations process — President Biden’s meeting with Vladimir Putin as Russia masses troops on the Ukraine border — Biden’s decision to block US diplomats from attending the upcoming winter Olympic Games in Beijing — The importance of Biden’s Summit of Democracies — Latest on reviving the Iran nuclear deal and Israeli concerns with further negotiations with Tehran — Takeaways from the Reagan National Defense Forum — Special coverage of the 122nd Army-Navy Game with prominent US Military Academy and the US Naval Academy graduates on what the rivalry has meant to them as cadets and midshipmen, as officers, and as lawmakers, service chiefs and secretaries and as defense secretary, and why sports are such an important part of the service academy ethos and curriculum
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dave Alexander, the president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, discusses the company’s new Mojave unmanned aircraft that was unveiled today — a short takeoff and landing variant of its Grey Eagle now in service with the US Army to address a future market for surveillance and strike capabilities that can operate from austere locations especially in the Indo-Pacific — how the company is accelerating new product development, the need to replace manned platforms with a wider array of unmanned systems, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by northern Grumman, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the senior advisor to the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission who is also the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, discusses the cyber elements of the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act that omitted key intrusion and ransomware reporting requirements, the need for businesses small and large to report intrusions to the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, what’s next for passing legislation including House efforts, and key takeaways from the Reagan National Defense Forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, French Navy Vice Adm. Hervé Bléjean, the Director General of the European Union Military Staff, discusses the EU’s Strategic Compass, threats and needed capabilities, partnership with the United States and NATO, unique role of the EU in global security, China and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s commentary at the Reagan National Defense Forum, prospects for and implications of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the week ahead; and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discusses funding his force on continuing resolutions, creating a service culture of moving faster, developing capabilities to deter adversaries like China, and safeguarding US high-value assets like military satellites from interference by Russia and China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners; in segment two Senator Jack Reed, D-RI; in segment three Mike Petters, the president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries Topics: — Week on world markets as investors grapple potential impact of omicron variant as scientists work to determine the impact of this latest covid strain — China’s decision to return Boeing’s 737 Max to flight, grounded after two deadly crashes — UAE’s decision to acquire more than 80 Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation as well as implications of the deal and other sales on the France-Germany-Spain SCAF 6th generation fighter effort — Bloomberg reporter Peter Robison’s book “Flying Blind: The 737 Max Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing” — Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-RI, on continuing resolutions, the National Defense Authorization Act, helping accelerate change as China threat looms and deterring Russian aggression in Ukraine — Mike Petters, the president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries on covid mandates, the omicron variant, making the case for budget stability and the future of work
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Michael Herson of American Defense International.
Topics: — Congress averts a government shutdown, but NDAA, full-year Continuing Resolution and debt limit increase loom — Analysis of what we know about the Biden administration’s Global Posture Review that was embraced by President Biden but remains classified — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s warning to China that it faces economic devastating if it miscalculates over Taiwan — Administration efforts to bring region together to better deter Beijing — Russia’s continued massing of forces on the Ukraine border — Israel’s call that Washington end a new round of nuclear negotiations with Iran — What our roundtable expects to hear from participants in this year’s Reagan National Defense Forum — Results of latest RNDF national security poll that shows declining American public support for the US military
On this episode of the JADC2 Report, sponsored by L3Harris, Bryan Clark, a retired US Navy commander and submariner who is now the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, discusses the Navy’s evolving approach to Joint All Domain Command and Control, the importance of bottom up experimentation, how JADC2 connects to the National Defense Strategy and the Global Force Posture Review, 5G and the future of military connectivity, why including synthetic training environments are key to future battle networks, and how to accelerate the fielding of the Pentagon’s No. 1 modernization priority with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Chris Painter, America’s first chief cyber diplomat during the Obama administration and who is now with the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, discusses how civilians are increasingly caught in the middle of escalating cyber war between Israel and Iran, setting and enforcing cyber norms, international cooperation to counter state-driven cyber campaigns and ransomware, and whether lessons from other domains like space apply to cyberspace with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Raanan Horowitz, the president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America who was a member of the Reagan Institute’s bipartisan task force on national security and US manufacturing competitiveness co-chaired by former Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Marilyn Hewson and Bridgewater Associates CEO David McCormick, discusses the Institute’s new report — “A Manufacturing Renaissance: Bolstering US Production for National Security and Economic Prosperity;” and Dr. Wes Naylor, a retired US Navy captain who is now the president of Fifty Pound Brains Ventures and a professor at the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulation and Training, discusses key themes at this year’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference that began today in Orlando, Fla., with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member) discuss the possible impacts of the new omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the outlook for inflation as well as the continuing resolution, authoritarians and defense spending, Ukraine and a look at the week ahead including the I/ITSEC conference and tradeshow this week in Orlando, Fla., with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Implications of new Omicron COVID variant on global air travel, trade and economy — Inflation update as the holidays approach — Black Friday and belly cargo — Canada’s decision to drop Boeing’s F/A-18 from fighter competition, leaving the field to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and Saab’s Gripen — Croatia picks former French Air Force Rafale jets by Dassault Aviation as its next fighter — What JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s comments about China and his double apologies mean
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Herson of American Defense International discusses what’s next when lawmakers return to Washington next week after Thanksgiving including the status of the $1.85 trillion Build Back Better initiative, the National Defense Authorization Act and debt ceiling discussions, appropriations and the CR; and Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the global security survey released at the 2021 Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada, with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Adm. Karl Schultz, USCG, the 26th commandant of the US Coast Guard, discusses how the force is improving its great power capabilities, China’s behavior in the Indo-Pacific, the key role his force can play regionally and worldwide, modernization priorities including offshore patrol vessels, the inland fleet as well as heavy and medium icebreakers, and the impact of climate change with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the 2021 Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on the week ahead; Peter Van Praagh, founding President of the Halifax International Forum, on key takeaways from this year’s gathering in Halifax, what to expect from HFX’s forum next year in Taipei, and why it’s important to meet in Taiwan; and Dr. Michael Auslin of the Hoover Institution, Heather Hurlburt of New America, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies analyze the Halifax Forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Recap of the week on world markets — Austria joins the Netherlands in locking down as COVID surges and other nations consider following suit — Dubai Airshow highlights including Airbus’ 4:1 order announcement advantage — MTU and P&W newsflow — Latest challenges facing Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program — Indonesia’s decision to order two Airbus A400M transports — Egypt move ahead with Rafale acquisition from Dassault Aviation — One year delay expected as Lockheed Martin moves F-16 production from Fort Worth, Texas, to Greenville, SC — Why F-35 fighter production continues to hover around 159 jets annually — Prospect of full-year continuing resolution
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Michael Auslin, the Payson J Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, and Heather Hurlburt, the director of the New Models of Policy Change project at the New America think tank’s Political Reform program.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Dr. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the future of the US Navy’s Aegis ballistic missile defense system at sea and ashore, how the iconic weapon system continues to be evolved to address emerging threats including from hypersonic weapons, an architectural approach to defeating hypersonic weapons that includes kinetic as well as electromagnetic and directed energy, the layered approach to developing US hypersonic capabilities and the what the Biden administration should bear in mind as it conducts its missile defense review with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This podcast marks the start of a regular series on air and missile defense as well as long-range strike.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, with an update on the cyber aspects of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure act and President Biden’s proposed $1.85 trillion Build Back Better initiative as well as the commission’s proposals that are likely to be adopted by Congress in upcoming legislation; and J. Michael Daniel, the president and CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance, discusses the recent worldwide cyber threat report issued by Palo Alto Network’s Unit 42 — produced in cooperation with CTA — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Steve Grundman, the director of the national security studies program at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University who is also a fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, discusses how the program is evolving to enhance focus on strategic thinking and strategy development for future national security leaders, the “Old Believer” wargame that integrates soft and hard power as well and sophisticated information operations, and how to improve educating a new generation of more capable strategists with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— The week on world markets as investors grapple with worst inflation in three decades — Rising covid rates as the Netherlands locks down again and implications for global air travel recovery — AerCap, QinetiQ and Hensoldt earnings — GE’s decision to break up into aviation, energy and healthcare companies — BoA-AvWeek survey that finds strong market demand for a new Boeing middle market jetliners with 757-like capabilities to counter Airbus A321neo — Why the US military is unsuited to counter China — Look ahead to the Dubai Airshow
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia who is now the president of Farkas Global Strategies, Peter Van Praagh, the president of the Halifax International Security Forum and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Implications of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s new elevated status and climate deal between Washington and Beijing — Russia’s buildup of troops on the Ukraine border and Belarus’ threats against energy flows to Europe — How Europe and America can deter Moscow and Minsk — Look ahead to the Halifax International Security Form that starts next week — HISF’s forum in Taipei next year as China ratchets up pressure on Taiwan — Countering authoritarianism worldwide — Trump administration’s rationale for firing then Defense Secretary Mark Esper — Politicization of coverage of DoD as Pentagon moves to address both China and Climate — Update on Iran nuclear negotiations and US delegations to Israel — A case for bigger US Navy budget for more ships and capabilities — Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed’s concerns with industrial consolidation
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology, Dr. Frank Hoffman, a distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University who is among America’s leading strategists and the author of “Mars Adapting: Military Change During War,” discusses the strategies America needs to prepare for future challenges, how strategies shape adversary behavior, lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, how to accelerate innovation cycles, the “four faces” of strategy formulation and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series of discussions with leading thinkers and strategists and dedicated to the memory of Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Bob Metzger of the law firm of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell and Michael Speca, the president of cybersecurity firm Ardalyst, discuss the Biden administration’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 that is consistent with government-wide National Institute for Standards and Technology cyber standards, how the new version differs from the older one, implementation timescales, addressing accreditation board concerns, how to help smaller firms improve their security and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Tom Mahnken, the president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Dr. Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific chair at the Hudson Institute, discuss China’s coordinated strategy of escalating regional tensions and saber-rattling to try to force the United States and its allies to back down, the keys to successful National, Defense, Indo-Pacific Strategies, preparing for a new nuclear age and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the wake of the ViaSat-Inmarsat deal, and a look at the week ahead; and Maj. Jesse Johnson, USAF, the commander of technical training transformation at the Air Education and Training Command, discusses how the force is harnessing cutting-edge technology to transform how it trains with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Week on world markets as investors respond to economic data, earnings and prospect of covid pills — Look at earnings takeaways as Crane, Huntington Ingalls Industries, L3Harris, Leidos, Leonardo, Maxar, Mercury Systems, Rheinmetall, SpiritAerosystems and others report — Air transport outlook as transatlantic travel opens up and airlines return wide-body aircraft like the A380 to service — Boeing settlement of a shareholder lawsuit against current and former directors — Whether Boeing can unlock value by breaking company up and selling units to rival firms — Legacy for former Airbus CEO Jean Pierson who died last week at age 80, leading the European firm from 1985-1998 and growing its market share from 17 to 40 percent — Roundup of major international ground combat vehicles competitions — Thoughts on the Navy’s plan for a new generation fighter aircraft
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Status of Biden’s social spending package and bipartisan infrastructure measure — Congressional defense budgeting update — Political lessons and 2022 implications of last Tuesday’s election outcomes, including Democratic rout in Virginia and close call in New Jersey — Takeaways from Pentagon’s latest report on China’s military modernization — Analysis of G20 and COP26 meetings — DoD’s move to create key climate role as it faces growing infrastructure and future operational challenges — Latest on Iran nuclear negotiations
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses his latest report on how the Pentagon should execute its leading modernization priority — The Joint All Domain Command and Control system — and Heidi Grant, the outgoing director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the first civilian to hold the job, discusses lessons from more than three decades of government service, why America remains the full-spectrum strategic partner of choice, and shaping future security cooperation in a competitive era with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Col. JC Vega, USA Ret., the chief information security officer at cybersecurity firm DEVO who co-founded the Army Cyber Institute at the US Military Academy, discusses why cyber education and training must change if the nation is to produce the talent it needs at the scale needed with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. James Smith, USA, the commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, and Brig. Gen. Joe Hilbert, USA, the commander of the 7th Army Training Command both discuss how their units — critical for supporting and training US and allied units in Europe to continue deterring Russia and honing high-end warfighting skills — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. The interviews were conducted at the Association of the United States Army’s 2021 annual meeting in Washington, DC, where our coverage was sponsored by RAFAEL USA.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners on defense and aerospace earnings takeaways, budget update and the week ahead; and retired Israel Army Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, the president and CEO of RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, discusses US market priorities, accelerating technology development and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. RAFAEL USA sponsored our coverage of the Association of the United States Army’s recent 2021 annual meeting and tradeshow in Washington, DC.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Wall Street reaction to defense and aerospace earnings reports that warned of supply chain and labor shortfalls, surprising investors — Revenue warnings by aircraft makers Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman — Airbus, Safran and Thales earnings analysis — Changing nature of the competition between Boeing and Airbus for orders and how the American firm may find it increasingly difficult to recover lost market share — Business jet outlook as General Dynamics and Textron report earnings — G20 newsflow including implications of global minimum tax and transatlantic agreement on aluminum and steel tariffs — Whether the world faces another covid surge as virus spreads in Eastern Europe — American Airlines’ operational challenges weeks after Southwest Airlines stumbles — Likelihood Turkey gets F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from Washington after termination of its role in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter program
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Update on Democratic efforts to forge a $1.85 trillion social package as defense debate stalls — Whether chaotic social reform legislative process will backfire on Democrats and alienate independents — Lawmakers’ response to China’s hypersonic weapon tests and testimony by the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — The Biden administration’s approach to China as a military threat and how to defend Taiwanese territory from attack — President Biden’s trip to Europe and opportunity to bring allies together — Update on Iran nuclear negotiations and Israel’s preparations in the event of future operation against Tehran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman, USA, the director of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team at the US Army Futures Command, discusses the array of vehicles the service is developing and the network that will connect them to allow the force to operate against any adversary whether in Asia, Europe, the desert, or the Arctic with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Michael Daniel, the president of the Cyber Threat Alliance, discusses ransomware gang REvil’s accusation against the United States, the role of law enforcement, military and intelligence agencies in fighting ransomware attacks, next steps in the battle, the right policy carrots and sticks to improve private-sector security, and countering Russia’s continuing cyber espionage operations with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn and Becca Wasser of the Center for a New American Security discuss their recent Foreign Policy article, 'Why the Pentagon Should Abandon ‘Strategic Competition’ with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with a look ahead at the upcoming week and upcoming earnings; and Mark Signorelli, the vice president for business development at BAE Systems Platforms and Services, discusses the company’s land warfare portfolio with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Roundup of the week on defense and aerospace stock performance on world markets — Commercial air travel demand and outlook for jetliner orders and deliveries — Drive to return mothballed aircraft back in service — Hexcel, Honeywell and Saab earnings as markets poised for results from leading US and European firms — China’s hypersonic weapon tests and spending implications should Beijing deploy a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia who is now the president of Farkas Global Strategies and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Congressional budget update as House and Senate appropriators hone in on 2022 Pentagon plus up — Sifting the fact and fiction from China’s hypersonic missile tests earlier this summer — North Korea’s test firing of its first submarine-launched ballistic missile — Ensuring Washington retains focus on Russia as it turns greater attention to China — Importance of the first ever meeting between Josep Burrell, the EU’s foreign affairs and security policy high representative, and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks — President Biden’s statement that US has a commitment to support Taiwan in the event of an attack by China — Analysis of the US Navy’s investigation into the fire that devastated the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Michael Bayer, former Defense Business Board chairman and president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, discusses the critical need for Defense Department leaders to increase agility, improve how they think about the challenges and solutions, revamp their approach to talent management if the United States is to better address the challenges the nation faces with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series of discussions with leading thinkers and strategists and dedicated to the memory of Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dmitri Alperovich, the co-founder and former CTO of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike who is now the cofounder and executive chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator and John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discuss progress being made across government and the international community in improving cybersecurity and specifically responding to ransomware and supply chain security challenges with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Dave Bassett, USA, the director of the Defense Contract Management Agency, discusses how smart contracting can save money, lessons from the covid pandemic that can be applied to future crises, accelerating acquisition and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Association of the United States Army’s 2021 meeting in Washington DC. Our AUSA coverage was sponsored by RAFAEL USA.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, remembering the life and lasting legacy of Gen. Colin Powell, USA Ret., former national security advisor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State with Dr. Harlan Ullman, who taught Powell at the National War College, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim, and former Defense Business Board Chairman Michael Bayer.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Roundup of the week on world markets — Airbus and Boeing commercial airliner deliveries — Latest Boeing challenges including new 787 manufacturing problems and indictment of a former 737 Max test pilot accused of misleading federal regulators — The real causes of Southwest Airlines’ recent hiccups — Takeaways from the National Business Aviation Association and Association of the United States Army’s annual meetings — Gen. Sir Nick Carter’s legacy and priorities for his successor as Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff, current First Sea Lord Adm. Sir Tony Radakin
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Steve Grundman of the Atlantic Council and the Grundman Advisory consultancy. Topics: — Congressional update as US borrowing limit is raised and Democrats work to forge a compromise spending package — Implications of budget deliberations and new Biden administration climate strategy on Pentagon spending — Whether allegations by former USAF software chief Nick Chaillan will drive DoD to address known cyber software and hardware vulnerabilities — Inflation impact on the Pentagon’s spending power — How China’s economic stumble could ripple across the global economy — Beijing’s continuing provocations across the Pacific and America’s allies increase their cooperation in the region and beyond — Europe’s continuing shift on its view of China as Beijing’s muscular stance alienates potential partners — UK investment in Africa ports to contest growing Chinese regional role — Takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting this week and Cold War lessons from the US Army in Europe that are applicable today — Israel’s about face on the Iran nuclear deal, Israel’s air strike in Syria and what’s next in Afghanistan
