Defense & Aerospace 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 Ap ex 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 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 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 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.