Defense & Aerospace Report

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.

In this dynamic discussion, defense lobbyist Michael Herson breaks down the implications of the tight U.S. presidential race. Former Pentagon comptroller Dov Zakheim analyzes the strains on U.S. foreign policy amid Russian advances in Ukraine. Asia-Pacific expert Patrick Cronin sheds light on China's recent ICBM tests and how they impact regional security. Lastly, Jim Townsend shares insights on transatlantic relations, emphasizing the urgency of improving missile defenses as tensions rise in the Middle East.

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.

Dr. Alexander Miller, the US Army’s Chief Technology Officer, discusses groundbreaking military innovations and the need for rapid adaptation in defense technology. He highlights the importance of streamlining procurement processes and collaborating more effectively with commercial manufacturers. Miller emphasizes lessons from the Ukraine conflict that can inform future military strategies and outlines how dual-use technologies, like drones, could enhance national security. He also advocates for closer partnerships with allies to tackle emerging threats from China and Russia.

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.