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council think tank and a Wired magazine contributor, discusses former USAF software chief Nick Chaillan’s regarding the Pentagon’s inability to improve its cyber defenses, grading the Biden administration’s cyber team, the White House’s drive to bring nations together to counter ransomware and national security takeaways from Facebook hearings with whistleblower Frances Haugen with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. James McConville, USA, the 40th US Army chief of staff, discusses deterring China, more hard choices, budget outlook, talent management and driving change at speed; Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners with key takeaways from this years Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting; and Laura Winter, the host of upcoming The Downlink podcast discusses American icon William Shatner’s trip aboard a Blue Origin New Sheperd to become the oldest person in suborbital space with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Wally Rugen, USA, the director of the Future Vertical Lift cross-foundational team at US Army Futures Command, discusses when the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft contract will be awarded, lessons from FLRAA that are applicable to the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft, flexible requirements and speeding acquisitions; Elbit Systems of America CEO Raanan Horowitz on innovation, Buy American concerns, and rising labor and material costs; and Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security on US Army leadership messaging with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On our coverage of Day One of the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting, Dana Mehnert, president of L3Harris Communication Systems business segment, discusses how the company’s merger between L3 Communications and Harris has allowed the united firm to win new contracts, how to execute JADC2, and accelerating program development; GM Defense President Steve duMont on new variants of the company’s Infantry Squad Vehicle and growth opportunities; and Maj. Gen. John Ferrari, USA Ret., of the American Enterprise Institute, discusses key takeaways from the first day of this three-day conference with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Lt. Gen Guy Swan, USA (ret.), AUSA vice president of education, “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Remembering Gen. Ray Odierno and his legacy of lifelong service — A look at the week on Walk Street as investors grappled with economic data and rising tensions in Asia — Commercial aviation update including Air Asia and Jet2Go orders for Airbus A321neo — Emirates CEO Tim Clark’s frustration with Boeing over 777X delay — Look ahead at what to expect at the upcoming National Business Aviation Association and Association of the United States Army conferences — Bell’s decision to re-engine its V280 Valor tiltrotor that’s competing for the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract — Whether the Celera 500L piston-engine powered business aircraft is too good to be true
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Update on NDAA and appropriations, increased borrowing limit that will forestall debt default until after Dec. 3, and slimmed down Democratic spending — Beijing’s increasingly larger formations of aircraft that are testing Taiwanese air defenses — Risks of the new strategy as scores of Chinese fighter, bombers and patrol aircraft operate near Taiwan — Outlook for Chinese economy as Evergrande and other institutions suffer setbacks — Prospects that Beijing, sensing decline, will move against Taiwan sooner than later — Whether a shift in US policy toward Taiwan would improve deterrence or undermine it — Bombing of Shiite mosque in Afghanistan that killed 48 — USS Connecticut’s mystery collision in the South China Sea that injured 11 aboard the Seawolf-class attack sub
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Adm. Sir George Zambellas, Royal Navy Ret., the former UK First Sea Lord, discusses the appointment of Royal Navy First Sea Lord Adm. Sir Tony Radakin as the next UK Chief of Defence Staff to succeed British Army Gen. Sir Nick Carter on Nov. 30, priorities for the force, driving innovation, the AUKUS deal and how to best equip the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear-powered submarines; and Dr. Hal Brands of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the article he co-authored with Dr. Michael Beckley of Tufts University and AEI — “China is a declining power — and that’s the problem: The United States needs to prepare for a major war, not because its rival is rising but because of the opposite“ with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Michael Speca, the president of Ardalyst discusses the key themes from the Mandiant Cyber Defense Summit held this week in Washington, DC--what more remote working and remote learning means for the government and civilian sector, the cost of increased reliance on the cloud, rising activity by more sophisticated threat actors and the associated rising business and financial risks from these threats and opportunities.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Sam Bendett, a member of the Russia team at the Center for Naval Analyses, discusses rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran over transit rights through the autonomous Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, Moscow’s regional role, joint Azeri-Turkish-Georgian military exercises, and what’s next; and Ryan Walters, a distinguished former US Army aviator who is now the Future Vertical Lift and Rotary Wing business development manager at Thales Visionix discusses the company’s AirMaster C compact radar, FlytX tactile large cockpit displays, and Scorpion helmet-mounted display with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Democratic and bipartisan spending plans, the defense implications if President Biden’s $3.5 trillion measure fails and a look at the week ahead; and George Awiszus, the director of military marine marketing and business development for GE Marine Solutions, discusses the company’s US and international naval propulsion business including the Constellation-class frigate program and electric drive technologies with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Huntington Ingalls Industries and GE Marine sponsored our coverage of the Navy League’s 2021 Sea Air Space show, while Fincantieri Marinette Marine sponsors our naval coverage.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look at US and European broader market drivers — Investor concerns about the rising prospects for conflict between the United States and China — Whether covid pandemic masked Brexit driven impact on UK economy — Military and commercial takeaways from the Zhuhai Air Show — Boeing’s $24 billion contract to sustain the US Air Force’s C-17 transport fleet — F-35 Lightning II fighter production rates — Growing cooperation between France and Greece — Speculation regarding Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet’s comments regarding a new program at the company’s Skunk Works unit that has both domestic and international appeal — Gulfstream’s new business jets in advance of the National Business Aviation Association’s upcoming annual tradeshow
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics — Outlook for federal budget and NDAA as lawmakers strike stopgap deal through Dec. 3 to avert government shutdown — Defense spending implications of bipartisan infrastructure deal and Democratic $3.5 trillion spending package — Beijing’s sharp rhetoric against Australia, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan as Washington focuses on domestic issues — Whether China becomes more dangerous as Xi Jinping’s economic policies and “wolf warrior” diplomacy undermine continued economic growth — Senate and House Afghanistan hearings and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley’s defense of his conversations with his Chinese counterpart in the wake of the 2020 election — What to expect from new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the upcoming German government expected to be led Olaf Schultz — Rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Turkey and Iran over access to Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh — US Army’s decision to reject RAFAEL’s combat proven Iron Dome system for Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 in favor of AIM-9X Sidewinder based approach by Dynetics and Raytheon
On this episode of the Technology Report, sponsored by General Motors Defense, Dr. Victoria Coleman, a Silicon Valley veteran who was a former director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency who in April became the US Air Force’s 37th chief scientist, discusses her priorities, potentially breakthrough technology areas to focus on, accelerating technology development and adoption, how to successfully execute the Joint All-Domain Command and Control System, why the Air Force needs a chief technology officer, ways to avoid wasting resources to reinvent existing technologies, more quickly harnessing available commercial technologies for military applications, and nurturing better technology and engineering talent in the Air Force with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jennifer Walsmith, vice president of the Cyber and Information Solutions Business Unit of Northrop Grumman’s Network Information Solutions Division, discusses how to best execute the Defense Department’s Joint All Domain Command and Control vision especially its cyber dimensions, ensuring a secure and open architecture, improving hardware and software vulnerabilities of existing weapons and NDAA takeaways; and Col. Brian Beachkofski, USAF, the commander and the CEO of the US Air Force’s Kessel Run agile software development unit — formally known as the Air Force Life-Cycle Management Center Detachment 12 — discusses the SlapShot application that played a critical role in the evacuation of more than 122,000 from Afghanistan, how it was developed and quickly adapted for the mission, the key to quickly developing secure cyber applications, lessons learned, and changing culture to accept risks that will yield big payoffs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. Jeffrey “Cobra” Harrigian, USAF, commander of US Air Forces in Europe, US Air Forces Africa and NATO’s Allied Air Command, discusses Russia’s improving military capabilities, Moscow’s Zapad wargames and troops surge on the Ukraine border, improving allied interoperability, changing culture to empower airmen for better warfighting capabilities, practicing Agile Combat Employment and preparing for more distributed future operations, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses congressional debt deliberations, prospects for a default and a look at the week ahead; and Laura Winter, the editor of The Downlink newsletter and host of our upcoming The Downlink space podcast, discusses key takeaways from the 2021 Outer Space Security Conference — as well as the Air Force Association’s recent Air Space Cyber convention — and the recent Quad meeting hosted by President Biden with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— The week on Wall Street as investors grappled with macro-economic factors — Covid travel update as Washington allows European travelers to enter the United States — Implications of Beijing’s “hostage diplomacy” on the international trade China depends on for its prosperity — Takeaways from Airbus recent corporate seminar including technology investment priorities on propulsion and aerodynamics — Boeing’s 20-year market forecast for 8,700 jets valued at some $1.5 trillion based on 5.4 percent annual air travel growth — Rolls-Royce beats GE and Pratt & Whitney to win US Air Force’s $2.6 billion contract for 650 F130 to re-engine 76 B-52 bombers — Prospects for Lockheed Martin-Airbus partnership to pursue the Air Force’s “bridge” aerial tanker contract in the wake of Boeing problems with KC-46 Pegasus refueling jet — Analysis of the seven-second social media clip of what appears to be a model of a stealth aircraft on a flatbed truck at Lockheed Martin’s electronics and radar cross section test facility in Helendale, Calif.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha partners and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics:
— Update on reconcilliation, debt ceiling, infrastructure and NDAA — Whether defense spending might become a casualty as debt collides with infrastructure and spending plans — Democrat’s self-inflicted wound over move to block funding for Israel’s Iron Dome system — Biden’s UN address, Quad meeting and bilateral discussions with UK and Australia in the wake of the three-nation strategic partnership — How Beijing is responding to the deal that will furnish Canberra with nuclear attack submarines — Transatlantic links in wake of call between Biden and Macron to discuss AUKUS deal as EU calls for higher spending and more strategic autonomy — Takeaways from the Air Force Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow — What’s next in Tokyo as Yoshihide Suga prepares to step down as prime minister
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission who is also affiliated with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, discusses the status of cyber-related legislation working through the House and Senate, key cyber attributes of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure measure being debated by lawmakers, future cyber priorities, addressing long-standing and pervasive operating systems vulnerabilities across US military systems and networks, the defense budget outlook including the prospects of debt-driven spending constraints, and how the new Australia-United States-United Kingdom deal to furnish Canberra with new nuclear-powered attack submarines can be executed and what Washington has to do to address France’s concerns with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Frank Kendall, the 26th secretary of the Air Force, discusses how the threat from China has evolved over the past four years, preparing for an increasingly dangerous nuclear era, how to determine what systems are relevant, whether it’s time to break out the “passthrough” elements of the USAF budget that are used to address joint needs, and the near- and middle-term budget outlook, and Steve Trimble, AvWeek’s defense editor, discusses key takeaways from all three days of the Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Chance “Salty” Saltzman, USSF, the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear for the US Space Force, discusses how to think about space threats, improving Space Force operations, deterring adversaries in space, how the force can help the Space Force in its missions, a new generation of nuclear threats, and driving a culture of innovation in the new force; Eric Hein, vice president for defense advanced development and space programs at Spirit AeroSystems, discusses how the company is innovating design and production to expand its defense and space business; and John Tirpak of Air Force Magazine on some takeaways from Day Two of the Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control Report, sponsored by L3Harris, on the first day of the Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and trade show, Lt. Gen. Clint “Q” Hinote, USAF, the deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements, discusses the mounting threat posed by China, the future of air power, the Air Force’s long-range strategy to impose costs on adversaries, accelerating change, preparing to surprise adversaries and minimizing being surprised by them; and Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies discusses key takeaways from the first day of the AFA show including addresses by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and USAF Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, USAF, with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — A look at the week on Wall Street as investors grapple with pandemic, congressional spending priorities and Australia sub deal — Commercial air travel update as delta variant continues to hit unvaccinated Americans — Lawmakers express antitrust concerns over “Northeast Alliance” between American Airlines and JetBlue — Move to prosecute Boeing 737 Max pilot for lying to FAA and two miniature tequila bottles found on 747-8 being converted into presidential VC-25B jet — Industrial implications of US-UK-Australia agreement to furnish Canberra with nuclear-powered attack submarines, drawing French ire after Australian officials cancelled their contract to acquire conventionally powered subs from France’s Naval Group — Key takeaways from recent DSEI show in London — Look ahead to Air Force Association’s Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow Sept. 20-22
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Look ahead to House floor vote on National Defense Authorization Act and amendments including rejecting the $25 billion increase to Pentagon spending — Senate continues markups with plans to vote next month — Update on continuing resolution — Implications and strategic messaging aspects of the new partnership among the United States, United Kington and Australia on technology development, including furnishing Canberra with eight new nuclear-powered attack submarines — Whether Congress will endorse legislative changes to export nuclear submarine technology to Australia — Paris’ rage in the wake of the surprise AUKUS deal and the abrupt cancellation of Canberra’s contract with Naval Group for a dozen conventionally powered submarines — How the Biden administration can dispel the growing perception that it’s as unilateralist, unpredictable and America First as the Trump administration — What Washington should do to mollify tensions with France, a key European and Pacific ally — North Korea’s new missile tests — Analysis of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley’s role in contacting China to reassure Chinese leaders as tensions rose after Trump’s November election loss
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Dr. Graham Allison, strategist and professor at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, discusses the nature of strategy, examples of good and bad strategies, how American can up its strategic game, lessons from recent conflicts, and the need for a more nuanced view of both deterring and engaging China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series dedicated to the memory of Andy Marshall, the late former director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Heather Penney, senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies who is the coauthor of “Speed is Life: Accelerating the Air Force’s Ability to Adapt and Win,” discusses how to improve US Air Force cyber capabilities; and Justin Sherman, Wired magazine contributor and Atlantic Council fellow, discusses takeaways from his new report “Cyber Defense Across the Ocean Floor: The Geopolitics of Submarine Cable Security” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, USN, the chief of naval research and the director of the Office of Naval Research, discusses his priorities, how to more quickly turn ideas into capabilities, promising technology areas, takeaways from the latest Battle Fleet Problem, and growing better scientific and engineering talent with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha partners discusses key takeaways from the House Armed Services Committee’s markup report, RDT&E cycles and lessons from past continuing resolutions and federal shutdowns; and Kevin Billings of Legation Strategies who is an honorary Royal Air Force group captain assigned to 601 Squadron discusses the service’s Global Air Forces Climate Change Collaboration initiative that he’s leading with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Look at the week on world markets — Why 2021 is like 1967 and what it means for the future — How the defense and aerospace industries have changed over the past two decades since 9/11 — Outlook for protectionism after two decades of war-driven globalization, including Biden administration’s rising Buy American strictures — Implications of Washington’s new Buy American approach on allies and partners
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia who is now the president of Farkas Global Strategies and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Herson of American Defense International discusses the bipartisan infrastructure measure, Democrat’s $3.5 trillion spending package and House-Senate defense markups, debt ceiling and lessons learned in the two decades since 9/11; and Lisa Curtis, the director of the Indo-Pacific security program at the Center for a New American Security discusses the Biden doctrine, working with the Taliban to advance US interests in Afghanistan and what’s worked and what hasn’t over the past 20 years since al Qaida’s attack on the United States with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Emma Schroeder, an assistant director at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, and Simon Handler, a senior fellow with the initiative, discuss the new paper they co-authored — with initiative director Dr. Trey Herr and intern Frances Schroeder — “Countering Ransomware: Lessons from Aircraft Hijacking,” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the budget reconciliation measure and tax impacts on the defense industry, European “strategic autonomy” and US Army air defense; and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses Russia’s International Military Technical Forum Army 2021 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — The week on world markets as covid delta surges across America, impacting the US economy — Air travel update as EU reimposes travel bans on US travelers — Proposal by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Drs. John Bell and David Agus that G20 lead efforts to reopen the global economy — Wall Street Journal reporting that Boeing won’t be able to resume deliveries of 787 jetliners sidelines by manufacturing defects until at least October — Ryanair’s decision to end talks with Boeing to buy 737 Max 10 jets — Prospects for Comac’s C919 regional jet as it enters certification process some four years after first flight — House Armed Services Committee markup takeaways — European drive to improve strategic autonomy in the wake of the US-led pullout from Afghanistan including closer EU-NATO cooperation — London studied options for UK strategic nuclear deterrent should Scotland declare independence — Harsh social media criticism of Gen. Sir Nick Carter, Britain’s chief of defense staff — E-VTOL lessons from recent commercial space flight challenges including failed launched and FAA investigation of recent Virgin Galactic flight with Sir Richard Branson
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— Prospects for bipartisan infrastructure measure and Democratic $3.5 trillion spending plan — Takeaways from the House Armed Services Committee’s markup — Move by special committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection seeking electronic records on members who may have been involved in assault on the Capitol — Climate change implications for US national security, including impact on global infrastructure and role in precipitating future conflict — Afghanistan and the future of US nation-building strategies — Biden’s political traction in the wake of Afghanistan withdrawal
On this episode of the Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell,Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses how Washington can use air power to continue to fight terrorism in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops, lessons from the past three decades that are applicable to deterring and fighting peer adversaries, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Lt. Gen. Tim Haugh, USAF, commander of the Sixteenth Air Force, discusses his priorities for the command that was reconstituted in 2019 to oversee intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, analysis, electronic and cyber warfare, improving cyber defenses and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, in segment one our guest is Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. In segment two we are joined by Sam Caucci, the Founder & CEO of 1Huddle to discuss the future of work and training.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market performance as Covid delta variant surges in US, House cleared bipartisan infrastructure and broader Democratic spending packages, and Afghanistan withdrawal presses on — Messages from HASC chairman releases markup that included some $900 million for a dozen F/A-18 Super Hornets, a new nuclear cruise missile for the Navy and an additional destroyer — Commercial air travel outlook as delta surges and airlines require vaccinated staffs — Decision by Delta Air Lines to acquire 30 more A321neo keys from Airbus — Whether Germany will acquire US aircraft to continue performing tactical nuclear mission — Afghanistan withdrawal lessons including shortcomings of pervasive reliance on contractor maintenance
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we take a deep dive into the events in and around the US withdrawal from Afghanistan– our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn and Becca Wasser of the Center for a New American Security discuss the evolution of air power since the Gulf War and lessons from Operation Inherent Resolve as the United States and its allies focus on great power threats with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Karl Wagner, a 30-year CIA veteran who served as a senior counterintelligence officer who is now the cofounder and CEO of ConfirmD by BuddyCheque, discusses how to improve cyber defenses by better visualizing threats, improving risk management and insider trust, importance of “humanware,” defending critical data, and the attributes of the ConfirmD health wallet with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as well as a fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, discusses his strategy to improve the defense of Guam, improving America’s ability to deter China, the Asia-Pacific implications of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Asia with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance in the week since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan — UK outrage over US withdrawal from Afghanistan and lack of consultation with it’s closest ally, prompting soul-searching in London regarding the nation’s strategic assumptions — Utility of mountains of US and allied equipment left behind that’s now in Taliban hands — Implications of the downturn in US and European commercial airline traffic — Update ongoing moves to acquire Meggitt and Ultra, and why the UK authorities may view each transaction differently — Improving outlook for Rolls-Royce — Newsflow on the US Air Force’s Skyborg program
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we take a deep dive into the events in and around the US withdrawal from Afghanistan-- our guests are Chris Jackson, a senior vice president at Ipsos Public Affairs, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors public relations firm (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Andy Green, the president of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Technical Solutions division, discusses the shipbuilder’s $1.65 billion acquisition of defense services firm Alion that concluded today; and Chris Gehler, Bell’s vice president and program director for the company’s Invictus 360 on redesigning the helicopter’s tail rotor with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Cy Alba, a partner with the PilieroMazza law firm, discusses the legal implications of President Biden’s cyber executive order, key upcoming events, impact on prime and sub contractors, improving the supply chain, the outlook for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification process and the role of cyber in the boardroom with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank and Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group discuss their recent article for the CDR Salamander Blog "Disrupt the Navy’s Operational Model to Counter China."
