Defense & Aerospace Report

Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell

About

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.

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1309 episodes

Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 27, 24] Latest Polling w/ Ipsos' Darrell Bricker

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.

36m
Mar 27
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Mar 26, 24] Convo w/ Dr. Eugene Rumer

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.

32m
Mar 26
Daily Podcast [Mar 25, 24] Byron Callan & Richard Aboulafia on Boeing Shakeup & Week Ahead

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.

25m
Mar 25
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 24, ’24 Business Report]

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.

54m
Mar 24
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Mar 22, ’24]

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.

1h 0m
Mar 22
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Mar 21, 24] Season 2 E11: Follow the Money

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!

36m
Mar 21
Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Mar 20, 24] DIU's Aditi Kumar

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.

39m
Mar 20
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Mar 19, 24] Putin Wins Again

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.

32m
Mar 19
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 18, 24] Byron Callan’s Week Ahead

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.

28m
Mar 18
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 17, ’24 Business Report]

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.

54m
Mar 17
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Mar 15, ’24]

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.

1h 3m
Mar 15
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Mar 14, 24] Season 2 Ep10: The Beast of the Numbers

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!

42m
Mar 14
Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Mar 13, 24] Mark Montgomery Discusses FY25 Cyber Proposals

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.

34m
Mar 13
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 12, 24] Sam Bendett on Latest from Ukraine-Russia Conflict

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.

28m
Mar 12
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 11, 24] Byron Callan’s Week Ahead & SXSW Update

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.

30m
Mar 11
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 10, ’24 Business Report]

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.

53m
Mar 10
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Mar 08, ’24]

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.

54m
Mar 08
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Mar 07, 24] Season 2 Ep9: Cool Air

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!

42m
Mar 07
Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Mar 06, 24] Convo w/ Shield AI's Brandon Tseng

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.

38m
Mar 06
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 05, 24] Army UnderSec Gabe Camarillo

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.

37m
Mar 05
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 04, 24] Byron Callan’s Week Ahead

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.

33m
Mar 04
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Mar 03, ’24 Business Report]

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.

57m
Mar 03
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Mar 01, ’24]

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.

57m
Mar 01
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 29, 24] Season 2 Ep8: Going Air Commando

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!

32m
Feb 29
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 28, 24] Sam Bendett on Latest from Ukraine-Russia Conflict

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.

27m
Feb 28
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 27, 24] Covo w/ Purdue's Dr Mark Lewis

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.

35m
Feb 27
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 26, 24] Byron Callan’s Week Ahead

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.

27m
Feb 26
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 25, ’24 Business Report]

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.

51m
Feb 25
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Feb 23, ’24]

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.

54m
Feb 23
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 22, 24] Season 2 Ep7: Yes, Masters

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!

37m
Feb 22