Defense & Aerospace 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 a rocky week on Wall Street that ended with the best month since 2023; President Trump doubles tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent and curbs aerospace, chip, and chemical export as well as educational visas to China; whether this is a negotiating tactic born of frustration with slow talks between Beijing and Washington or the latest effort to decouple the world’s two leading economies; investors’ “TACO” mindset and the reality that despite a chaotic approach the administration has increased tariffs; the Senate pushes back on the House’s reconciliation package; newsflow from the IISS’s annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that China could attack Taiwan at any time and call that allies  spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, and French President Emmanuel Macron and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas’ view that a partnered China and Russia constitute a major threat to the global rules-based order that must be countered, and Indian defense chief Gen Anil Chauhan’s acknowledgment that India lost fighters in its recent conflict with Pakistan but learned lessons from the experience; Saab’s capital markets day; the latest on the administration’s Section 232 trade investigation; and King Charles’ historic address opening Canada’s new parliament.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s take on the House’s massive reconciliation package; President Trump’s block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president’s frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world’s two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he’ll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu’s renewed threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration’s move to curb reporters’ access to the Pentagon.

We’re used to thinking of UAVs as throwaway systems, but when they cost 20 or 30 million dollars apiece, that changes the approach. Travis Sharp of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has a new study out on the long-term costs and issues of operating collaborative combat aircraft, and we dig in. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dave Mroczka, the president and chief executive of the innovative firm AI Strategy Corporation, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s 9-Hi technology that uses artificial intelligence to help the military services dramatically reduce the time it takes to develop both requirements and make acquisition decisions, accelerating the delivery of capabilities that in turn helps avoid the costs associated and perils of prolonged delays in decision making, especially for companies trying to navigate the “Valley of Death.”

On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the House’s reconciliation package and defense budget outlook, President Trump’s priority Golden Dome system and companies that stand to benefit, takeaways from hearings including the F-47 program and whether the Air Force would benefit from Block 80 F-16s now destined for export, data rights and whether the ability of the military services to repair the equipment they own, Europe’s ability to defend itself without help from the United States, and a look at the week ahead.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street reaction including a drop in bond markets the House passed the massive reconciliation package to deliver President Trump’s tax cuts; the president’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on EU goods and 25 percent tax on Apple products unless the company shifts production to America; the Golden Dome missile defense system that will cost $170 billion over the coming three years and be led by the vice chief of space operations, Gen Mike Guetlein; the president is said to be serious about his plan for a twin-engine F-35 Lightning II dubbed the F-55; what’s next now that the US Air Force has accepted a Qatari 747-8 jet for use as a presidential transport; the UK-EU deal on trade and security; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s demand that American companies be allowed to compete for European contracts as nations scramble to spend more to bolster capabilities after Washington moves to reduce focus on Europe; and after a two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin, Trump decided to leave Moscow and Kyiv to strike a peace deal.

Dov Zakheim, a former Pentagon comptroller with ties to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Michael Herson, a prominent figure at American Defense International, and Dr. Patrick Cronin, Asia Pacific Security Chair at the Hudson Institute. They discuss the potential impacts of a newly passed reconciliation package that worries bond markets. The talk also covers President Trump’s ambitious Golden Dome missile defense initiative, challenges in U.S.-Iran relations, and North Korea’s recent naval setbacks amidst global tensions over nuclear deterrence.

Naval aviation has been busy, with real-world operational experience in the Red Sea, the Med, and elsewhere while they welcome and adapt to a new generation of aircraft carrier. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzalotta, the commander of Carrier Strike Group TWELVE and Captain Dave Dartez, Commander of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT, from aboard CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford, with the latest on airpower from the sea.  Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dr. Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon industrial affairs chief who is now with the American Enterprise Institute and the Silicon Valley Defense Group, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the problems with the US export control system and how the International Traffic in Arms Regulation should be updated; industrial impact if allies and partners shy away from purchasing US products that have long been market-leading thanks to quality, competitive pricing and security guarantees from Washington; the role lawmakers can play in reforming a system that became steadily more risk averse over the decades because of increasingly stringent congressional oversight; the outlook for AUKUS; and the logic of the Commerce Department 232 investigation on the national security implications of commercial aircraft, parts and jet engine sales.

On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Dan Driscoll, the 26th secretary of the United States Army and Gen Randy George, the service’s 41st chief of staff, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the Army is redirecting 8 percent of its budget each year for the coming five years to new priorities, how many more cuts in existing programs will be needed to achieve Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s goals, the need for greater efficiency and to stop buying systems that are no longer needed, learning the right lessons from the Ukraine war, understanding the nature of possible conflict in the Indo-Pacific, how to speed acquisition of key systems like the MV-75 tiltrotor as well as land and weapon systems, role of heritage and new defense economy firms in more quickly addressing Army needs, why shrinking the force is a bad idea, the impact of staffing the Golden Dome air and missile defense network, and more.