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) discuss the latest events in and around Afghanistan, including President Biden's remarks to the nation.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Reflections on the defense industrial implications of two decades of war in Afghanistan as the Taliban retake the country — Lessons from the war and what’s applicable to future conflicts — Financial implications for defense contractors — What drove financial markets this week and L3Harris earnings — Future of innovative UK companies Ultra, Meggitt and even Babcock in flux — Boeing delays Starliner launch to repair spacecraft — Air travel outlook as China’s market further cools — India looks to return 737 Max to flight
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and Stacie Pettyjohn, a Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Topics: — Dynamics surrounding Senate’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure initiative and $3.5 trillion budget plan — Outlook for raising the debt ceiling, continuing resolutions and possibility of government shutdown — Takeaways from latest Green Book — Senate Armed Services Committee concerns with the Biden administration’s Pacific Defense Initiative — Biden administration policies that allowed the Taliban to seize key Afghan territory in one week and threaten Kabul — Case for and against the administration’s drive to exit Afghanistan irrespective of the human and geopolitical impact — How US abandonment of Afghanistan will impact perceptions of American leadership among allies and adversaries — Whether Washington can effectively counter terror groups that will seek to threaten the United States and its allies from safe havens in Afghanistan — Update on Lockheed Martin’s proposed acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Kori Schake, the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the implications of the Biden administration’s precipitous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the implications of the Taliban’s rapid advance on Kabul, who will fill the power vacuum in the country, the administration’s differing approaches to Iraq and Afghanistan, vaccinating the troops and civil-military relations with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dr. Jim Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses next cyber steps for the Biden administration, securing the supply chain and insurance and cyberspace; and John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security also discusses key deadlines facing the national security cyber community, assuring the integrity of software and hardware supply chains and ensuring a level playing field with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, our guests are Dave Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, discusses the Sea Guardian variant of the company’s MQ-9B aircraft for maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning applications; and John Miller and Ed Thaxton of Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems discuss the attributes of all-electric naval propulsion with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discuss Joint All Domain Command and Control issues that DoD must resolve to improve future battle force connectivity — including Harrison’s new report “Battle Networks and the Future Force” — hypersonic weapons, the Senate’s ongoing infrastructure deliberations and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Week on world markets as economic performance improves and covid outlook remains uncertain as concerns about new variants grows — Protests against mask, vaccination and vaccine passport mandates — Travel outlook as air carriers work to balance supply and demand — Review of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Mercury Systems, Rheinmetall and Thales earnings — Abrupt departure of Lockheed Martin CFO Ken Possenriede days before the company’s virtual investor day — Analysis of Boeing’s decision to spin off its HorizonX venture capital unit and Thales’ decision to see its heritage, and historic, transportation business to Hitachi for nearly 1.7 billion euros — Eurofighter partner nations move to major upgrade that will keep the combat jet relevant for decades that could yield future sales — Bell’s decision to change the tail rotor design of its 360 Invictus aircraft that’s pursuing the US Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft contract — Investors’ view of Senate Armed Services Committee move to boost US defense spending by $25 billion and push by Senate Republicans for $50 billion in additional defense infrastructure investment
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank and Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council. Topics: — The move by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer to put the more than $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal to a vote — Effort by Senate Republicans to carve out $50 billion for military infrastructure investment — Economic and budget implications of spreading delta and other variants of coronavirus on national economic recovery — China’s drive to build more than 200 new ballistic missile silos and field new multi-nuclear warhead intercontinental weapons to improve its nuclear deterrence capabilities — Whether recent statements by US leaders discussing American wargames and commitments to defend Taiwan will serve to deter potential Chinese aggression — Takeaways from the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow — New maritime and naval aviation strategies — Taliban gains in Afghanistan as US and foreign troops withdraw — What’s next in Iraq as US changes nature of its mission in the country — Outlook for reviving the Iran nuclear deal as Tehran is accused of attacking an Israeli-managed tanker, killing American and Romanian mariners — Navy’s investigation that concluded a disgruntled sailor set the fire that destroyed the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard and the firefighting lessons learned from the conflagration
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Chris Cleary, the US Navy’s principal cyber adviser, and Josh O’Sullivan, the chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm Ardalyst, from the sidelines of the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and trade show discuss the kind of relationship needed between government and industry to improve the nation’s cyber security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Our coverage of this year’s Sea-Air-Space was sponsored by Huntington Ingalls Industries and GE Marine and our naval coverage is sponsored by Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast from the Navy League’s Sea, Air & Space Symposium and Trade Show , our guest is segment one is Wesley D. Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense. In segment two our guest is Jon Rambeau, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors unit. Finally, in our roundtable segment, we break down the show with Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group, and Chris Servello, co-host of the CavasShips Podcast and a founder of Provision Advisors.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast from the Navy League’s Sea, Air & Space Symposium and Trade Show, , our guest is segment one is Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries. In segment two we break down day two of the show with Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this first episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast from the Navy League's Sea, Air & Space Symposium and Trade Show, , our guest is segment one is Rear Adm. Casey J. Moton, PEO, Unmanned and Small Combatants. In segment two we break down day on of the show with our very Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, cohosts of the Cavas Ships Podcast.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Turbulent week on Wall Street as delta variant cases surge and new lockdowns and mandates are imposed — Outlook for commercial air travel and future earnings as cases among unvaccinated rise and implications for jet makers — Dassault, Honeywell Saab and Thales earnings and what to expect when US giants report next week — How recent climate disasters from raging forest fires in America and Russia to devastating flash floods in Europe and China will impact global travel — Surf Air’s move to acquire 150 hybrid-powered Grand Caravan single-engine aircraft from Textron — Market for electric aircraft in the air transport ecosystem — The Senate Armed Services Committee to add $25 billion to the Biden administration’s $715 billion defense budget request and what that means for future Pentagon spending — Market prospects for Russia’s new stealthy export fighter — The first crewed suborbital flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute. Topics: — Update on bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package and Jan. 6 commission — House Armed Services subcommittee mark ups and appropriations bills — Analysis of Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten’s statement that Pentagon must reconsider warfighting approaches and capabilities in the wake of October wargame where US forces fared poorly in defending Taiwan from Chinese attack — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s first overseas trip to Asia and IISS Fullerton Lecture in Singapore — Chinese role in Afghanistan as the United States and its allies withdraw from the country — Life and legacy of former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin who passed away this week at age 87
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Col. Mark Cancian, USMCR Ret., a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Dr. Jim Hasik of George Mason University who is with the Atlantic Council think tank discuss takeaways from Hasik’s “The Security of Defense Trade with Allies: Enhancing Contact, Contracts, and Control in Supply Chains,” balancing Buy American strictures and partnering with allies and partners on technology, covid lessons for supply chains and military mobilization, what modern military mobilization looks like, and the industrial implications of changing the Pentagon’s approach to warfighting with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Adm. Mike Rogers, USN Ret., the former director of the National Security Agency and first commander of US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, discusses President Biden’s new directive on cyber security and infrastructure, how leaders and followers need to think about a rapidly changing cyber ecosystem, Joint Chief Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten’s comments that DoD must rethink war planning and capabilities after US forces lost an October wargame that simulated defending Taiwan against Chinese attack, responding to Russian ransomware attacks and deterring China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Jeff Schloesser, US Army Ret., the former commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Combined Joint Task Force-101 in Afghanistan who is now the executive vice president for strategic pursuits at Bell, discusses his book “Marathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan,” the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw US combat forces from the country, lessons learned from the two decade conflict, how to prepare more strategically minded leaders and how to continue to fight the war on global terror despite a growing focus on countering great powers like China and Russia with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha partners discusses Lockheed Martin’s earnings, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup, and US-China-Taiwan relations; Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and the Center for a New American Security discusses Russia’s new Checkmate stealthy export fighter and unmanned news from the MAKS airshow outside Moscow; and Dr. Mark Lewis, the director of the Emerging Technologies Institute at the National Défense Industrial Association discusses takeaways from the address by Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Institute’s launch event with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Turbulent week on Wall Street as delta variant cases surge and new lockdowns and mandates are imposed — Outlook for commercial air travel and future earnings as cases among unvaccinated rise and implications for jet makers — Dassault, Honeywell Saab and Thales earnings and what to expect when US giants report next week — How recent climate disasters from raging forest fires in America and Russia to devastating flash floods in Europe and China will impact global travel — Surf Air’s move to acquire 150 hybrid-powered Grand Caravan single-engine aircraft from Textron — Market for electric aircraft in the air transport ecosystem — The Senate Armed Services Committee to add $25 billion to the Biden administration’s $715 billion defense budget request and what that means for future Pentagon spending — Market prospects for Russia’s new stealthy export fighter — The first crewed suborbital flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Becca Wasser, Defense Program fellow at the Center for a New American Security, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute .
Topics: — Senate Armed Services Committee’s decision to boost defense spending authorization by $25 billion — National security implications as nation’s borrowing rapidly approaching legislatively mandated debt ceiling — Update on infrastructure and Jan. 6 commission maneuvering — Registering women for the Selective Service — Whether more money forestalls vitally necessary tradeoffs in developing future capabilities — Key takeaways from the supply chain report co-chaired by Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., and Elissa Slotkin, R-Mich. — How the Biden administration will balance Buy American tendencies against the imperative to draw the best technology and capabilities from allies and partners — White House’s successful drive to unite NATO, EU, and other allies to work together to expose China’s malicious activities in cyberspace — Japan’s statement on Taiwan and the implications of Beijing’s threat of a nuclear response against Tokyo — Whether the Biden administration should stake out a more overt commitment to the defense of Taipei and whether that would deter Beijing from taking Taiwan by force — The problematic nature of Chinese rhetoric given that Japan has potent capabilities that can rapidly field nuclear weapons as well as means of delivery — Vladimir Putin’s treatise on why Ukraine should be part of Russia and how Moscow will gain control of Ukrainian territory — without military action
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest, Dr. Tom Mahnken, the CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discusses the report he co-authored — “Implementing Deterrence by Detection — Innovative Capabilities, Processes, and Organizations for Situational Awareness in the Indo-Pacific Region” — how to establish a theater-wide detection and warning network for peace and war, what capabilities that JADC2 has to deliver and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Chris Painter, America’s first chief cyber diplomat during the Obama administration and who is now with the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, discusses what’s next now that the United States, NATO, the EU and allies have agreed to expose Beijing’s malicious cyber activities, countering China and Russia in cyberspace, tackling ransomware attacks as a national security priority, and the challenge posed by spyware in the wake of news reports alleging that products by Israel’s NSO Group has been used against government leaders and journalists worldwide with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Dr. Harlan Ullman, a retired US Navy captain who is now the chairman of the Killowen Group consultancy and author of 10 books on military strategy, discusses lessons from the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, flawed strategic assumptions that contributed to failures in both countries, why America wins battles but loses wars, how warfare is changing, how to think about China and Russia as adversaries, countering domestic extremism and disinformation, and a military education system for the future with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Performance of aerospace and defense shares on world markets — Commercial air travel update as delta variant spreads — Boeing 787 production issues, FAA’s directive on 737 switches and Flydubai’s decision to halve its 737 Max order — Washington’s new concerns over Hong Kong and implications for US-China relations, including aerospace trade — Virgin Galactic stock price drop in wake of Sir Richard Branson’s successful suborbital flight — EU’s new climate goals and impact on commercial air travel — How devastating floods in Germany that have left 1,300 unaccounted could have electoral and defense impact — Pakistan’s decision to acquire 10 maritime patrol aircraft from Leonardo — Poland’s decision to acquire hundreds of General Dynamics’ M1 Abrams tanks — Russia’s new single-engine stealth fighter that’s slated to be unveiled next week at the MAKS airshow
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller, Dr. Scott Harold, senior political scientist at the Rand Corporation think tank, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners. Topics: — Update on appropriations marks and plan for floor passage, AUMF repeals, security supplemental, infrastructure and $3.5 trillion democratic spending plan — Key defense appropriations takeaways — Outlook for key Biden administration defense nominations in the wake of decision by Mike Brown to withdraw as the nominee to become the Pentagon’s next under secretary for acquisition and sustainment — How Washington must respond to Moscow after record wave of ransomware attacks and Russia’s harassment of allied naval vessels in the Black Sea and Mediterranean despite Biden-Putin meeting last month — The signal an inadequate response to Russia will send to China — What’s next as a triumphal and belligerent Xi Jinping celebrates the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th anniversary — News reports of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley’s concerns about a coup in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency and how allies and adversaries will interpret discord in Washington
On the first monthly JADC2 Report, sponsored by L3Harris, Cdr. Bryan Clark, USN Ret., the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, Chris Dougherty, a senior fellow in the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, and Todd Harrison, the director of both Defense Budget Analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discuss the vital importance of Joint All Domain Command and Control, the right way to interconnect the joint force and integrated legacy and future capabilities, challenges and impediments that must be overcome and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dmitri Alperovich, the co-founder and former CTO of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike who is now the cofounder and executive chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security, and Justin Sherman of Wired Magazine and the Atlantic Council think tank who just authored a new paper “Reassessing RuNet: Russian internet isolation and implications for Russian cyber behavior,” discuss the largest ransomware attacks on record by Russia’s ReVil group, what the Biden administration must do next to better either deter Moscow or force it to crack down on domestic cyber criminal groups, improving defenses against ransomware attacks, and authoritarian states and the internet with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, USN Ret., the executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, discusses key takeaways from the 23-page “A Report on the Fighting Culture of the United States Navy Surface Fleet” he co-wrote with Lt. Gen. Robert “Rooster” Schmidle, PhD, USMC Ret., how to improve Surface Force culture, capabilities, readiness and warfighting with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Lt. Gen. Vincent Cousin, the director of operations for the French Air Force, discusses the rapid deployment of Rafale fighters, A400M transports and A330 tankers and 150 airmen to French Polynesia, training with US Air Force units in the United States, exercises with Rafales and Pacific Air Forces F-22s in Hawaii, takeaways from the recent USAF-French Air Force-Royal Air Force interoperability exercises and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance drivers for the week — Travel implications of uneven vaccinations, rising Delta variant and differing national border policies — Airbus’ June orders and deliveries — Outlook for Beijing’s recertification of the Boeing 737 Max to resume operating in Chinese airspace — Whether China aviation authorities will certify the Comac 919 before it’s ready for operations — NetJets’ decision to pause small- and medium-size jet sales due to high demand — Impact of Germany’s decision to buy Boeing’s P-8 on Franco-German MAWS program and SCAF effort involving Paris, Berlin and Madrid — Analysis of the the successful Virgin Galactic Unity 22 suborbital flight that made Sir Richard Branson the first space baron to achieve astronaut status
On this combined Washington Roundtable and Business Report episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute. In segment two we are joined by our normal Sunday business crew, “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Move by House to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, update defense spending plus-ups and bipartisan infrastructure legislation and Jan. 6 investigation — Look at House Appropriations defense subcommittee markup — Outlook for Biden administration nominations that are on hold including Frank Kendall, Mike Brown, Jen Easterly and Susanna Blume — Implications of Russia’s recent test of a new missile and revelation that China is building some 120 new ballistic missile silos in the western desert near Yumen — Legacy of former two-time Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who passed away this week at age 88 — Switzerland’s decision to acquire Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II to replace aging Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Northrop Grumman F-5 Tiger fighters as well as Raytheon’s Patriot air and missile defense system — Germany’s move to acquire Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon as its next maritime patrol aircraft, jeopardizing plan to cooperate with France on future capability — United Airlines’ decision to acquire 200 Boeing 737 Max and 70 Airbus A321neo jetliners — Boeing picks Brian West as new chief financial officer to replace Greg Smith who retired earlier this year
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Heather Conley, the senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic and the director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses key takeaways from the 10th annual EU Defence Washington Forum hosted by the European Union Delegation to the United States and CSIS, improving EU-US security, forging consensus on countering Russia and China, addressing hybrid threats especially in the electromagnetic spectrum engineered to counter US and allied warfighting advantages with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman,Nigel Inkster, the director of transnational threats and political risk at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses IISS’ new report — “Cyber Capabilities and National Power: Net Assessment” — that ranks 15 leading cyber nations that places the United States alone in the top tier, how to counter China and Russia, fighting the ransomware scourge, deterrence in cyberspace, The balance between offense and defense, the line between intelligence gathering and an act of war, and NATO’s Article V and cyber with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses five key defense issues to watch through the rest of 2021, House Appropriations defense subcommittee markup takeaways, the need to experiment to transform, US and EU supply chain and industrial base issues and a summer reading list with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Dr. Tom Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Col. Mark “Gonzo” Gunzinger, USAF Ret., the director of future concepts and capability assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discuss the report Gunzinger co-authored with Mitchell’s Lukas Autenried — “Building a Force That Wins: Recommendations for the 2022 National Defense Strategy” — long-range precision strike capabilities DoD should develop, Air Force and Army long-range strike roles and missions in Asia and Europe, defending the force against Chinese and Russian precision strike capabilities and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Performance of aerospace and defense companies on Wall Street as America steadily returns to normal — Outlook for air travel as Delta variant of covid on the rise in 85 countries, including US where 35 percent of the population haven’t been vaccinated — Look ahead to expected announcement by United for several hundred new narrow body airliners — Boeing outlook as chief lobbyist Tim Keating abruptly leaves the giant without explanation as questions mount about whether the company has the engineering and management capacity for a turnaround — Biden administration move to forge national industrial strategy and whether Washington may have to intervene on Boeing’s behalf — Industrial strategy and the creation of Airbus — Russia fires shots across HMS Defender’s bow — Outlook for merger between Cobham and Ultra — News reports that F-35 Lightning II fighter leads technical evaluation in Switzerland’s competition for a new jet to replace aging F-18 and F-5 aircraft — Biden administration’s move away from products made by forced labor in Xinjiang
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Defense & Aerospace, Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, USAF, the program executive officer of the F-35 Lightning II fighter, discusses why the ambitious multinational stealthy strike jet effort is vital, is delivering game-changing capability today as it prepares for tomorrow’s threats, getting steadily cheaper to buy and operate while blazing the trail for new aircraft, command systems and synthetic training environments in an exclusive interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International. Topics: — How President Biden may have jeopardized the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal by retroactively linking the measure to other legislative priorities favored by progressives — House Armed Services Committee, appropriations and continuing resolution deliberations — Why climate change-driven damage to military infrastructure may be worse than anticipated and could require dramatically more spending to address — Whether the Biden administration’s Pacific Deterrence Initiative is up to the task of deterring China from regional aggression — China’s largest ever intrusion into Taiwanese airspace and maneuvers near Hawaii — How to deter Russia in the wake of recent incident involving HMS Defender in the Black Sea — Secretary Austin and Chairman Milley push back on GOP questioning over efforts to better understand and counter racism and extremism — What the election of Tehran’s new hard-line leader Ebrahim Raisi means for efforts to restart the Iran nuclear deal and expand it to cover bad Iranian behavior and ballistic missiles — Implications of Biden administration decision to retain 650 US troops in Afghanistan and allow up to 100,000 Afghans to helped American and coalition forces to resettle in the United States
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Bryan Clark, the director of the Center for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute think tank, discusses the third in a series of three reports on mosaic warfare sponsored by DARPA and coauthored with his colleagues Dan Patt and Tim Walton — “Advancing Decision-Centric Warfare: Gaining Advantage Through Force Design and Mission Integration” — how the Biden administration’s Pacific Defense Initiative illustrates the problem of poor integrated planning, how a mosaic warfare approach can help DoD make hard choices, what to prioritize and what to cut, better preparing for how adversaries are going to fight as opposed to hope DoD hopes they will, lessons from the recent episode involving HMS Defender in the Black Sea, and the shipyard capabilities the US Navy needs with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dr. Amanda Muller, a senior staff artificial intelligence systems engineer and technical fellow at Northrop Grumman’s Networked Information Solutions Division, discusses how the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence’s report is shaping AI development, building ethics and trust into systems with “justified confidence,” Biden administration efforts to sharpen America’s AI game, getting the right -policy-technology-governance mix, working culture and AI, countering unethical AI systems and more, and Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council and Wired magazine discusses the cyber takeaways from the meeting between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest Lt. Gen. Jim Clapper, USAF Ret., the former director of national intelligence and one of the nation’s most experienced intelligence officers and the author of “Facts and Fears: Lessons from a Lifetime in Intelligence,” discusses less the nexus of intelligence and strategy, how intelligence has and hasn’t changed over the decades, role of technology, capabilities developed for the war on terror including Afghanistan and Iraq that are still applicable against great power competitors, deterring China and Russia, and how democracy can survive in a post-fact world with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Adm. Bill Moran, USN Ret., the US Navy’s 39th vice chief of naval operations who is now a principal advisor with the WestExec Advisors consultancy and the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, discusses the importance of harnessing data for decision-making and artificial intelligence, the need for national and DoD data strategies and resourcing them properly, the cultural changes needed to best take advantage of insights revealed by data, the right government-industry partnerships and more with with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
Topics: — Update on congressional deliberations on infrastructure spending, House Budget Resolution, mark ups and repealing the Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 — Key takeaways from testimony by DoD and military leaders on the Biden administration’s 2022 defense budget request — Analysis of President Biden’s first foreign trip including efforts to organize democracies to more collectively push back against authoritarian nations like China and Russia — Whether a new spirit of collective pressure will deter China or other authoritarian states as Beijing presses ahead with “wolf warrior” diplomacy — What the meeting between Biden and Vladimir Putin accomplished — New Chinese misbehavior off Taiwan — Eventful first week for Israel’s new coalition government — Views on the testy exchange on race and American history between Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, Sam Bendett and Jeff Edmonds of the Center for Naval Analyses Russia program — both also affiliated with the Center for a New American Security — discuss CNA’s new report, “Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in Russia” that was sponsored by the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dr. Erica Borghard, senior Cyberspace Solarium Commission director who is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Martin Howard, a retired British senior security official who served at MoD, NATO and GCHQ and is now the senior team leader for NATO and cyber for Universal Defence and Security Solutions, discuss the decision by NATO to elevate cyber to an Article V mutual defense issue, cyber deterrence, improving alliance cyber resilience as well as defense and offense, and stepping up the security of member nation’s commercial networks, and the difference between intelligence gathering and malicious activity with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this month’s Technology Report, sponsored by GM defense, Dr. Mark Lewis, the director of the Emerging Technologies Institute at the National Défense Industrial Association, discusses efforts to make ensure America maintains its commercial and military technological lead including the $250 billion measure passed by the Senate, a successful approach to developing new capabilities and how to avoid policies that would undermine access to capital with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — The week in aerospace and defense stock performance — Denmark and Norway reopen as EU prepares for key June 15 meeting and UK’s planned June 21 reopening likely to be delayed — Takeaways from SpeedNews conference in Los Angeles — G7 meeting brings allies together on covid, China and climate — Security implications of renewed Brexit tensions between UK and EU over “Irish border” — Impact of new global minimum tax on aerospace and defense sector — Former IAG chief Willie Walsh on United’s plan to launch supersonic service with Boom Overture jets — European response from proposal by NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters to ensure the US Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems, the UK-Italian-Swedish Tempest and the French-German-Spanish SCAF are all interoperable — News reports that Switzerland has selected Dassault Aviation’s Rafale to replace its fleet of aging Boeing F/A-18 and Northrop Grumman F-5 fighters — Rollout of Archer air taxi
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
Topics: — Update on President Biden’s centerpiece infrastructure package after he ended talks with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV — Outlook for slimmed down $1 trillion infrastructure plan negotiated by bipartisan group of 10 senators — House view of the Senate’s $250 billion package to improve US competitiveness in science and technology — The National Defense Authorization Act for 2022 as hearings begin — Biden’s first foreign trip to Europe including the new version of the Atlantic Charter, G7 talks and upcoming NATO ministerial meeting and a post Afghanistan withdrawal role for the alliance as well as president’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva — How to deter Putin who despite warnings from Washington and elsewhere has cracked down on Russian opposition, agreed to sell spy satellites to Iran and blocked contact with jailed American — Big week on China policy as administration works as administration works to differentiate Chinese tech firms like Huawei from TikTok parent company ByteDance and the Pentagon’s China Task Force findings to help DoD sharpen its game — Efforts in Israel to form a new government as Netanyahu plans to remain a disruptive force as opposition leader — How statements on Israel from progressives like Rep. Ilhan, Omar, D-Minn., are causing fractures among Democratic lawmakers and prove problematic in future elections — Key takeaways from the Center for a New American Security’s annual strategy conference — Growing global calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and implications for Beijing
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas, discusses the latest effort to get the Navy's LCS program on track, the historic first aerial refueling by the MQ-25 Stingray and the recently released Secretary of the Navy FY 23 budget planning guidance.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, our guest is Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI 2nd District), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, and of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Raanan Horowitz, the president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, discusses lessons from the covid pandemic, how those lessons will shape how his company operates, the defense budget outlook and thoughts for the new administration, growth opportunities and Elbit’s acquisition of Sparton with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Andrew Hunter, the director of the Defense Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) discuss the U.S. Army portion of the Biden Administration’s FY 2022 budget submission.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Market’s response to Biden administration’s 2022 budget a week after the $715 billion request was submitted to Congress — Budget impact on major firms — Commercial air travel update as UK covid cases rise in advance of a June 21 reopening target and EU leaders are expected to move on June 15 to reopen the block starting July 1 — Surging US traffic as in-air violence prompts airlines to restraint passengers or divert flight — Analysis of statements by Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun regarding supply chain, future aircraft and trade with China — United Airlines’ decision to order 15 Overture supersonic 88-seat passenger jets under development by Boom Aviation — The unraveling of the General Dynamics’ Ajax vehicle program for the British Army — Implications of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to halt trade in US dollars — Look ahead of net week’s SpeedNews conference — What to expect from GE-Safran announcement on June 14
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy, Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute.
