Defense & Aerospace Report

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.

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 Moody’s decision to downgrade US debt as lawmakers work to further cut taxes that could trigger further downgrades; the budget scenarios to watch as some even in the Trump administration talk about budget numbers that are “all over the place;” analysis of the arms deals the president announced during his visit to the Gulf; how America’s approach to arms exports should change; the impact of scaling mass on the US defense industrial base; takeaways from the weekend’s elections in Poland and Romania as well as talks to end the Ukraine war; 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 ends in record territory; as lawmakers squabble, Moody’s becomes the third American ratings agency to downgrade US debt; the outlook for tariffs as President Trump declares victory over China; after his swing through the Gulf, the president touts $3.6 trillion in deals, including investment in the United States, new commercial aircraft orders and military sales; after again criticizing the F-35 Lightning II fighter, Trump said a new twin-engine version of the plane, the F-55, would be developed and the F-22 Raptor would be upgraded to a “super” version; US air traffic control is under the gun as outages at Newark International Airport and elsewhere delay flights and undermine public confidence as the administration prepares to make layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration; and takeaways from BAE Systems’ capital markets day and Bank of America’s industrials, transportation and airlines conference.

This discussion features Michael Herson, a leading defense lobbyist, Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon official, Patrick Cronin, an expert on Asia-Pacific security, and Dov Zakheim, a former Pentagon comptroller. They delve into crucial topics like the U.S.-China tariff negotiations, rising tensions between India and Pakistan, and the urgent need for the U.S. debt ceiling to protect national defense funding. The panel also explores the geopolitical ramifications of President Trump's Middle East visits and the recent issues concerning undersea cable breaches near Taiwan.