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.