Topics: — A look at whether the Biden administration’s 2022 defense spending request aligns with the aim of better deterring China — How the administration is working with Pacific allies and partners to improve collective security — China and the region 32 years after the Tiananmen Square crackdown and massacre — Key takeaways from the $715 billion defense budget request — Whether Congress will step in to change the administration’s plan and support unfunded priorities — The need for better Biden administration messaging regarding national security and the need for change — at home and aboard — Update on what’s next as Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and Mansour Abbas work to form a new government to replace Benjamin Netanyahu and his government
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison, the director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and John Tirpak of Air Force Magazine discuss the U.S. Air Force and Space Force portion of the Biden Administration’s FY 2022 budget submission.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Dmitri Alperovich, the co-founder and former chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike who is now the co-founder and executive chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator and John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discuss lesson learned from recent high profile cyber attacks, ways to deter future attacks and what should be done at the business and government level to prevent network intrusions.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group and Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas discuss the Department of the Navy's portion of the FY '22 Budget proposal.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace shares as America continues to return of normalcy and the Biden administration submits its $715 billion defense budget request to Congress — Key takeaways from the administration’s proposals to increase research and development and classified investment while paring back acquisition spending to better deter great powers like China and Russia — Impact of no new DoD F/A-18 orders on ongoing fighter competitions in Canada, Finland and Switzerland as US F-35 Lighting II production rate is increased — Commercial air travel trends as Airbus increases production and EU moves toward vaccine certificates — Implications of Alexander Lukashenko’s decision to force a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to land in Minsk to arrest a pro-democracy activist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend — Boeing’s $17 million 737 fine as company again suspends 787 production — Why Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker is so critical of Airbus — Croatia’s decision to acquire used French Air Force Rafale fighters by Dassault Aviation to replace the country’s MiG-21 jets
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy, Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace producer).
Topics: — Analysis of the Biden administration’s 2022 defense budget request — Whether the document supports the administration’s strategy to better compete against China and Russia — Implications of the White House’s decision not to include defense in its 2022 budget fact sheet and administration’s broader budget rollout strategy — Status of bipartisan talks on President Biden’s infrastructure measure, Jan. 6 commission’s defeat in the Senate and rising anti-China sentiment on Capitol Hill — The Navy’s decision to retire four Littoral Combat Ships as part of cost cutting moves — Remembering Sen. John Warner, the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and 61st Navy secretary
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Heather Conley, the senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Michael Kofman, the director of Russia studies at the Center for Naval Analyses, discuss the recent Arctic Council meeting in Reykjavik as chairmanship of the body shifts to Russia for the coming two years, security challenges in the region as Moscow asserts its sovereignty, key issues for the upcoming June 16 summit meeting between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic and how to punish Belarus for hijacking a Ryanair jet to apprehend democracy activists Roman Protasevich with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, retired US Navy Adm. Mike Rogers, the former director of the National Security Agency, first commander of the US Cyber Command--now a cyber consultant who serves as the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty discusses lessons from the Colonial Pipeline ransomeware attack, key infrastructure vulnerabilities, whats in and out of the recent cyber executive order and the need for a cyber security national strategy.
Northrop Grumman sponsors our broader cyber coverage–predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/ to learn more.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest Sam Araki, a former president of Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space who was one of the founding engineers on the Corona reconnaissance program now an advisor to data firm Rhombus, discusses lessons from the ground-breaking Cold War space program, how to execute ambitious programs quickly and keys to agility with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Adam Rentschler, the co-founder and CEO of Valid Eval — a company that makes software that allows organizations to make and defend complex decisions — and Dr Matt Willis, the director of the US Army’s Applied Small Business Innovation Research and Prize Competitions at office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, discuss how to accelerate the innovation process and reduce contract protests with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Air travel outlook as air traffic in America continues to increase and the EU reopens — Implications of Germany’s move to block UK travelers as Britain records cases of Indian strain of covid — Aircraft production update as leading Indian airline IndiGo orders new A320 aircraft fitted with CFM International LEAP engines rather than Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofans — Outlook for supersonic business aircraft in the wake of decisions by investors to stop funding Aerion — Impact of increasing drive for “green” on business jet market — Prospects for another Scottish independence referendum in the wake of SNP victory in May 6 elections and what an independent Scotland would mean for UK defense — Virgin Galatic’s third successful space flight — Great few weeks for the Royal Navy as Britain’s Carrier Strike Group sets sail for seven-month deployment
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
Topics:
— Congressional hearings in advance of the Biden administration’s 2022 defense budget request on May 28 — Infrastructure deliberations as White House and GOP wrangle over how much to spend — and on what — Changing HASC committee assignments in wake of replacing Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, as House GOP conference chair — Republican opposition to bipartisan special investigation into Jan. 6 insurrection — Moves the administration should undertake if it wants to drive major and lasting change — Role the Pentagon should play if it wants to change what it buys and how — Why “passback” transparency is needed and DARPA’s budget should be doubled — The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Egypt’s role and changing US political dynamics
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jon B. Alterman, the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council discuss discuss the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas and the implication for US-Israel relations, regional stability and a future two-state solution with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Col. JC Vega, US Army Ret., a founder and former director of the US Army Cyber Institute at the US Military Academy who is now the chief information security officer at at a cloud-native logging and security analytics company, Devo, discusses the Biden administration news cyber executive order, the right partnership between government and industry to improve cyber security, lessons from the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, the future of CMMC and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest Adm. Sir George Zambellas, RN Ret., the former Royal Navy First Sea Lord, discusses the future of warfare, the role of AI, big data and autonomy, driving innovation and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Zambellas began his 36 year Naval career as a helicopter pilot; embarked in frigates and carriers, before a series of sea commands, culminating in the command of the UK Amphibious Force, the UK Maritime Force, NATO 4* Maritime Command and the Fleet. He completed a three year appointment as First Sea Lord in April 2016. Since leaving active service, Zambellas has worked extensively with emerging technologies including Cyber-security and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He is chairman of praXec Limited, founder and chairman of CobWeb Cyber Security and a strategic advisor to Liquid Robotics Inc, among numerous other business interests.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michèle Flournoy, the former undersecretary of defense for policy who is the co-founder of the WestExec Advisors consultancy, discusses her article in the May/June 2021 issue of Foreign Affairs — “America’s Military Risks Losing Its Edge: How to Transform the Pentagon for a Competitive Era” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance as broader market worries about impact of Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that interrupted fuel deliveries from the Gulf to East Coast — Global air traffic outlook as US reopens and Europe increases vaccinations, but covid ravages India — Airbus production rate increase as Boeing considers following suit — Impact of fuel interruption on air travel and ticket pricing — Update on Boeing 737 electrical problem and FAA directive on 777 engine mount — Outlook for air taxis as FAA Administrator Steve Dickson tells Congress that permits to be approved in 2023 with service to begin the following year — Role of air taxis in future transportation infrastructure with autonomous ground vehicles and supersonic aircraft — Analysis of RAFAEL’s Iron Dome air defense system in action to defend Israel against Hamas guided and unguided rockets
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, James Lewis, PhD, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Cyberspace Solarium Commission Executive Director Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), deputy Executive Director John Costello join John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security to discuss lesson learned and ways forward in the wake of the recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Bryan Clark (recent report: The Invisible Battlefield: A Technology Strategy for US Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority) and Dr. Maren Leed, Executive Director, National Spectrum Consortium discuss the the Department of Defense’s (DoD) new EMS Superiority Strategy and operational concepts to regain an EMS advantage by improving the adaptability of U.S. capabilities both during and between operations.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Col. Mark “Gonzo” Gunzinger, USAF Ret., a senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses the paper he co-authored — with Bryan Clark and Lukas Autenried of the Hudson Institute think tank — “Understanding the Long-Range Strike Debate,” the capabilities US forces need, balancing range-payload-cost, role of each of the military services in long-range strike, role of hypersonic weapons for conventional and nuclear strike and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance on US and European markets — Commercial air travel update, including new aircraft orders and deliveries — Bombardier, BWXT, Hensoldt, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Leonardo, Rheinmetall, and Thales earnings — Analysis of Dassault Aviation’s new Falcon 10X and implications for Bombardier and Gulfstream’s high end products — Egypt’s decision to buy more Rafale fighter aircraft as well as Airbus A330 aerial tanker aircraft — Letter from US lawmakers supporting Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter — Attributes of the Challenger III tank being upgraded for the British Army by the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land joint venture
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— National security implications of GOP move to oust Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., as House Republican Conference chair, and replace her with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY — Update on Biden’s defense budget request and impact on congressional authorization and appropriations process — Congressional moves to include shipyards and space as key national infrastructure worthy of investment — Letter by lawmakers to support Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter as the program comes under increasing criticism for performance problems — Move by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley to support removing commanders from the judicial chain of command a week after criticizing Biden administration decision to withdraw from Afghanistan — Update on US decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, including Washington’s decision to boost air power to support Ghani government — Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s statement of support Ukraine after Russia’s recent sabrerattling on the country’s border — Potential security impact of the confrontation between Britain and France over fishing access around Jersey — Outlook for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as talks continue to form a new government — Ongoing indirect nuclear talks among international powers and Tehran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Samuel Bendett, an associate research analyst in the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security provides an update on the latest Russian unmanned air and AI developments.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Corbin Evans, principal director for strategic programs at the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) provides an update on the implementation of DoD's proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and discusses what areas the new administration may be looking to adjust, as well as where NDIA members would like to see greater clarity.
On this month’s Technology Report, sponsored by GM Defense, Jeff Ryder, the vice president for growth and strategy at GM Defense, discusses the company’s strategy to leverage the auto giant’s vehicle, power, autonomy and connectivity technologies for defense applications, and Fred Maxik, the co-founder and chief technology officer of Healthe, a unique Florida company that early in the covid pandemic developed the first ever human-safe ultraviolet disinfection system and Dr. Wes Naylor, the CEO of Fifty Pound Brain Ventures, discuss lessons learned as the company tries to gets its technology into the DoD market with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Thomas Karako, the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the outlook for missile defense, adversary capabilities and US deep strike with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market update and how mounting inflation concerns will impact defense and aerospace — Commercial air travel trends as covid ravages India, Brazil and other nations — Boeing earnings as company works to surmount production and engineering challenges across its commercial, defense and space lines — Airbus outlook and how lessons learned from A380 super jumbo yielded a more successful A350 program — Look at MTU, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Safran and other earnings — Saab’s submits “best and final offer” to Helsinki as it pursues Finland’s contract for a new fighter to replace aging F/A-18 jets by Boeing
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Topics:
— Key takeaways from Friday’s Aspen Security Forum discussions with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks — National security elements of President Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress — A look at when the Biden administration will submit its budget request to Congress — Implications of Biden’s focus on human rights and drive for greater Buy American strictures on US national security and allies — The need to change the Pentagon’s internal financial planning processes — Shift of people and units to the US Space Force
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discusses the latest on US-Russian relations, Putin's handling of domestic dissent, the recent strategic exercise on the Ukrainian boarder and much more.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Daan Keuper of Dutch security testing company Computest — who along with his colleague. Thijs Alkemade — exposed a vulnerability in the Zoom communications software to win a $200,000 prize. In our second. segment, Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council discusses the move by the Pentagon’s Defense Digital Service to move more than 170 million internet addresses to an unknown Florida company Global Resource Systems, and Daan Keuper of Dutch security testing company Computest, discusses how he and his colleague Thijs Alkemade discovered a vulnerability in the Zoom communications software to win a $200,000 prize with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we talk with Mackenzie Eaglen and Hallie Coyne of the American Enterprise Institute on their recent report, "The 2020s Tri-Service Modernization Crunch," an unvarnished overview of the existing modernization bill before the Pentagon today--forcing an overdue confrontation with reality.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses the week ahead, and in an exclusive interview French Navy Rear Adm. Marc Aussedat, the commander of France’s carrier strike group aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Arabian Gulf who also commands Combined Task Force 50, discusses the multinational mission in the region with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Weekly update on defense and aerospace share performance on capital markets — Commercial air traffic as US travels picks up, India suffers massive covid wave and Europe continues to struggle — Impact of India slowdown on Airbus and Boeing — Qatar CEO Akbar al Baker warning of slow travel recovery — Delta Air Line’s decision to buy Airbus’ A321neo jet — Boeing’s decision to retire CFO Greg Smith and prolong CEO Dave Calhoun’s tenure — Leonardo’s move to acquire stake in Hensoldt — Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, CACI, Saab, and Rheinmetall earnings — Look ahead to Dassault Aviation’s unveiling of Future Falcon business jet — Takeaways from House Armed Services Committee hearing on F-35 Lightning II fighter — Implications of loss of the Indonesian Navy submarine Nanggala with all 53 aboard last week
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest Dr. Hans-Christian Hagman, chief Analyst at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs who oversees policy planning, foresight and strategy, discusses the essence of strategy during an era of great power competition, the challenge of a rising China, Russia and the changing nature of conflict with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition. In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— Biden administration’s first 100 days and what it tells us about it’s approach to the rest of its term in office — Disconnect between White House and congressional leaders, including over the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act — Outlook for Biden’s infrastructure measure — Implications of the return of earmarks and prospectors for unfunded requirements lists — Key takeaways from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., at the American Enterprise Institute — Recap of HASC hearing on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter and strategic forces hearings at HASC and SASC — Economic impact of the administration’s proposed tax increases — Analysis of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address and update on Iran talks — President Biden’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and relations with Turkey — House measure on Saudi Arabia and impact on US relations with the Gulf Kingdom
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our Contributing Editor Christopher P. Cavas discusses the US Navy Third Fleet’s manned-unmanned teaming experimentation off San Diego and Jonathan Hillman, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Economics Program and director of the Reconnecting Asia Project, discusses the new report — “Global Networks 2030: Developing Economies and Emerging Technologies — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Kiersten Todt, the managing director of The Cyber Readiness Institute and president of Liberty Group Ventures discuss the Biden Administration's proposed cyber leadership team, priorities and first-hundred day decisions.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Mark Lewis, a former director of Defense Research & Engineering who is now the executive director of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute, discusses his new organization’s role, key technologies and their defense implications, shaping national investment and education strategies and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Chris Skaluba, the director of the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative, Distinguished Fellows Frank Kramer and Dr. Hans Binnendijk, and Dr. Sarah Kirchberger of Kiel University discuss the Council’s new report — “The China plan: A transatlantic blueprint for strategic competition” — with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Aerospace and defense stock market performance in the wake of Biden administration’s decisions on Afghanistan troop withdrawal, Russia sanctions and export of F-35 and Reaper to UAE — European mid-cap performance including Babcock and QinetiQ statements — Commercial air travel trends as American and Delta shift widebody jet from dormant international routes to domestic service — Prospects for vaccine certificates to ease global passenger traffic — New electrical issues with a Boeing’s 737 Max — Boeing’s governance as the company faces challenges — Korea’s KF-21 fighter program and implications for existing combat aircraft like Boeing’s F/A-18 and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 — Claim US scored longest ever air-to-air kill with Raytheon’s AIM-120D
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition. In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Lisa Curtis, former National Security Council senior director of south and Central Asia now with the Center for a New American Security.
