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 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.

This week features Patrick Cronin, an Asia-Pacific Security expert, Michael Herson from a key lobbying firm, Kathleen McInnis, a leader in women's defense initiatives, and Dov Zakheim, a former Pentagon comptroller. They dive into Trump’s stalled cabinet transition and its implications, the fallout from Ukraine's missile strikes on Russia, and rising nuclear rhetoric from Moscow. The discussion highlights China's provocative undersea actions and India's hypersonic missile advancements, revealing the intricate web of global defense dynamics.

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.

Join Michael Herson, a defense lobbyist, along with Dov Zakheim, former Pentagon Comptroller, Jim Townsend, ex-Pentagon Europe chief, and Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific expert, as they dissect Trump’s cabinet choices. They delve into potential military leadership changes and strategic military partnerships, including Taiwan’s defense proposals. The discussion also highlights Russia's influence efforts and the repercussions of Middle Eastern geopolitical shifts, with critiques of proposed military purges and what they could mean for U.S. military effectiveness.

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.