Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [May 04, ’25 Business Report]

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another up week on Wall Street allowed investors recoup losses since President Trump’s unprecedented tariffs, but strategists warn conditions for sustained growth don’t exist; the administration proposed “skinny budget” to boost defense spending by 13 percent to $1 trillion; China’s openness to tariff talks as Britain’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves calls on Washington to make a deal; frustrated Boeing’s delays on new Air Force Ones, Trump asks L3Harris to convert a former Qatari royal family 747-8 as an interim measure; Washington approves a $350 million deal with Ukraine for F-16 maintenance and training as the CIA’s former director of operations Ralph Goff says that the Biden administration gave Ukraine enough weapons not to lose but not enough to win against Russia; Airbus, AeroCap, Albany International, Bombardier, Crane, Garmin, HEICO, HII, Howmet, Leonardo DRS, and Rolls-Royce report earnings; Boeing’s decision to sell its Jeppeson unit to Thoma Bravo and what it means for the commercial airplane giant’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems; and a $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia as the president prepares to visit Riyadh, Qatar and the UAE.