Topics:
— Look at President Biden’s latest batch of senior defense nominees — With Congress back in town, update on bipartisan moves to advance a slimmed down infrastructure package, and implications for defense — Lawmaker’s continuing feedback on Biden administration’s “skinny” budget — Analysis of Biden’s plan to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 and congressional reaction — Role of China in Afghanistan the wake of US pullout — Impact of White House’s new Russia sanctions — Iran talks and Israeli elections
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace producer) discuss Cavas' recent article "A Problem of Commitment," the Biden Administration's "skinny budget" and Navy Messaging in the era of great power competition.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jennifer Walsmith, Corporate Vice President, Cyber & Information Solutions at Northrop Grumman discusses the evolving cyber threat, the importance of speed, CMMC and approaches to creating solutions to meet customer needs. In second two James Lewis, PhD, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the Biden Administration's recent selections for key cyber positions across government.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia who is now the president of Farkas Global Strategies, discusses her commentary in The Washington Post — “Putin is testing Biden on Ukraine. Here’s what will keep him in check” — how to deter Russia from invading Ukraine again, crafting strategies to counter China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in a more coordinated manner, working with European nations to better stand up to Russia, and how the planned US withdrawal from Afghanistan could undermine Washington’s messaging as an ally and partner of choice with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses the week ahead in Washington and impact of taxes and tax breaks on defense and aerospace contractors, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Randy Schriver on Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry’s upcoming visit to Beijing, China’s threatening behavior toward Taiwan and Japanese Prime Minister Toshihide Suga’s visit trip to Washington, and Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council on Israel’s recent attack on Iran’s nuclear program with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Aerospace and defense stock performance in wake of Biden administration’s “skinny” budget — Air travel trends as US and UK vaccinations take hold and Europe remains in lockdown — Travel impact on aircraft makes with update on latest Airbus production — Government support for air carriers like France’s package for Air France KLM — Grounding of some Boeing 737 Max jets over electrical issues — outlook for Boeing’s new 777X wide body jetliner — Defense industry implications of priorities in Biden administration’s “skinny” budget — The legacy of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away last week at age 99
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Topics:
— Update on Biden administration nominees — New top line defense and national security spending targets and priorities — Infighting among services as resources tradeoffs loom — Army cuts and need for service leaders to change their messaging strategy — Russia’s sabrerattling on Ukraine’s border — Indirect talks between United States and its nuclear deal partners and Iran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Todd Harrison, the director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the “Space Threat Assessment 2021,” Russia and China’s space activities in 2020, deterrence in space, monitoring growing commercial activity and regarding space as infrastructure with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Michael Garcia, a senior policy adviser on national security at the Third Way think tank who staffed the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses his new report, “The Militarization of Cyberspace? Cyber-Related Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act,” importance of cyber legislation, improving cybersecurity across American society, CMMC and priorities for an extended Cyberspace Solarium Commission with Defense & Aerospace Report Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Greg Poling, the director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the China’s recent deployment of vessels into Philippine waters, Beijing’s efforts to intimidate neighbors through maritime and naval power, the transit of a Chinese carrier battle group near Japan’s Senkaku Islands and how the United States and its allies and partners should deter and dissuade China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Broader market response and defense and aerospace stock performance in the wake of President Biden’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure proposal and the tax hikes necessary to pay for it — Rising US commercial air travel as airlines cope with increasing demand — Implications of growing traffic on aircraft makers like Airbus, Boeing and Embraer — Look ahead to Airbus figures next week and outlook for 2021 production — Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s call for nations to separate their human rights concerns with Chinese leaders from trade — How Washington’s efforts to rally allies and partners against China will influence global trade with Beijing, including commercial aircraft sales — Reported agreement between Airbus defense and Dassault on development of next generation French-German-Spanish combat aircraft — SPACs and urban air mobility
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Mike Petters is president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, America’s largest military shipbuilding company. Petters previously served as president of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and as president of Northrop Grumman’s Newport News sector. He joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1987 in the Los Angeles-class submarine construction division. He held a number of increasingly responsible positions throughout the organization, including production supervisor for submarines, marketing manager for submarines and carriers, vice president of aircraft carrier programs, vice president of contracts and pricing, and vice president of human resources. This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Bob Hale, former Pentagon comptroller and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
Topics: — Update on Biden administration’s upcoming defense budget — National security elements of Biden’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure proposal as well as congressional support for the first of two planned reconciliation measures — The need for DoD appointees — Importance of granting DoD ability to more quickly redirect spending as necessary — Proposal by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to cancel the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program and redirect funding to covid vaccine research — GOP rebranding as anti-corporate, working-class party means for defense industry —Russian buildup near Ukraine and possible collusion with China — Netanyahu’s fate in the wake of Israel’s latest election — Outlook for the Iran nuclear deal
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell,Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute discusses the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. military operations in the electromagnetic spectrum, DoD's new Joint Warfighting Concept and the progression of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2--the effort to define a new strategy for U.S. military decision-making.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, James Lewis, PhD, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the week’s top cyber headlines with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Northrop Grumman also sponsors our broader cyber coverage.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, LeeAnn Kuehnert, value stream leader at Raytheon Technologies’ Collins Aerospace, discusses how good engineering can save money, and Spirit AeroSystems Defense & Space President Duane Hawkins discusses how the aerospace giant is working to grow its military business and the company’s Jared Bartlett on winning the contract to help the US Air Force re-engine its B-52 bombers with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the week ahead, and Edward Ferguson, the minister defense at the British Embassy, discusses the UK government’s recent Integrated Review and Defence Command White Paper with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance as Wall Street worries about inflation, covid, China relations and trade, Suez Canal closure and global supply chains — Commercial air travel outlook as vaccinations increase and US travel confidence rises as Europe locks down — Airliner pricing as demand for travel and aircraft rises — Economic decoupling between China and the world as Beijing lashes out after Britain, Canada and EU adopt US sanctions — Implications of China’s deepening alliances with Russia, Iran and partnerships worldwide — Analysis of Britain’s Integrated Review and defense command paper that cut platforms to free investment for future capabilities — Review of F-35 Lightning II outlook
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute.
Topics:
— Biden defense budget expectations as Republican leaders call to boost military spending — “Specious" and Dangerous” nature of Democratic arguments to justify US defense spending cuts — After action report on last week’s US-China meetings as Beijing lashes out at Britain, Canada and EU for siding with Washington in sanctioning Chinese officials — Dispelling the notion that China lacks allies and partners as Beijing shares common interest with Moscow, Pyongyang, Tehran, Caracas — and even close US allies Biden’s approach to Afghanistan withdrawal and signals it sends allies and partners worldwide — Tradeoffs by UK to retire current systems and take immediate risk to invest in capabilities to reduce future risk — and lessons for the United States — Blockage of Suez Canal and impact on global supply chains — Rising food prices and potential implications for global instability
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jim Conroy, the vice president of emerging systems and strategic initiatives at Northrop Grumman’s Navigation, Targeting and Survivability Division, discusses securing the military internet of things and open architecture systems, and Andrea Schaumann, the federal operations deputy at Fortress Information Security, discusses the company’s participation in the US Army’s recent Technical Support and Operational Analysis with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., a retired US Navy commander who is now the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee and the chair of the House disability and memorial affairs subcommittee, discusses the Navy the nation needs, the outlook for aircraft carriers, improving infrastructure and readiness, the Navy’s new unmanned framework and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby discusses Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's recent trip to the Indo-Pacific region, department transition and staffing decisions and the importance of transparent and clear communication from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military services.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Former Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work, the vice chair of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, discusses the congressionally mandated panels nearly 800-page report on how the United States can compete more effectively compete against China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance as Wall Street worries about inflation and outlook for US-China relations — Air travel trends as US passenger traffic rises with vaccinations and Europe locks down again — All eyes on Chinese re-certification of Boeing’s 737 Max given China’s market constitutes a third of demand for the single-aisle jetliner — Outlook for approval of GE-AerCap merger as leading voices like IATA Chief Executive Alexandre de Juniac question further consolidation — Embraer and Rheinmetall earnings — Airbus defense chief Dirk Hoke’s testimony to France’s National Assembly over SCAF collaboration with a restive Dassault Aviation that’s discussed the need for a “Plan B” for the Franco-German-Spanish project — Impact of Wall Street Journal report of uncontained blade failures involving engines on Boeing 777 and 737 aircraft — The Johnson government’s 114-page “Global Britain in a competitive age” report — Outlook on air taxis as investors pour billions into automated urban air mobility systems developed by giant contractors as well as startups worldwide
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Eric Sayers of Beacon Global Strategies and AEI.
Topics:
— Congressional update as progressive Democratic lawmakers press for defense spending cut — Budget process in the absence of a new Office of Management and Budget director — Takeaways from Biden administration’s big Asia week including Quad meeting, engagement across Asia and first face-to-face with Chinese leaders in Alaska — Wider context of President Biden’s candid assessment of his Russian counterpart — Capitol Hill support for greater Indo-Pacific investment — Implications for growing crisis on US-Mexico border on Biden administration legislative agenda — Progressive pressure on Biden administration for new Iran nuclear deal — Naval exercises in Eastern Mediterranean
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. Carter Ham, US Army Ret., the president and CEO of the Association of the United States Army, discusses what to expect at the organization’s 2020 Global Force Next conference including key themes and messages from US Army leadership. In segment two Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas, just back from a day at sea onboard USS Gerald R. Ford discusses work being done on the ship, Navy's plan to decommission its MK IV patrol craft and other pressing issues.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission reviews recent cyber activities in and out of government, including provisions in the recently passed COVID-19 relief package, as well as updates on implementation of the solarium commission's 2020 recommendations.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is retired Navy Admiral James Stavridis, currently an operating executive with the Carlyle Group, chair of the board of counselors at McLarty Associates and chief international diplomacy and national security analyst for NBC News in New York. He is the author of nine books on leadership, character, the world's oceans, command at sea, Latin America, ship handling, and innovation, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals and joins us to discuss he latest, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, a work he co-authored with Elliot Ackerman.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses the week ahead in Washington; and Fiona McKay of McKay Unlimited who is the founder of the “Leading Ladies Of” movement and Angela Ambrose, the GM Defense’s vice president for government affairs and communications, as well as interim vice president of business development, discuss the inaugural Leading Ladies of Defense summit on March 18 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — A look at broader market performance in wake of $1.9 trillion US stimulus package and rising air travel as Wall Street worries about inflation — Analysis of Boeing 737 orders, GECAS-AerCap deal, Airbus interest in building freighters, and Rolls-Royce outlook — How air travel will change in the wake of the pandemic as air carriers try to lure business customers with perks like vaccine passports, all business-class seating and snacks — Transatlantic tensions over vaccine availability as Europe struggles to boost inoculations — Air safety as airlines bring back aircraft and aircrews sidelined by coronavirus — Britain’s sweeping defense, security, diplomatic and foreign aid review — Wall Street’s defense spending expectations of the Biden administration as Pentagon budget projected to be $738 billion — Updated view of the F-35 Lightning II fighter program
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Kori Schake, PhD, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
Before joining AEI, Dr. Schake was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She has had a distinguished career in government, working at the US State Department, the US Department of Defense, and the National Security Council at the White House. She has also taught at Stanford, West Point, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, National Defense University, and the University of Maryland.
Dr. Schake is the author of five books and coeditor, along with former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, of “Warriors & Citizens: American Views of Our Military” (Hoover Institution Press, 2016).
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace implications of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan — Latest “passback” budget guidance from the Biden administration to Pentagon as officials develop their 2022 spending plan — Programs vulnerable to pressure as the administration flattens defense spending — Whether Congress will embrace administration efforts to bolster spending to deter China, including US Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Phil Davidson’s $27 billion Pacific Deterrence Intiative — Willingness of lawmakers to make hard program choices as Pentagon budgets flatten and congressional leaders like House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., call for major shifts including dialing back Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter effort — How the Biden administration’s drive to pressure Afghan government to strike a deal with Taliban as White House fails to coordinate with NATO allies on eight-page Afghanistan peace plan is viewed by allies and partners — Role of US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq — Importance of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Baghdad
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Randy Schriver, a former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs who’s now the chairman of the Project 2049 Institute, discusses key takeaways from gatherings of China’s top officials and what to expect from senior Biden officials on their swing through Asia next week including first face-to-face with Chinese leaders, and Lisa Curtis, former National Security Council senior director of south and Central Asia now with the Center for a New American Security, discusses the right approach to lasting US and allies engagement in Afghanistan with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, in segment one Justin Sherman of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and Cmdr. Chris Hoffman, USN (Ret), the former deputy director at the Naval Academy's Center for Cyber Security Studies, now with the cyber firm Redjack, discuss recent cyber attacks and Russian attempts to stifle and manipulate western social media platforms. In segment two Ron Gula of GulaTech Enterprises and the GulaTech Foundation. Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Col. Pete Newell, US Army Ret., the former director of the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force who is now the CEO of BMNT, discusses the Hacking for Defense and Allies initiatives, driving innovation at speed and scale, creating the right architecture for change and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. In segment two, International Institute for Strategic Studies' James Hackett, Senior Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis, and editor of The Military Balance discusses this year's annual assessment of military capabilities and economics.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. — Look at CAE’s acquisition of L3Harris military training business w/ Dan Gelston, the group resident for CAE Defence and Security — Performance of aerospace and defense stocks during a volatile week on Wall Street as inflation worries mount in anticipation of congressional passage of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package — Improving commercial air travel statistics as vaccination rates increase and airlines consider new routes — Airbus’ decision to cancel Norwegian’s aircraft order, prompting questions whether Boeing will follow suit — Analysis of Boeing’s claim to the European Air Safety Agency that fuselage fuel tank on the Airbus’ A321XLR poses a fire safety risk and whether the charge is an effort by the US plane maker to delay the European program so it developers a competitive new jetliner — Market reaction to CAE’s acquisition of L3Harris’ military training business, Leonardo’s decision to spinoff DRS while maintaining equity stake and Bombardier outlook — Earnings reports by Thales and Dassault as the French aircraft maker prepares investment in business jets and discusses Franco-German SCAF combat aircraft program — Outlook for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter program in the wake of comments by senior leaders, including House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., at the Brookings Institution last week
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power. In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute.
Topics: — Update on Biden administration efforts to fill presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed jobs — Budget outlook as the administration worked first-year guidance and outyear planning including pressure on acquisition programs — A look at the administration’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance and Defense Secretary Austin’s Message to the Force — Administration’s relationship with key lawmakers as they move to revamp Authorization of Military Force legislation — Key Chinese meetings as Adm. Phil Davidson, the US Indo-Pacific commander, warns about America’s declining ability to deter Beijing from moving against Taiwan and outlines his $27 billion multiyear Pacific Deterrence Initiative — The balanced Biden approach to solving international problems, including returning Iran to the nuclear negotiating table
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, USAF, the commander of US Air Forces Central Command and the 9th Air Force, discusses deterring Iran, Israel as part of CENTCOM and impact of Abraham Accords on improving regional interoperability, integrating 5th and 4th generation air power and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Northrop Grumman Cyber Report: Hardware Vulnerability & Security by Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell Cmde. Sujeet Samaddar, Indian Navy Ret., the former chief of Indian Navy plans who is now with the Society of Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Studies, discusses China’s growing naval and maritime power, how to think about the Chinese threat, need for forward repair facilities across the theater, improving interoperability, the Quad — India, US, Japan and Australia — and SAMDeS’ upcoming conference with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. In segment two John Tirpak of Air Force Magazine discusses key takeaways from the Air Force Association virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Defense and aerospace stock performance on Wall Street as investors worry about inflation in the wake of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package — Commercial air travel outlook as public health officials worry rush to normalcy could trigger another covid wave — Outlook for air carriers as British Airways’ parent IAG posts $10 billion 2020 loss — Safran 2020 earnings and Rolls-Royce update — Latest on Boeing’s 787 challenges as company works to return 737 Max to service and 777 with Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines are inspected — Biden administration’s tough line on China including willingness to continue the investment ban instituted by the Trump administration to punish Beijing for violating international trade rules — Admission by Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett that he overpaid for Precision Cast Parts, buying the company for $32 billion in 2016 and posting $10 billion loss — Growing consensus that USAF F-35A Lighting II buy will be closer to 1,200 than more than 1,700
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Steve Blank, an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University where he teaches courses on Lean Startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
In 2016 he co-launched two new Management Science and Engineering classes at Stanford – Hacking for Defense and its sister class –Hacking for Diplomacy. Steve is one of Thinkers50's top global management thinkers and has written 3 books including: The Four Steps to the Epiphany, The Startup Owners Manual (co-authored with Bob Dorf) and Holding a Cat By Its Tail.
His talk, The Secret History of Silicon Valley is often referred to as "the real story of how Silicon Valley started."
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith’s new panel to assess national industrial capabilities — Update on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package — Partisanship and the Jan. 6 investigation — Outlook for Neera Tanden’s confirmation as director of the Office of Management and Budget and possible alternatives should her nomination be rejected by lawmakers — OMB guidance to government departments, “passback” and defense budget expectations — Growing inflation concerns on world markets and impact on spending — Key takeaways from USAF chief Gen. CQ Brown’s conversation with AEI’s Mackenzie Eaglen — Mounting pressure on the F-35 Lightning fighter as Pentagon seeks leverage on the program — US air strike on Iraqi Iran-backed militia that attacked American bases last week — Implications of US intelligence report on the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi on US-Saudi relations — Update on planned US sale of F-35 fighters to UAE — New Quincy Institute report on responsible statecraft
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bill Greenwalt of the American Enterprise Institute discusses the new report he co-authored with the Hudson Institute’s Dan Patt, “Competing in Time: Ensuring Capability Advantage and Mission Success through Adaptable Resource Allocation” on how to accelerate the acquisition process, and Jim Litinsky, the founder, chairman and CEO of MP Materials, the sole US rare earths maker, discusses President Biden’s executive order to safeguard critical US capabilities and building an American permanent magnet ecosystem.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Navy Principal Cyber Adviser Chris Cleary discusses the service’s efforts to improve security and cyber warfighting capabilities, and Jenna Paukstis, the vice president of Northrop Grumman’s communications solutions unit, discusses the company’s new Networked Information Solutions division, priorities at the Air Force Association’s virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium, the Joint All Domain Command and Control System, and the Military Internet of Things.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, George Rumford, the principal deputy director of DoD’s Test Resource Management Center, discusses modernizing the nation’s test and evaluation enterprise vital to a new generation of weaponry, and Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council discusses Iran’s move to block nuclear inspectors from visiting undeclared sites with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. In segment two we talk to Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies about recent remarks from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown on the need for new “5th generation minus” fighter, as well as a preview of the upcoming Air Force Association virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance — Commercial air travel trends as Airbus and MTU report 2020 earnings and 2021 expectations — FAA move to monitor Boeing 737 Max jets in service and new airworthiness directive for 222 787 airliners — Decision by De Havilland Canada to suspend production of Dash 8-400 turboprop — Outlook for F-35 as USAF chief discusses need for new “5th generation minus” fighter as Dassault, Eurofighter and Saab sense opportunity — Former Boeing CEO Phil Condit joins Boom Supersonic as advisor as former Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg raises funds for his SPAC
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Thomas E. Ricks, author, journalist, editor and adviser on national security. Ricks covered the US military for The Washington Post from 2000 through 2008. Until the end of 1999 he had the same beat at The Wall Street Journal, where he was a reporter for seventeen years. A member of two Pulitzer Prize–winning teams, he covered US military activities in Somalia, Haiti, Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Kuwait, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Ricks is the author of several books, including The Generals, The Gamble, and the number one New York Times bestseller Fiasco, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent book is "First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country, " and is the centerpiece of our discussion.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Teri Schultz, a Brussels-based freelance reporter for National Public Radio
Topics: — Update on new Senate defense subcommittees and outlook for defense spending in wake of comments by Senate Armed Services Committee chairmen and conservative members — Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus and plans for another $2 trillion to $3 trillion in infrastructure spending on inflation — Return of earmarks, commission to study the Jan. 6 insurrection and Biden’s immigration reform plan — Analysis of US Air Force Chief Gen. CQ Brown’s comments on new tactical aircraft review and need for new “5th generation minus” fighter will impact the F-35 Lightning II program — Key takeaways from the NATO defense ministerial, EU offer to resume Iran nuclear negotiations and Biden’s Munich Security Conference address
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Brett Lambert, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy who is now with the Densmore consultancy, discusses how the Biden administration should address trade with China as Beijing weighs blocking rare earths exports to the United States, and Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute discusses why the Pentagon has to rethink its war planning scenarios and adopt more flexible budgeting with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, in segment one Justin Sherman with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and Wired Magazine contributor, discusses the recent article he co-authored with Trey Herr, "Finding a Foreign Policy for the Internet." In segment two John Cofrancesco of Fortress Information Security discusses cyber supply chain defense, vulnerabilities associated with an either or offense vs. defense approach to cyber security and where CMMC needs to mature under the Biden Administration.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, US Army Ret., the former commander of the US Army Europe who is now Pershing Chair at the Center for European Policy Analysis, discusses his new report “Black Sea or Black Hole” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. Hawk Carlisle, USAF Ret., the president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Col. Wes Hallman, the trade body’s senior vice president for strategy and policy, discuss the new “Vital Signs 2021” report on the health and resilience of the US defense and aerospace industrial base, the defense budget outlook and ideas for the Biden administration with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Topics:
— When the Biden administration will name next batch of senior Pentagon leaders and implications of staffing delays on budget and strategy — How new team will execute series of key reviews without senior staff in place — Budget update as new administration works to disclose “skinny” budget next month with more detailed spending plans in May — Need for new readiness model and roles and mission review — Key takeaways from President Biden’s first visit to the Pentagon and first call with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping — How a split Republican Party could impact national security — Analysis of French President Macron’s stance on European security, closer UK-Japan links and US-Iran outlook
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (ret), the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations. Mullen retired from the Navy after over 42 years of service in 2012 and has been a visiting professor at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs and served on a number of corporate and philanthropic boards.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Chris Inglis, Distinguished Visiting Professor in Cyber Security Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy and a Commissioner on the Cyber Solarium Commission discusses and Josh O’Sullivan, chief technology officer for the Annapolis-based cyber defense and digital transformation company Ardalyst discuss the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model in the wake of the Solar Winds attack and as the Biden Administration begins to focus on government-wide cyber security.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bryan Rosselli, the vice president of strategic missile defense at Raytheon Technologies, discusses the global missile threat, the architecture needed to counter a new generation of long-range and hypersonic weaponry, international cooperation, the role of lasers and rail guns in layered defense networks and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Defense and aerospace stock performance on Wall Street as markets worry about inflation if Congress passes President Biden’s $1.9 trillion covid stimulus on the heels of a nearly $1 trillion package approved weeks ago — Air travel update as vaccinations accelerate worldwide, but EU nations lag behind — News reports that Boeing is back to eying a twin-aisle aircraft as its next middle market airliner and 777X — Update on Switzerland’s competition to replace its F/A-18 Hornet fleet — Australia’s drive to acquire 12 large conventional submarines from France’s Naval Group to replace its six Collins-class boats — Saab and Rheinmetall outlook, plus Triumph earnings
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Gordon Adams, the senior White House budget official for national security during the Clinton administration who is now a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute and the Stimson Center as well as an American University professor emeritus, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— Takeaways from Dr. Kath Hicks’ confirmation hearing to become deputy defense secretary and key challenges she faces once she becomes the Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian — Update on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package and implications for future bipartisan legislation — A look at new Senate Armed Services Committee members as well as new subcommittee structure — Analysis of Biden’s first major foreign policy address including decisions decision to cut US troops in Germany and stop supporting Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen including suspending arms sales to the Gulf kingdom — Need for whole of government national security approaches — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s reviews on US global force posture, nuclear weapons, Afghanistan troop footprint as well as 60-day stand down to battle extremism in the ranks — The role of DoD advisory boards and the ones worth preserving
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and Lt. Col. Dakota Wood, USMC Ret., senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, discuss the commentary on readiness and modernization by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown that ran in the Washington Post on Feb. 1 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Suzanne Spaulding, the senior advisor for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discussed cyber priorities for the Biden administration, Russia’s SolarWinds attack and how the United States should respond at home and to Moscow, deeper public-private partnerships, and how to fight disinformation and domestic extremism with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell,Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, USN, the US Navy’s surface warfare director, and Maj. Gen. Tracy King, USMC, the service’s director of expeditionary warfare, discuss how the Navy will regain program management credibility as it embarks on a series of new warship programs, the need for reliability and maintainability in future platforms, distributed Marine operations and the need for the Light Amphibious Warship, mine countermeasures and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Our coverage of the Surface Navy Association’s virtual annual meeting was sponsored by Fincantieri Marinette Marine, GE Marine and Leonardo DRS. We are an SNA media partner.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Thomas Mahnken, the president of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Roger Zakheim, the director of the Ronald Reagan Institute, discuss their collaborative report — “America’s Strategic Choices: Defense Spending in a Post-COVID-19 World” — warning of the consequences of cutting Pentagon spending with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — A look at a tough week on Wall Street as investors grapple with GameStop gamma squeeze as well as outlook for covid vaccinations, stimulus and China — Recap of 2020 earnings reports by Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies and others — Deep dive on Boeing’s results including revelations on 777x and KC-46 Pegasus tanker as management mentions possible need for new commercial jetliner — Air travel update and outlook for both Chinese market as well as US-China relationship — France’s sale of Rafale fighters to Greece as Paris orders new planes for French Air Force — Biden administration’s arms export shift on F-35 Lightning II fighters and precision weapons to the UAE — The impact of covid, 737 Max grounding, shifting 787 production to Charleston and more on Pacific Northwest — Preview of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference Feb. 8-11 w/ guest Brian Canfield, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Fred Kempe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Council. Under his leadership since 2007, the Council has expanded its work through regional centers spanning the globe and through centers focused on topics ranging from international security and energy to global trade and next generation mentorship.
