Defense & Aerospace Report

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello, and Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US presidential race as it enters its last week, the world awaits Israel’s strike on Iran as Secretary of State Antony Blinken makes his 11th trip to the Middle East to broker a ceasefire, the White House issues new national security AI guidance, Europe worries about North Korea troops fighting on Russia’s behalf against Ukraine, a progress report on Germany’s Zeitenwender and whether Europe can support Ukraine if America under a second Trump term withdraws support for Kyiv, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet for the first time since the bloody 2019 clash between the nations in the Himalayas after Canada again accused India of targeting and killing Canadian nationals critical of the New Delhi government — a charge endorsed by Washington — Japanese elections over the weekend, and the decision by the Washington Post and the LA Times against endorsing a presidential candidate over reprisal fears.

In February, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin gave us the details on the service’s re-optimization plans in an exclusive interview. This week, the Chief released a letter to the entire service detailing progress toward that goal. Vago and J.J. review where the service is and how much lies ahead. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!

Mackenzie Eaglen and Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US defense budget outlook in the near and mid term, investment in weaponry that continues to lag even as stocks are rapidly depleted through American support for Ukraine and Israel, China’s actual defense spending levels what why it should spur more alarm and action, the need for greater innovation and industrial base capacity, how the election outcome could reshape US alliances as well as interest in American weaponry, and whether Congress will approve enough additional funding to cover the costs of modernizing the nation’s antiquated nuclear triad that will otherwise gut investment in conventional capabilities.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Kathleen McInnis, the director of the Smart Women, Smart Power program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report she co-authored with Alexis Day — What Difference Does it Make? — that delves into the role of women in international security decision making.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how different the defense industrial base could look by 2030; takeaways from AeroLambda Group’s Aerospace & Defense Conference and the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting last week; how heritage companies are adapting to better compete against new competitors; what DoD has to do to align its ambitious operational plans with the reality that it’s industrial base lacks the capacity for a prolonged high-intensity conflict whether for new production, munitions or damage repair; Boeing’s outlook at major defense and aerospace firms prepare to report earnings; 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’s sixth straight winning week; Boeing and machinists strike proposed deal that includes a 35 percent pay raise to end 5-week strike as the jetmaker moves to raise $25 billion in debt and stock plus borrow $10 billion; Bell decides to move V-280 Valor aerostructure work in house from Spirit AeroSystems; impact of the move what Boeing would pay for its former subsidiary; Airbus to cut 2,500 jobs from its defense and space business; partnership between L3 Harris and Embraer to jointly market the KC390 ends; L3 protests US Army’s decision to award the HADES contract to Sierra Nevada; another multiyear to Sikorsky carrying UH-60 Blackhawk production through 2032; France bars Israeli companies from the upcoming Euronaval trade show in Paris; takeaways from the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and The Aerospace Event; and what to expect next week at the National Business Aviation Association tradeshow in Las Vegas.

Joining the discussion are Patrick Cronin, an Asia-Pacific security expert at the Hudson Institute; Michael Herson from American Defense International, a lobbying powerhouse; Kathleen McInnis, who leads the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative; and retired Navy commander Chris Servello. They dive into the swift actions expected in defense legislation post-election and the complexities of U.S. military responses in Israel and Yemen. They also examine North Korea's troop deployment to Ukraine and the strengthening Indo-Pacific ties within NATO. Political strategies surrounding these issues further enrich the conversation.

We review The Aerospace Event with two of our fellow presenters there – Richard Aboulafia, who you know from our business report, and Dr. Kevin Michaels, both managing directors at AeroDynamic Advisory. And we have the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!

On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper, a retired US army colonel who’s the director of national security studies at the Association of the United States Army reviews the key takes from this week's AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition; and Stephanie Meyer, a PHD candidate who’s helping lead Auburn university’s entry into Indy autonomous challenge — a 12-team unmanned racing circuit that is developing cutting edge technologies that can improve future unmanned air and ground vehicles with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dr. John Nagl, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who is now a professor of Warfighting Studies in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations at the Army War College, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the work he co-authored with Katie Crombe — A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force — the strategic, operational and tactical lessons of the war; lessons that are applicable to Europe, the Indo-Pacific and universally; the notion of transparency on the battlefield and its implications for operations; harnessing rapid innovation cycles and fielding capabilities at speed and scale; role of the Army in Europe and the Indo-Pacific; and how the Ukraine war ends.