Before joining the Council, Kempe was a prize-winning editor and reporter at the Wall Street Journal for more than twenty-five years. In New York, he served as Assistant Managing Editor, International, and columnist. Prior to that, he was the longest-serving editor and Associate Publisher ever of the Wall Street Journal Europe, running the global Wall Street Journal’s editorial operations in Europe and the Middle East.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Topics:
— Analysis of President Biden’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and messaging toward Beijing — New administration’s approach to allies worldwide as well as Middle East — Implications of arms exports to Gulf nations — Update on the new administration’s defense spending request to be submitted to Congress in April — Budget impact on moves to counter violent domestic extremists
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rick Nagel, the CEO and managing partner of Acorn Growth Companies, and former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discuss the space agency chief’s new role as the private equity firm’s senior advisor, the outlook for defense, aerospace and intelligence markets, his legacy, the incoming Biden administration, accelerating the fielding of new capabilities and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., the co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discuss progress made and new priorities to improve America’s cybersecurity, the magnitude of the Russian’s assault on US government and industry networks, how to improve security and respond to Moscow, crafting global cyber norms, and how to fight disinformation and the domestic extremism it fuels with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, three former top Pentagon industrial policy leaders — Steve Grundman of the Atlantic Council and the Grundman Advisory consultancy, Brett Lambert now the managing director at the Densmore Group consultancy, and Dr Jerry McGinn of George Mason University — discuss the Biden administration’s use of the Defense Production Act to fight covid, Buy American and defense industrial policy and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Week on world markets as President Biden takes office and implements new pandemic strategy — Commercial travel outlook and impact on aircraft makers as Airbus revises A320 production rates, ATR update — Continuing efforts to return Boeing’s 737 Max to flight, and 787 jetliner rate — Implications of Biden administration efforts to counter domestic extremists — Decision by aerospace and defense contractors to suspend contributions to 147 GOP lawmakers who voted against certifying the election —Virgin Orbital’s first successful launch
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— Transition update on President Biden’s cabinet and outlook for Senate confirmation of key national security players — Biden administration’s unorthodox plan to fill vacancies to ensure departments are staffed until political appointees can take their posts — Takeaways from Biden’s inaugural address and prospects for unity on Capitol Hill — New key committee chairs now that Senate control shifted to Democrats — Challenges ahead as the new administration takes office — Civil-military relations in wake of revelations of white supremacy and racism in the ranks, as well as role of current and former military members on Jan. 6 insurrection — Iraq and Afghanistan as nation focuses on domestic challenges like fighting covid and home-grown terrorists
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas, discusses the high points from the recent Surface Navy Association National Symposium and the latest on the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship. In segment two, retired Navy Capt. Jerry Hendrix, PhD, Vice President at The Telemus Group on his new book author of the upcoming book, To Provide and Maintain a Navy: Why Naval Primacy is America’s First, Best Strategy. Our sponsors for this year’s Surface Navy Association National Symposium are Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Leonardo DRS and GE Marine.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Heather Conley of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, and Dr. Ron Epstein of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, discuss President Biden’s inaugural address and what Europe, Asia and Wall Street expect from the new administration with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Michell Institute for Aerospace Studies and one of the architects of the 1991 Gulf War air campaign, discusses key attributes of the unprecedented application of air power, the role of stealth and precision, the value of jointness, the legacy of the Trump administration’s stewardship of the Air Force, and recommendations for the Biden administration as it takes office
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics:
— Market analysis as covid deaths and hospitalizations spike, 1 million lose their jobs, Trump impeached for a second time and Biden announced $1.9 trillion stimulus and vaccination plans — Commercial air travel update, UK travel suspensions, downturn in Chinese passenger figures — Impact of travel trends on Airbus and Boeing production rates — Outlook for Airbus-Boeing duopoly — How failure of Space Launch System first stage during a test plays into market perceptions of Boeing — Babcock profit warning — Memorandum of Understanding among UK, Sweden and Italy on development of Tempest combat aircraft — UK National Audit Office report that Ministry of Defence’s plans outstrip expected resources by 17 billion pounds — Assessment of the Trump administrations defense, economic and foreign trade legacy
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and Wired Magazine contributor, discusses. the use of digital media platforms to organize recent insurrection activities at the U.S. Capitol as well as how the same sites were used in open source investigating to hold perpetrators accountable.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Michael E. O’Hanlon, senior fellow, and director of research, in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He co-directs the Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; the Defense Industrial Base working group; and the Africa Security Initiative within the Foreign Policy program, as well. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Art of War in an Age of Peace: U.S. Grand Strategy and Resolute Restraint, due out in May '21.
This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute.
Topics:
— Update on Trump administration officials that will serve into the new Biden administration and confirmation status of President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet on the eve of his Jan. 20 inauguration — Outlook for Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package as coronavirus cases and fatalities rise to record levels and another 1 million Americans lost their jobs — Impact of House vote to impeach President Trump for an unprecedented second time for inciting his supporters to attack and ransack the Capitol — Implications of Sen. Bernie Sander, I-Vt., as new Senate Budget Committee chair and rule changes that prohibit appropriations committee members like Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for also serving as the defense appropriations subcommittee chair — The letter from the Joint Chiefs reminding military members of their allegiance to the Constitution and the need to fight radicalization and racism in the ranks — Repercussions of 147 GOP members voting against certifying Biden on fictitious voter fraud allegations — Trump administration decision to shift Israel from US European Command to US Central Command area of responsibility — Kurt Campbell as the Biden administration’s deputy assistant to the president and the coordinator for Indo-Pacific relations on the National Security Council
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Jon Rambeau, the new vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors unit, discusses the outlook for the company’s Aegis combat system, SPY-7 radar, HELIOS laser weapon, unmanned systems and cyber role, and growth strategy with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. We are a Surface Navy Association media partner and our coverage is sponsored by Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Leonardo DRS and GE Marine.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, retired US Navy Adm Mike Rogers, the former director of the National Security Agency and the first commander of the US Cyber Command. He’s now a cyber consultant and also serves as the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty. In our first cyber conversation of 2021 we discuss Russia’s extraordinary cyber assault on US government and industry and how the nation should respond.
Northrop Grumman sponsors our broader cyber coverage--predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/ to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Vice Adm. Rick Hunt, USN Ret., president of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, discusses upgrades and modernization underway at his shipyards in Wisconsin, efforts to bring FFG-62, the future USS Constellation to life, as well as efforts to improve shipbuilding and maintenance on future naval vessels. Our sponsors for this year’s Surface Navy Association National Symposium are Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Leonardo DRS and GE Marine.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Vice Adm. Bill Galinis , USN, the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command discusses provides a wide ranging update on maintenance, readiness, shipbuilding and future manned and unmanned force structure with Defense & Aerospace Editor Vago Muradian Our sponsors for this year’s Surface Navy Association National Symposium are Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Leonardo DRS and GE Marine.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look ahead to the Surface Navy Association’s 33rd National Virtual Symposium next week — Broader market roller coaster in first week of trading as investors factor in Georgia wins for Democratic control of the Senate — Boeing’s decision to close Advanced Development Center, company’s $2.5 billion settlement with Justice Department on 737 Max crashes, and crash of older 737 in Indonesia — Airbus 2020 deliveries and orders — Rolls-Royce decision to pause UltraFan engine development — Update on Brexit and reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering replacing Gen. Sir Nick Carter as Chief of Defence Staff — Implications for China’s trade deals with Asia and Europe on Biden administration efforts to curb Beijing’s increasingly assertive global behavior — Financial and economic repercussions of storming of the Capitol by domestic terrorists — Key takeaways from the Bank of America’s annual aerospace and defense conference
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
Topics: -Democrats' Senate victories in Georgia and what it means for Defense -Expectations that the Biden Administration will alter National Security Council positions and focus, placing more emphasis on. whole of government solutions vice military force -The assault on the U.S. Capitol--why and how it happened, as well as what it means for the United States moving forward and the challenges
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council discusses US-Iran relations at the end of the Trump Administration, what to expect from the new Biden Team in relations with Tehran and across the region.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest are Patrick Cronin, PhD, the chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute, and Randall Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Chairman of the Project 2049 Institute discuss US-China relations today, recent trade deals with Europe and what to expect from the Biden Administration.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Bayer, the former chairman of the Defense Business Board and president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, former staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and Punaro Group consultancy, discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we look ahead to 2021 with guests Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, 2020 in review…the good, the bad, the notable and under reported with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, 2020 in review...the good, the bad, the notable and under reported with guests Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Ryan Ehinger, Bell’s vice president and program director for V-280 Valor tilt rotor that’s competing for the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft award is our guest in segment one. In our second segment, Rear Adm. Scott Sanders (ret), principal program director with Envistacom and owner of Tobacco Barn Distillery discusses the upcoming 700 MPH Bourbon Flight in the world's only civilian owned Sea Harrier to benefit the “Semper Fi and America’s Fund," expected to be held in Spring 2021.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch discusses the proposed acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne by Lockheed Martin in segment one. In segment two, Todd Harrison and Seamus Daniels of Center for Strategic and International Studies discuss this year's Defense360 “Bad Ideas in National Security” series.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market positions for 2021 on original equipment makers, aftermarket and defense as pandemic worsens and vaccinations accelerate — New UK lockdown as new, more vital coronavirus spreads prompting commercial travel shutdowns — Senate issues Boeing 737 Max crash investigation as new production problems found on 787 jets and questions about company’s equity plans — Decision to cancel Mitsubishi Regional Jet and implications for Embraer in regional jet market — US-China trade as Washington moves to block Chinese companies from trading on American markets and Beijing seeks new engine supplier for Comac’s C919 airliner — Russia’s cyber attack on America and how it will drive US spending priorities
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Vern Boyle, the vice president for advanced programs at the Emerging Capabilities Division of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, discusses the future of artificial intelligence with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/ to learn more.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners. Topics: — Key characteristics for future deputy defense secretary to complement Lloyd Austin as defense secretary — Stimulus, NDAA and omnibus update — Whether Russia’s massive cyber hack will drive change in spending priorities — Biden’s decision to tap House members for cabinet roles and impact on Democratic majority — Progressives list of defense talent for new administration — Sweden’s defense spending increase and parliamentary vote on NATO membership — US concessions in Western Sahara in driving Morocco’s recognition of Israel
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Jim Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Michael Kofman of the Center for Naval Analyses discuss Russia’s massive penetration of US government, military and industrial computer networks and how the incoming Biden administration should respond with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Anika Binnendijk, Gene Germanovich and Brig. Gen. Bruce McClintock, USAF Ret., of the RAND Corporation think tank, discuss their new report, “At the Vanguard: European Contributions to NATO's Future Combat Airpower” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Brig. Ben Barry, British Army Ret., the senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses his new book, “Blood, Metal and Dust: How Victory Turned Into Defeat in Afghanistan and Iraq,” and the lessons from the two conflicts in an era of great power competition and grey zone conflicts with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest for segment one Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. In segment two Josh O’Sullivan, chief technology officer for the Annapolis-based cyber defense and digital transformation company Ardalyst, discusses the initial findings and key takeaways from the recent attack against fellow cyber company FireEye.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Recap of aerospace and defense performance on Wall Street — Market view of stalled stimulus talks and companies threaten job cuts, NDAA and stopgap funding — Commercial aviation outlook as covid vaccination plans gain speed — Boeing production outlook after delivering seven airplanes in November — Looming concerns about treasuries as concerns grow about the financial health of major companies — Brexit update as Washington rejects London’s request for waiver from European aircraft tariffs — Incoming Biden administration’s trade views — CSIS study on Comac’s 919 regional airliner — German government’s purchase of Hensoldt stake, Rolls-Royce trading statement and UK defense plans — France’s future nuclear powered aircraft carrier — Market take on outgoing Trump administration’s 30-year shipbuilding plan — Virgin Galactic’s aborted test and SpaceX’s Starship explodes on landing — Look at 121st Army-Navy game amid covid as Black Knights beat Midshipmen 15-0 at West Point
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission discusses the recommendations from the panel that made it into this year's NDAA, including a national cyber director and a more robust CISA staff.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/ to learn more.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology. Our guest is Adm. Mike Rogers U. S. Navy (ret), former Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency. During his service in uniform, Rogers held positions afloat and ashore around the globe focusing on cyber, intelligence, maritime operations and national security. He is currently supporting various companies in the private sector, speaking to business groups and working internationally in the cyber and national security arenas. This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute. Topics: — Confirming Gen. Lloyd Austin, USA Ret., as America’s 28th defense secretary — Stalled negotiations over a nearly $1 trillion stimulus package — Update on the National Defense Authorization Act, defense appropriations and omnibus to keep government from closing — The implications of fierce liberal opposition to Democratic defense leaders like Michèle Flournoy and Jeh Johnson — The diplomatic importance of the Senate’s rejection of a Joint Resolution of Disapproval of the proposed US sale of F-35 Lightning II fighters to the UAE — Importance of nonpartisan advisory panels like the Defense Business Board
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) discuss the Navy's recently released 30-year shipbuilding plan.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Kori Schake, PhD, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and Cmdr. Guy “Bus” Snodgrass, USN (retired), a former Navy fighter pilot, TOPGUN Instructor and author of the new book TOPGUN’S TOP 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit discuss the nomination of retired Army General Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense, the justification to receive a Congressional waiver and the effects his tenure would have on the Defense Department.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Bayer, the former chairman of the Defense Business Board and president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, former staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and Punaro Group consultancy, discuss President-elect Joe Biden’s decision to tape Gen. Lloyd Austin, USA Ret., as the nation’s 28th defense secretary, with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners.
Topics: — Recap of aerospace and defense on Wall Street and European markets as covid impact worsens and vaccine hopes rise — Commercial air travel outlook as governments and industry gear up for mass vaccinations — Boeing 787 Dreamliner rate cut — Outlook for 737 Max as Ryanair orders 75 jets and gauging passenger concerns about the plane as it reenters service after a lengthy grounding in the wake of two deadly crashes — Embraer’s envisioned E3 regional aircraft — Look at the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations — Indonesia’s interest in Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter — Comments about the A380 by former Airbus chief salesman John Leahy — Lugano Convention looms as Brexit talks move toward Dec. 31 deadline — Plans by Lufthansa, New Zealand and Zephyr for sleeping accommodations for coach passengers
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, David Forscey is Managing Director for Aspen Digital’s cyber & technology programming at the Aspen Institute discusses their in-depth report, A National Cybersecurity Agenda for Resilient Digital Infrastructure, outlining an aggressive and ambitious national cybersecurity agenda for the incoming Biden administration and 117th Congress as it begins work in January.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute. Topics: — What President-elect Biden’s cabinet picks say about the qualities he values in senior leaders — Update on National Defense Authorization Act, appropriations and latest coronavirus stimulus talks — New leaders at the House Armed Services, Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees — Candidates Biden is assessing as his defense secretary and implications for a delayed selection — Importance of diversity in leadership positions — How a Republican Senate will welcome Biden nominees — Trump administration’s Schedule F designation for civil servants and implications of mass firings on transition to Biden administration\ — Continuing opposition to sale of F-35 Lightning II fighters to UAE by Democratic senators
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Rear Adm. Jim Robb, USN Ret., the president of the National Training and Simulation Association discusses key takeaways from this year’s virtual I/ITSEC, and Dan Gelston, the president of CAE’s Defense & Security Group, on the future of training and simulation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council discusses what’s next in the wake of the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and how the Biden administration should approach Tehran and nations in the Gulf with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell,Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, provides highlights from his recently completed writing in the Strategy Bridge on Net Assessment in DoD and on-going work on electromagnetic spectrum technology competition between the US, China, and Russia.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Wall Street recap of a short Thanksgiving week as covid cases and fatalities soar — Commercial air travel trends as covid pandemic worsens — Qantas’ virus testing proposal to reinstall confidence in long-haul travel — IATA’s assessment of the pandemic’s impact on airline hubs — Outlook for Boeing’s 737 Max in wake FAA certification as Alaska Airlines and Ryanair express interest in the single-aisle jetliner — Impact of new policies in latest UK Treasury Green Book on British defense jobs and future impact on US arms exports — Europe’s new helicopter program as Germany orders new NH90 helicopters from Airbus — Babcock outlook — Brexit update as Dec. 31 deadline looms
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Philip Niedermair, CEO of the National Cyber Group (NCG.) and managing director of strategic alliances for Whiteford, Taylor & Preston (WTP) and Ron Gula, co-founder of GulaTech Adventures, a cyber security investment fund that is working with the next generation of cyber security start-ups, discuss the needed cyber security and IT learning continuum for students of all ages.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, the commander of AETC and the force development commander for the Air Force discusses Air Education and Training Command’s Strategic Action Plan, designed to accelerate change across the recruiting, training and education enterprise, training in a competitive enviornment and the use of technology to prepare recruits and airmen for service in the 2020s.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the results of three surveys including global perceptions of leading nations and institutions, top security threats and how governments should respond to the covid pandemic released at the recent Halifax International Security Forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Harjit Sajjan, Canada’s minister of national defense, discusses priorities with a new Biden administration, partnering to fight covid, bringing democracies together to counter and cooperate with China, balancing Afghanistan and other missions with great power competition, and modernization, and Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses an incoming Biden team with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market reaction as new coronavirus cases and fatalities spike as new vaccines show promise — Virus impact on air travel and stimulus update — FAA decision to return Boeing’s 737 Max to flight and impact on outlook for the single-aisle jetliner — MTU capital markets update — Greece’s interest in F-35 Lightning II fighter as tensions with Turkey continue — Eurofighter orders that extend production in Germany and Spain — Outlook for US and French arms sales in the Middle East in the wake of congressional opposition to sale of F-35s and Reapers to UAE, expectation that Biden will be tougher on Saudi Arabia and Macron’s comments in wake of recent terror attacks
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, James Lewis, PhD, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the week’s top cyber headlines with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Northrop Grumman also sponsors our broader cyber coverage.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power. In segment two our guest is Peter Van Praagh, the founding President of Halifax International Security Forum for a preview of this year's virtual conference. In segment three, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute and Heather Conley, the director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Topics: — Implications of a stalled transition as President-Elect Biden works to staff his administration and fight the coronavirus pandemic — Look ahead to the Halifax International Security Forum, this year conducted virtually, including a new handbook on how democracies should approach China — Update on congressional budget and stimulus deliberations — Analysis of President Trump’s abrupt decision with withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq — Importance of top talent in staffing Biden Pentagon — UK decision to boost defense spending
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we talk with Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute on her recent essays,"The difficult task of nuclear modernization", co-authored with Elaine McCusker; and "Putting combatant commanders on a demand signal diet."
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas, just back from a day at sea onboard USS Gerald R. Ford discusses work being done on the ship, COVID-19 precautions and much more, but first Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) briefly discusses the Trump Administration's plans to reduce troop numbers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific Security Chair at the Hudson Institute, and Matthew Goodman, the senior vice president for economics and Simon Chair in political economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discuss the economic and security implications of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership spearheaded by China and involving 14 other nations — including close US allies like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea — to make the largest ever trade deal covering 2.2 billion people and a third of the world’s economic output with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Wall Street’s bullishness on vaccine and when the global economy is likely to recover — Latest commercial passenger figures and impact on aircraft makers — The implications of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest trade organization, that’s led by China and includes 14 other nations including America’s closest Pacific allies and covers more than 2 billion people — Update on Comac’s C919 airliner that relies on US content — Look at Boeing’s 737 Max program as the Federal Aviation Administration prepared to certify the jetliner to return to flight — AIRCAP, Air Lease, Hensoldt, QinetiQ and Transdigm earnings — Britain in the wake of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to sack Dominic Cummings from his unique government role — US efforts to conclude the sale of F-35 Lighting II fighters to the United Arab Emirates
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman with the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and contributor Wired, and David Levine, the Elections Integrity Fellow of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States discuss the cyber security and integrity of the recent presidential election.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our weekly discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology, sponsored by Bell. Dr Darrell Bricker, the global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, one of the world’s leading polling and analysis firms, discusses lessons from the 2016 and 2020 US elections, accuracy in polling, improving accuracy and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. This conversation is part of a series on strategists and strategy devoted to the memory of one of the nation’s greatest national security strategists, Andy Marshall, the former director of the Pentagon’s office of net assessment and sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power.
In segment two our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, Christopher Preble, co-director of the Atlantic Council's New American Engagement Initiative and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.
Topics: — Look at transition efforts as President-elect Joe Biden’s agency review teams for DoD and other departments are named and President Trump refuses to concede election or support change in administration — Update on National Defense Authorization Act, Senate defense appropriations markup and fourth stimulus package talks — Political dynamics in Congress including a scant Democratic majority in the House and factionalism in both parties — US role in the the world in a Biden administration, including beating coronavirus at home — Keys to a smooth change between administrations — Addressing ethics concerns associated with attracting top talent to DoD who have industry experience
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission discusses what it means to operate and succeed in grey zone warfare--kinetic and none kinetic operations short of war.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Amb. Derek Mitchell, the president of the National Democratic Institute, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, and Dr. Harlan Ullman, the chairman of the Killowen Group consultancy, discuss the China strategy a Biden administration should adopt, balancing competition with cooperation, how the US return to global leadership by spearheading the international response to the covid pandemic, and Beijing’s challenges with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Michael Kofman, director of the Russia studies program at the Center for Naval Analyses, and Sam Bendett, research analyst at CNA’s Adversary Analysis Group, discuss the implications of the truce Moscow negotiated between Turkey and Azerbaijan and Armenia to end fighting over the ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, why Vladimir Putin didn’t intervene sooner to end the conflict, and how a Biden administration should approach Russia with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape. Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) joins Callan discuss the firing of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics:
— Market reaction to election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — How Biden administration would approach competition and cooperation with China — Update on air travel as coronavirus worsens including impact on air carriers and aircraft makers — US and European earnings reports and market reaction — Outlook for Middle East sales if Biden administration takes tougher line with Gulf nations — US-UK defense relationship and outlook for Britain’s financial sector in wake of Brexit
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jay Healey, senior research scholar at Columbia University and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, discusses the recent offensive operations undertaken by CYBERCOM to prevent foreign election interference and what it means to persistently engage. While not a specific acknowledgment, Gen. Paul Nakasone, who leads NSA and CYBERCOM told the Washington Post he was “very confident in actions” his team had taken against adversaries “over the past several weeks and the past several months to make sure that they’re not going to interfere in our elections.”
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power. In segment two our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Heather Conley, the director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses how allies view the US presidential election, the outlook for transatlantic relations, the rise of protectionism and the future of American troops in Germany with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, we bring you part two of our interview with Tim Dare, the deputy director for prototyping and software in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, but first Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) provide initial observations from yesterday's election.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Tim Dare, the deputy director for prototyping and software in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, discusses his unique role to plug capability gaps between combatant commander operational needs and existing military programs, top priority efforts, addressing needs with agility and speed, transitioning prototypes to production, harnessing innovation across DoD, industry and academia and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest David Albritton, the president of General Motors Defense, discusses the company’s victory in the US Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle competition, delivering the first batch of vehicles months after contract award and plans to grow it’s defense contracting footprint with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Justin Sherman (@jshermcyber) a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative contributor at WIRED and many other outlets discusses election security, dis/mis information attack vectors, recent hospital ransom ware attacks and other timely issues being tracked by the cyber community.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Aerospace and defense stock performance as Wall Street experiences its biggest drop since March on record coronavirus infections and rising fatalities cloud economic outlook — Analysis of commercial air travel trends as covid worsens in the United States and Britain, Belgium, France and other nations go into renewed national lockdowns — Update on airlines strategies for surviving the downturn on available remaining stimulus funding — Market expects Biden win marking returns to more active coronavirus strategy, but what happens with Trump win and higher infections, fatalities and economic disruption — Look at Airbus, Boeing, General Dynamics, MTU, Raytheon, and Textron earnings including update on production rates — Boeing management on 737 Max and plans for New Midsize Aircraft — Safran CEO Philippe Petitcolin’s comments on the 737 Max — US government’s drive to export 50 of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter to United Arab Emirates — Impact of AvWeek’s Brad Perrett departure from China on objective future insight into Chinese aviation efforts — European Union certification of two-seat Liberty flying car by Dutch company PAL-V
On this special episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Michael Bayer, the chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy, discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Update on National Defense Authorization Act as negotiations for a fourth coronavirus stimulus package stall — Analysis of the House Armed Services Committee chairman, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., at the Center for a New American Security — Implications of using the US military as a prop, including using Marine One at a campaign rally for President Trump as well as recent Navy announcements to curry favor in shipbuilding states — DoD’s plan to study the financial performance of defense contractors — Ramifications of reporting that Trump’s financial ties in Turkey allowed Recip Tayyip Erdogan to pressure the US president to get his attorney general to halt a investigation whether a leading Turkish bank was violating US sanctions on Iran
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group provides context and his views on recent naval topics including the proposed Battle Force 2045, fleet readiness and maintenance as well as service priorities for 2021 and beyond.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Samuel Bendett, an associate research analyst in the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security on the game changing role of unmanned systems in the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and what it means for future conflicts.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, John Baylouny , Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Leonardo DRS, discusses operating in the time of COVID, impact on the workforce, company priorities, the current budget environment, moving fast and great power competition. Our coverage of the Association of the United States Army’s virtual annual meeting — AUSA Now — is sponsored by Bell, Beretta USA and Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market expectations as Washington struggles to craft a stimulus package before the election as the coronavirus pandemic worsens — Implications of American, Alaska and Southwest airlines third quarter earnings and outlook for future Boeing and Airbus orders — Analysis of news reports that Boeing has been conferring with customers and suppliers as considers a new single-aisle jetliner between the 737 and 787 aircraft — What a new Boeing Future Single-Aisle jetliner should look like — Whether Boeing or suppliers can afford to invest billions to develop a new jet in the midst of a revenue and profit crushing pandemic — Reports of Boeing production problems at its Mesa, Ariz., plant that makes AH-46 attack helicopters — Saab and Thales third quarter newsflow — Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman earnings and expectations for companies reporting next week, including Boeing — Update on Britain’s defense review
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, David Zikusoka, research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), staff on the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and member of the national security team in the office of Vice President Joseph Biden, discusses China’s progress toward a groundbreaking secure communication and encryption system based on the principles of quantum mechanics with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our weekly discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology, sponsored by Bell. Our series is named after Andy Marshall, one of America’s greatest strategic minds, to mark the one year anniversary of his passing. Our guest is Richard Danzig, the 71st Secretary of the US Navy and former chairman of the Center for a New American Security and senior adviser at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Update on fourth stimulus package negotiations as election nears — Impact of a Democratic-led Senate on US arms exports — National security take always from the final presidential debate — Implications of using senior law enforcement and military leaders for political ends — Hot-mic moment of two top sportscasters on value of military flyovers and growing civil-military divide
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and Jerry Hendrix, PhD, Vice President at The Telemus Group discuss the pros and cons of national security adviser Robert O’Brien's recent announcement the U.S. Navy plans will put hypersonic missiles on all Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, in addition to other ships and submarines.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association discusses the organization's 'facts and figures', talent, the budget environment, COVID-19 impacts and longterm prognosis for his membership and the aerospace industrial base.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Ryan Ehinger, Bell’s vice president for advanced vertical lift systems and the program director for the V-280 Valor tiltrotor for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft competition, and retired US Army Col. Chris Gehler, the vice president and program director of the company’s 360 Invictus aircraft that’s vying for the service’s Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft, discuss their programs, driving innovation, cutting sustainment costs and the outlook for Army Aviation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Bell, Beretta USA and Leonardo DRS sponsored our coverage of the Association of the United States Army’s virtual annual meeting — AUSA Now.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Bruce Jette, PhD, the assistant secretary of the US Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, on COVID-19 fallout and mitigation, accelerating transformation, harnessing innovation and competition. Our AUSA Now coverage is sponsored by Bell, Beretta USA and Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market expectations in the wake of chaotic talks for a fourth US stimulus package as American covid cases rise — Outlook for commercial travel as coronavirus cases spike in Europe and elsewhere as the US Transportation Command finds DoD personnel and their dependents are safe from aerosolized covid aboard contracted jetliners — United Airlines and Delta Airlines third quarter 2020 earnings — The European Aviation Safety Agency clears Boeing’s 737 Max jetliner to return to flight, with US regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration to follow suit — The World Trade Organization says Europe can impose tariffs on $4 billion in American goods over American government’s “illegal” support for Boeing — a year after the trade body allowed Washington to sanction $7.5 billion in European goods over illegal support for Airbus — Boeing considers closing its Commercial Airplanes Longacres headquarters in Renton, Wash., prompting concerns about the company’s long term presence in the area and worries that aggressive cost-cutting measures could doom the giant — Implications of Italian court’s decision to sentence Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo to six year in jail for alleged financial impropriety in 2015 as chief executive at an Italian bank (The company has expressed full confidence in Profumo as his case is appealed) — Dassault Aviation’s reluctance to increase Rafale fighter production rates despite pressure from French Defense Minister Florence Parly and Chief of Defense Gen. François Lecointre — Rheinmetall’s outlook with Lynx vehicle on a roll and questions about it’s automotive future
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Chris Inglis, Distinguished Visiting Professor in Cyber Security Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy and a Commissioner on the Cyber Solarium Commission discusses building a more diverse cyber work force, specifically the Cybersecurity Education Diversity Initiative—CEDI, which makes officials and resources such as virtual cyber ranges available to minority-serving institutions through NSA’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute. Topics: — Key takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s virtual annual meeting — Update on chaotic negotiations over a fourth stimulus package as President Trump finds himself at odds with GOP leaders — The defense impact of a new stimulus package isn’t adopted — Analysis of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recently published national security roadmap — Implications of the concept of “inside forces” that would operate in an adversary’s air and missile umbrellas — A look at Navy’s Battle Force 2045 and efforts to accelerate unmanned efforts through the NAVWAR organization led by Rear Adm. Douglas Small — CBO’s assessment that new Constellation-class frigate will likely end up more expensive than the Navy’s projection
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Brig. Gen. John Rafferty, US Army, director of of the US Army’s cross-functional long-range precision fires team, on Future's Command Project Convergence, learning, the future of long-range weapons and hypersonic weapons, developing systems with joint and industry partners, as well as staying ahead of US adversaries.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Gen. Jim McConville, US Army, the 40th chief of staff of the US Army, discusses lessons from the covid pandemic, transforming the force, harnessing innovation, making budget tradeoffs, talent management and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Association of the United States Army’s virtual annual meeting. Our AUSA Now coverage is sponsored by Bell, Beretta USA and Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Dr Franco Gussalli Beretta, the president and CEO of Fabrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta — the heart of the family-owned company that is the world’s oldest arms maker, dating to 1526 with a contract for 185 arquebus barrels for the Doge of Venice — discusses the firm’s heritage, technology investment priorities, strategic decision process and partnership with General Dynamics to win the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon contract with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian in an AUSA Now exclusive. Beretta USA sponsors our land warfare coverage and is also sponsoring our coverage of the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting, AUSA Now, as are Bell and Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Bill Lynn, former deputy US defense secretary who is now president and CEO of Leonardo DRS, discusses operating in the time of COVID, company priorities, the current budget environment, moving fast and great power competition. Our coverage of the Association of the United States Army’s virtual annual meeting — AUSA Now — is sponsored by Bell, Beretta USA and Leonardo DRS.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look ahead to the Association of the United States Army’s virtual 2020 annual meeting — dubbed AUSA Now — Market expectations as President Trump and GOP vacillate on fourth stimulus package — What a deal — or no deal — will mean for commercial air carriers — Southwest Airlines and Air Asia moves as covid pandemic worsens — Aircraft deliveries and prospects for Boeing’s 737 Max jetliner as Air Alaska and Ryanair express interest — How financial woes at General Electric and Rolls-Royce will impact development of a new generation of fuel efficient commercial jet engines — Outlook for Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter as Paris orders new jets as used aircraft are transferred to Greece — Update on Franco-German SCAF program — Qatar’s request for F-35 Lightning II fighters — Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate program one year after Babcock downselected as prime contractor
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Suzanne Spaulding, the former undersecretary for the national protection and program directorate at the Department of Homeland Security who is now the senior advisor for homeland security at the Center for Strategic and International studies, discusses election security and work being down to protect the sanctity of voting infrastructure.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our weekly discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology, sponsored by Bell. Our series is named after Andy Marshall, one of America’s greatest strategic minds, to mark the one year anniversary of his passing. Our guest is Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, USA, (ret.), Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs and author of the recent book Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute. Topics: — The latest on negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on fourth stimulus package that President Trump halted, then restarted — How covid crisis, infections at White House, quarantines at Pentagon, presidential election and recent reports of militia plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer distracting America from global leadership role, empowering potential adversaries — How elections outcomes could reorder national security leadership on Capitol Hill — Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s plan for a larger Navy and budget tradeoffs needed to achieve a larger battle force
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one is Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas on Secretary of Defense Mark's Esper's recently announced "Battle Force 2045," a new future fleet plan that would grow the attack submarine force, pair nuclear-powered aircraft carriers with light carriers, and grow the number of small and unmanned ships. In segment two Matthew Zimmermann, co-founder and CEO of Beast Code discusses the company's capabilities in supporting the Department of Defense, the use of data to create digital twins, sharing rights between the services and industry, as well as the importance of time as commodity in great power competition.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Amb. Eric Edelman, a former US ambassador to Turkey who is now a counselor at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Amb. John Evans, a former US ambassador to Armenia, and Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss the combined Turkish-Azerbaijani assault on the Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Maj. Gen. Bill Cooley, USAF, the special assistant to the commander of the US Air Force Materiel Command, discusses service and industry efforts to go digital--better utilizing data to make decisions and assess current processes.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — How the coronavirus infections of President Trump and the First Lady as well as prominent Republicans including three senators could impact air travel trends — Market expectations of a new US stimulus package including support for airlines — 737 Max return to flight outlook after FAA Administrator Steve Dickson flew aboard the jetliner — Boeing’s decision to consolidate 787 Dreamliner production in Charleston, SC, and what’s next for the company’s facilities in Everett and Renton, Wash. — Update on Boeing and Airbus production rates — Competitors for Switzerland’s competition for a new fighter aircraft — Wall Street’s evolving view of the future of US defense spending
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., co-chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force, discusses cyber threats and work to be done identified by the bi-partisan group.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Update on negotiations for a fourth stimulus package valued at some $2.2 trillion — Defense spending update in wake of statement by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith that despite bipartisan consensus, progressives will push for Pentagon budget cut — National security implications of President Trump’s high personal debt and The Washington Post’s reporting that states led by Republican governors poised to send guardsmen to Washington, DC, and other cities in event of post-election demonstrations — The Navy’s decision against making public Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday’s heart attack — A distracted Washington as fighting erupts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, threatening conflict between Turkey and Russia
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest in segment one, Shawn Warren, vice president for large combat and mobility engines at GE Aviation, discusses COVID-19 mitigation and the offerings submitted by the company for the US Air Force’s competition to re-engine the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, expected to be awarded in the Spring of '21. In segment two, Chris Servello, Ward Carroll and John Schofield of Sing Second Sports, a weekly podcast about Naval Academy Athletics, discuss service academy football and preview the upcoming game between Navy and Air Force.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Edward Ferguson, the minister counsellor defense at the British Embassy in Washington, discusses the UK government’s integrated defense and security review, defense cooperation between Britain and the United States, the future of international defense cooperation in an era of nationalism and de-globalization, and the UK-Italy-Sweden Tempest combat air program.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, Erin Cherry, PhD, a program manager in the emerging capabilities development arm of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems’ Advanced Intelligent Systems, discusses the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Offensive Swarm Enabled Tactics program, human-computer interaction, augmented reality and the future of unmanned systems with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners discusses what to watch and take note of over the coming week in DC and across the national and international security landscape.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market reaction to Washington’s decision to impose export contractions on China’s leading chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. as Beijing considers clearing Boeing’s 737 Max to return to Chinese airspace — Update on 737 Max as Federal Aviation Administration prepares to certify design and software changes to return jetliner to flight — Latest International Air Travel Association figures and implications on Airbus and Boeing production rates, especially for wide-body aircraft — UK defense review as officials disclose Russia’s cyber attacks on British military — Which competitors will likely prevail in the contest to equip Switzerland’s Air Force with new fighter jets now that Swiss voters have approved the acquisition of new combat aircraft — Wall Street confidence in view expressed by American Airlines CEO Doug Parker last week that he expects $25 billion new federal aid to air carriers by Oct. 1 to forestall job cuts — Update on Hensoldt and Rolls-Royce equity offerings
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Evanna Hu, the CEO of the machine-learning company Omelas that specializes in identifying and countering disinformation who is also affiliated with the Atlantic Council think tank, discusses how China and Russia are working to discredit leading US defense contractors with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian on this week’s Cyber Report sponsored by Northrop Grumman.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International. Topics: — Update on fourth stimulus package and political calculations impacting negotiations — News reports on $1 billion in Pentagon Paycheck Protection Program spending — Implications of general and flag officers signing letters in support of candidates running for president — Clash between White House’s ban on government-wide racial and gender bias training and Pentagon efforts to increase racial and gender bias training across the force — Outlook for a 500-ship Navy and tradeoffs needed to achieve it
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Christian Trotti and Tate Nurkin of the Atlantic Council discuss the think tank’s “Primer on hypersonic weapons in the Indo-Pacific region” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, guest is Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, provides highlights from recently completed reports on antisubmarine warfare using autonomous systems, weaponizing 5G and plans to restore America's advantage at sea.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Major General Christopher P. Azzano is the Commander, Air Force Test Center, headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base, California, discusses joint domain operations, digital modeling and the the power of information on testing, platform development and desired battlefield effects.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Dave Alexander, president of aviation systems at General Atomics, discusses COVID-19 lessons, the company's history of innovation and agility, the benefits of the company's structure and approach, as well as future goals.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Implications of US Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper’s disclosure that the service’s Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft has transitioned from design to flying article in one year with record-setting results — Market expectations of governments as coronavirus pandemic worsens — Commercial aviation impact of rising coronavirus cases in Europe — A look at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s report on “The Design, Development & Certification of the Boeing 737 Max” — Moves by Rolls-Royce and Hensoldt to raise equity
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jay Healey, senior research scholar at Columbia University and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, discusses his recent article Could Trump Deploy US Cyber Command Against Protestors?, on discussion on setting better limits on the U.S. military’s ability to operate against Americans.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member).
Topics: — Update on fourth stimulus package and continuing resolution — Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s plan for US Navy force structure of more than 355 ships — IBM’s Mayflower Autonomous Ship Project to recreate the historic 1620 voyage that brought 135 settlers from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Mass. — The latest bipartisan arms export package to Taiwan that would bolster the island nation’s defenses as China saber rattles in the Taiwan Strait — The evolving political messaging in the race of the presidency — A look at what to expect from the coming week
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, John Tirpak of Air Force Magazine, and Steve Trimble of Aviation Week and Space Technology discuss key takeaways from the Air Force Association’s 2020 Air Space Cyber virtual conference and trade show.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Gen. Tim Ray, USAF, the commander of both the US Air Force’s Global Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic-Air, discusses China and Russia threats, capabilities, agile bomber employment worldwide, the importance of the nuclear triad and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. The interview is part of our coverage of the Air Force Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and trade show, this year conducted virtually.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chuck Dabuno, Boeing’s vice president and program manager of the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training System Strike, Surveillance and Mobility review highpoints for AFA’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow. In segment one Callan reviews today's comments by Asst. Sec Will Roper, the Air Force’s assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, that the service has flown at least one prototype of its next generation fighter jet. In segment two Dabuno provides a T-7 program update and discusses the benefits of the Air Force's approach to assembling, designing and testing new platforms using digital tools and how this will reduce cost, time and flexibility.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest are Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and Michele Evans, the executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics sector. In segment one Deptula discusses the highlights from Day 1 of AFA’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and trade show. In segment two Evans discusses the company’s F-35 Lightning II fighter, developing and fielding new aircraft more quickly, the outlook for the F-16 Fighting Falcon and more.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Look ahead to the Air Force Association’s annual Air Space Cyber conference and tradeshow next week — this year, presented virtually — Broader market swings and expectations of volatility — Impact of commercial air travel trends on aircraft makers — Update on Boeing 787 production issues — Johnson administration’s move to break deal with EU and implications of a hard Brexit on aerospace and defense — UK defense review and possible trade offs between tanks and Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft — Greece’s decision to acquire 18 Rafale fighters, built by Dassault Aviation -Market reaction to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s remarks on defense spending and China — Messages analysts are looking to hear from US Air Force and industry leaders at this year’s AFA
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, we featured part 2 of our interview with Katie Arrington, the Chief Information Security Officer, CISO(A) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, ASD(A). We continue the discussion on the urgent need to implement the DoD’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model, the teeth behind the new requirements, what still needs to occur and what happens after implementation.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners. Topics: — Fourth stimulus package and defense budget update — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s stance on military spending and China — Civil-military relations in the wake of reports on private comments by President Trump about veterans and the commander-in-chief’s charge that America’s senior military leaders seek wars specifically to bolster defense contractor earnings — Reflections on 9/11 on the 19th anniversary of the terror attacks and the legacy of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest are Patrick Cronin, PhD, the chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute, and Randall Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Chairman of the Project 2049 Institute discuss the 2020 China Military Power Report and China's growing military power.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall and Cmdr. Guy “Bus” Snodgrass, USN (retired), a former Navy fighter pilot, TOPGUN Instructor and author of the new book TOPGUN’S TOP 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit, discuss comments about U.S. troops attributed to President Donald Trump by The Atlantic magazine, implications for civil-military relations, effects on national security, and the 2020 election.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Sandy Magnus, PhD, the deputy director of defense engineering in the office of the undersecretary of defense of research and engineering, discusses lessons DoD can learn from NASA in developing complex systems, what a career as an astronaut taught her, how to accelerate development cycles, building defense engineering and program management skills and inspiring a new generation to science and engineering with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Broader market update as Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell backs more cheap money and Wall Street continues to surge — Anticipated impact on US air carriers if stimulus funding expires on Oct. 1 without further government support — Continuing coronavirus impact on commercial air travel and implications for aircraft makers — News reports of Boeing production issue with 787-10 jetliners made in Charleston as the company debates whether to consolidate Dreamliner manufacture in either Charleston or Everett — Update on 737 Max return to flight — Rolls-Royce huge first half loss and full year outlook — Implications if the US Senate backs legislation passed by the House to require 100 percent of components in American weapons to be made in the United States — Britain’s ongoing defense review — Takeaways from the Republican National Convention
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, we featured part 1 of our interview with Katie Arrington, the Chief Information Security Officer, CISO(A) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, ASD(A) . In this segment we discuss the urgent need to implement the DoD’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model and the progress being made thus far. In part two we will discuss what still needs to occur and what happens after implementation .
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
Welcome to the DEFAERO Andy Marshall Strategy Series, our weekly discussion with leading thinkers on security, business and technology, sponsored by Bell. Our series is named after Andy Marshall, one of America’s greatest strategic minds, to mark the one year anniversary of his passing. Our guest is Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — Reports that the devastating fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard may have been arson — Update on fourth stimulus package and defense spending bills — Key takeaways from the Republican National Convention including national security messaging — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s address from Israel and Middle East tour — China increased provocations and the incident between US and Russian forces in Syria that injured four American soldiers — Drive to convince Senate to stop House proposal to require 100 percent US parts content in American weapons — Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s Asia tour
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Samuel Bendett, an associate research analyst in the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security with a review of the highlights from Russia's International Military Expo Army-2020.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and Eric Sayers of Beacon Global Strategies discuss the investments, capabilities and thinking needed to deter and if necessary defeat the Chinese.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Amb. Eric Edelman, counselor at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discusses the conflict between Greece and Turkey, as well as the resulting response from NATO.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Todd Harrison and Seamus Daniels of Center for Strategic and International Studies discussing their recent paper, "Analysis of the FY 2021 Defense Budget."
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Commercial air travel update as coronavirus fatalities rise and cases surge in Europe — Prospects for commercial airline stimulus package — Impact on Pacific Northwest if Boeing decides to consolidate 787 production in Charleston — Defense spending outlook in the wake of Democratic convention — Outlook for F-35 deal with UAE in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to a sale despite a diplomatic recognition deal between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Department of the Navy's inaugural chief information security officer, Christopher Cleary cyber competition and conflict, helping service leaders learn and grow from lessons learned and the role CISO's play in war-fighting and lethality.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it’s not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber to learn more.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International. Topics: — Update on status of fourth stimulus package, debate on US Postal Service funding as well as government and defense budget measures — Key political and national security takeaways from the Democratic National Convention — How mounting national debt will impact future defense spending — Last week’s letter signed by Republican national security veterans endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden as America’s next chief executive — Disconnect between Trump administration’s backing of the sale of F-35 fighters to UAE in the wake of diplomatic recognition between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call to block the sale of the 5th generation fighter to the Gulf Arab kingdom
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest are Patrick Cronin, PhD, the chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute, and Jim Holmes, PhD, the JC Wylie chair of maritime strategy US Naval War College, discuss Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s crackdown on internal security leaders and shift to a more centralized economy, Beijing’s heightened military operations as it seeks to assert territorial claims and increase pressure on Taiwan, helped Taipei protect itself, and determining what US actions could trigger China to aggression with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Gen. Chuck Horner, USAF Ret., the commander of US and allied air forces during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF Ret., the dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and one of the architects of the first Gulf War air campaign, discuss their role in building coalition air plans 30 years ago after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Gen. Jim Jones, USMC Ret., President Obama’s first national security advisor and chairman of the Atlantic Council think tank; Bartholomew "Bat" Sparrow, PhD, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who is the author of “The Strategist: Brent Scowcroft and the Call of National Security,” and Barry Pavel, the director of the Brent Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, discuss the life and legacy of American national security icon Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, USAF Ret., with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Eugene Rumer, Director and Senior Fellow Russia and Eurasia Program, on the recent election in Belarus and the reaction by Moscow.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Investigation over allegations of impropriety involving Boeing’s space business and NASA over a lunar contract as the company is under investigation over wrongdoing during the certification of the 737 Max jetliner that’s been grounded for 18 months after two deadly crashes — Whether Boeing will suspend jetliner production again as it did earlier this year — An update on global air travel demand and implications for suppliers — Role of governments in supporting jetliner production to preserve the industry and the jobs it generates nearly 65 million jobs worldwide — Implications of US sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to Taiwan and whether mutual diplomatic recognition between Israel and the United Arab Emirates clear the way for F-35s fighters for Abu Dhabi
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Jay Healey, senior research scholar at Columbia University and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, discusses his recent article "The Clean Network Initiative: Another Nail in the Coffin of An Open Internet" and the pros and cons of recent cyber security actions by the Trump Administration aimed at China with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Northrop Grumman also sponsors our cyber coverage.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Defense & Aerospace Report’s own producer Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors to review the key news and commentary from the past week.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute. Topics: — Impact of President Trump’s decision to use executive actions to circumvent impasse with congressional Democrats over fourth stimulus package — Implications of stimulus standoff on defense — Outlook for Pentagon’s request for $11 billion to cover defense contractors’ coronavirus-related costs — Look at Treasury Department’s update on outlays and deficits — National security ramifications of former Vice President Joe Biden’s choice of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as his running mate — What the recent agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates will mean for the region
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, guests Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Lt. Col. Pete Garretson, USAF Ret., the co-director of the space power initiative at the American Foreign Policy Council, discuss the US Space Force’s new capstone document, the recent space industrial base report, Air Force’s National Security Space Launch Contracts and NASA’s successes and long-range exploration strategy.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, guests Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson, USMC Ret., a former assistant secretary of defense for defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs who is now the senior director for China and the Pacific at the Center for the National Interest, and Misha Auslin, PhD, the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, discuss US-China relations, responding to Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong crackdown, and how to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, guest Alan R. Shaffer, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition & Sustainment discusses COVID-19 response, defense procurement of supplies for agencies across government, use of the Defense Production Act, acquisition lessons learned and work that still needs to be done.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Impact of President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian aluminum despite the US Mexico Canada trade agreement and proclamations forcing WeChat and TikTok out of the US market in 45 days — Second quarter 2020 earnings disclosures from General Electric, General Dynamics and other companies — Virgin Atlantic bankruptcy and 1 billion pound rescue package for smaller UK suppliers — Federal Aviation Administration’s directive to Boeing on changes needed to return the 737 Max jetliners to service — US Air Force’s National Security Space Launch contract and implications for United Launch Alliance and SpaceX — Update on Virgin Galactic and USAF plans for hypersonic passenger aircraft
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission discusses the latest progress on the more than 80 recommendations being considered by the private sector, executive decision or legislative, including the creation of a national cyber director.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, guests Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) discuss Bryan's recent article "Seapower Advocacy: Time to Get Serious". Our naval coverage is sponsored by Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Topics: — Update on fourth stimulus package, National Defense Authorization Act, appropriations process and prospect for continuing resolution to fund DoD — Takeaways from primary contests and implications for November elections — Recommendations for former Vice President Joe Biden as he considers who to pick as his running mate — Look at Biden’s emerging defense and foreign policy agenda — Political implications of the devastating explosion in Beirut that killed more than 135, injured more than 5,000 and displaced as many 300,000 — Legacy of Gen. David Goldfein as he hands off to Gen. CQ Brown as the US Air Force’s new chief of staff — Brown’s priorities as the service’s 22nd chief
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council on the ramifications of growing partnerships between Iran and China.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, USN (ret.), executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and Eric Sayers of Beacon Global Strategies discuss their recent paper "Make China the Explicit Priority in the Next NDS." The paper is part of the Center for a New American Security "The Next Defense Strategy" series.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests, from WestExec Advisors, Michèle Flournoy and Gabrielle Chefitz, co-authors of the CNAS report: “Sharpening the U.S. Military’s Edge: Critical Steps for the Next Administration” discusses key points from the report and offer their advice to future national security leaders on the urgent agenda needed moving forward.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Impact on defense and aerospace as broader market reels in wake of biggest drop in US economic history — Update on commercial air traffic trends as coronavirus pandemic continues — Airbus and Boeing earnings and latest commercial aircraft production rates as manufacture of 787 Dreamliners slows and 747 jumbo jet slated to end — 787 slowdown and whether Boeing will consolidate production in Everette, Wash., or Charleston, S.C. — BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Safran second quarter 2020 earnings, including Gulfstream business jet deliveries — Coronavirus’ defense production impact and role in delays on BAE’s AMPV program
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Trey Herr and Will Loomis of the Atlantic Council, contributors on the report "Breaking trust: Shades of crisis across an insecure software supply chain". discuss the often overlooked security vulnerabilities associated with software development, deployment and everyday operation.
Predicting cyber attacks before they happen is impossible. Until it's not. Visit https://www.northropgrumman.com/cyber/ to learn more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) to review the key news and commentary from the past week.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International and Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Topics: — Update on National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations — The prospects for the GOP’s proposed coronavirus stimulus package including spending on new programs and unemployment benefits cuts — Impact of the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw 12,000 US troops from Germany and whether lawmakers can stop it — Look at the draft Democratic platform — How lawmakers are coping with report that Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, tested positive for the coronavirus
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Gen. Hawk Carlisle, USAF Ret., the president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the impact of coronavirus on national defense, the importance of congressional funding to cover virus-related costs incurred by military contractors, the outlook for defense spending irrespective of who wins the November presidential election, how to make tough choices in a leaner defense budget environment and the threat posed by China.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Iris Ferguson, a senior advisor to the US Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements and one of the author’s of the services’s new Arctic strategy, discusses the new document and how it will shape operations, acquisition, training as well as cooperation with allies and partners.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses Russia’s recent anti-satellite test during which larger spacecraft deployed a smaller one, implications of a new generation of ground- as well as space-based weapons, how to deter adversaries from attacking US and allied space assets, update on Space Force legislation and budget, and a look ahead to CSIS’ “State of the Space Industrial Base 2020” event at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28 with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Event Registration required--link.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Update on markets as coronavirus cases surge and air traffic slows — Impact of worsening relations between Beijing and Washington an its allies and what trade with China will look like in the future — UK trade impact of rocky Brexit talks, no trade deal with US and souring relations with Beijing and new report detailing Russian influence in British affairs — Shift in Airbus subsidies for A350 as well as delays putting Boeing’s 777X into service and returning the 737 Max to flight — Dassault, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin and Thales earnings
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Suzanne Spaulding, the former undersecretary for the national protection and program directorate at the Department of Homeland Security who is now the senior advisor for homeland security at the Center for Strategic and International studies, discusses preventing and responding to adversary misinformation.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) to review the key news and commentary from the past week.
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International. Topics: — Outlook for the National Defense Authorization Act passed by veto-proof majorities by the House and Senate that includes language to rename US military based now dedicated to Confederate leaders that President Trump has vowed to veto — Status on defense appropriations deliberations — Update on fourth, $1 trillion stimulus package that would extend unemployment insurance for 20 million jobless Americans as Democrats unite and GOP at odds with White House — Outlook for defense spending as Democratic lawmakers move to trim the Pentagon’s budget — Rising gold and silver prices on global stimulus activity that suggests future inflationary pressure and how trend could impact defense in 2021-2022 — Importance of former Vice President Joe Biden’s pick as his running mate — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ investment in Sea Machines and change in AM General ownership
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute on the stand-up of The Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson, the intersection of defense operations and new technologies, the upcoming release of the center’s antisubmarine warfare study and the fallout from the recent fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Bruce Jette, PhD, the assistant secretary of the US Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, on accelerating acquisition cycles, the service’s engineering role, harnessing innovation, competition and cutting logistics burdens.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Christopher Krebs, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on working from home, organizational priorities, and the role his team plays in national cyber security.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Market expectations of governments and commercial aviation impact as coronavirus surges worldwide — Implications of sharply worsening relations between China and the world as Beijing vows to punish Washington for rejecting South China Sea claims and Britain blocks Huawei from UK 5G market — Implications of UK court decision on British arms exports to Saudi Arabia — USAF contract for F-15EX fighters from Boeing and acquisition chief Will Roper’s comments on government involvement in combat aircraft market if competition dwindles — Market implications of fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard that burned for five days in San Diego and incident aboard USS Kearsarge on Friday in Norfolk — Story lines had Farnborough International Airshow not been cancelled for the first time since 1952 because of the coronavirus pandemic, including update on Tempest future combat aircraft program involving UK, Italy and Sweden
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, David Zikusoka, research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), staff on the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and member of the national security team in the office of Vice President Joseph Biden, discusses the CISA emergency directive ordering federal agencies to patch a vulnerability in Windows Domain Name System servers and recent reports of Russian efforts to hack companies working on COVID-19 vaccines.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member)on the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday's visit to San Diego and the investigations into the fire on USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Patrick Cronin, PhD, the chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member). Topics: — The budget and strategy implications of the fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard — Trump administration’s rejection of China’s territorial claims to the South China Sea and sanctions on officials in the wake of Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong — How Washington and its allies can push back on China regionally — Congress’ role in deterring Beijing from attacking Taiwan — How a Biden administration would approach China — Defense budget outlook in a Biden administration — Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper’s — Reining in Turkey as Ankara increasingly destabilizes its neighborhood
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests is Capt. Sam Tangredi, PhD, USN Ret., Leidos Chair of Future Warfare Studies at the US Naval War College on the recent fire on USS Bonhomme Richard and his recent article for Defense One "Does the Pentagon Understand What a Navy Is For?"
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Mark Lewis, PhD, the director of defense research and engineering for modernization who also is serving as the acting deputy under secretary of defense for research and engineering on lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese capabilities, US modernization efforts including hypersonic weapons, speeding systems development, education and more.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Bryan McGrath of The Ferrybridge Group, Defense & Aerospace Report’s own contributing editor Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, a founder of Provision Advisors (and Defense and Aerospace team member) on the fire burning on amphibious warship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) and questions on whether the U.S. Navy has larger systemic problems that need to be addressed.
On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Our producer Chris Servello discusses the on-going situation surrounding the fire onboard USS Bonhomme Richard, still on-fire at the time of taping — Commercial airlines threaten cancellation of 737 Max orders unless Boeing can help defray loss of value since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic — Outlook for air carriers in the wake of United Airlines decision to furlough more than 40 percent of its workforce — Ernst & Young’s warning that AirAsia future in “significant doubt” — Why defense industry shares prices have been depressed rather than serving as the “safe haven” as they have during periods of broader economic turmoil — Wall Street reaction to former Vice President Joe Biden’s technology investment and corporate tax plans — Prospect for a trade war as US sanctions France after Paris moved ahead with internet tax on US companies — International market impact of Beijing’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong
On this week’s Cyber Report, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, David Zikusoka, research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), staff on the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission and member of the national security team in the office of Vice President Joseph Biden, discusses concerns and vulnerabilities associated with the Chinese app Tik Tok as well as other third party applications that collect personal and performance information without user knowledge.
On this episode of the DefAero Report Daily Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guest is Jerry Hendrix, PhD, Vice President at The Telemus Group on his recent National Review article "The Aircraft Carrier We Need", a look at the characteristics and attributes of future carriers and air wings to provide deep strike to meet current and emerging threats.
(Released 10 Jul 20...i/v recorded 08 Jul 20)
On this Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpa Partners, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute and Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International.
Topics: — Wall Street view of defense industry share valuations — Implications of former Vice President Joe Biden’s proposed policies including corporate tax take hike — Key Biden defense, international and security policy messages — Update on House Appropriations Committee defense deliberations and upcoming authorization amendments — Congressional appreciate for reimbursing defense industry coronavirus-related costs and gap between the $12 billion sought by DoD and $758 million approved by the House Appropriations defense subcommittee — Latest on fourth coronavirus stimulant package — Appraisal of Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s first year in office — Impact of shifting political dynamics in November elections