Defense & Aerospace Report

On this episode of our Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Doug Bush, the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine war lessons that are shaping US Army acquisition efforts, increasing the adoption of novel technologies into core acquisition efforts, progress in increasing ammunition production and what will be needed to further surge if needed, role of allies and partners in increasing weapons and munition capacity, the Army’s central role in global US military logistics, the service’s new software policy that some claim will discourage innovative firms from pursing contracts, and 2026 budget pressures and how the service would spend more money if Congress raises funding levels.

Dr. Brendan Mulvaney and Clint 'Q' Hinote discuss China's air capabilities affecting US planning, potential delays in the Next-Gen Air Dominance program, China's rapid aerospace development, defense strategies, budget prioritization, and considerations on nuclear weapons in space. Insights on China's multi-layered defense system, advancements in next-gen aircraft technology, Taiwan defense strategies, and the importance of international agreements to avert space-based threats.

On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Rob Harper, the founder and chief executive of Rowden Technologies, discusses lessons that shaped the innovative British AI, data and machine learning company, lessons from the Ukraine war, the future of AI and how best to harness the technology for military applications, what human control of AI-enabled systems means, adapting commercial AI tools like GPT-4 for military uses, what governments can do to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies, how small companies can negotiate the “valley of death” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexevents.org

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses, discuss the dead terror attacks on two churches and a synagogue in Dagestan, Ukraine’s deadly strikes on Sevastopol, the first anniversary of late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s run on Moscow, and analysis of Vladimir Putin’s trips to North Korea and Vietnam last week; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses potential flaws with the Congressional Budget Office’s debt projections, a defense spending update, update on whether Congress will increase defense spending, analysis of former National Security Adviser Dr. Robert O’Brien’s Foreign Affairs article, whether defense will feature in the June 27 presidential debate, the industrial implications of recent major program cancellations or delays, Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider bomber statement, 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 discuss defense and aerospace stock performance on a jittery Wall Street, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun’s testimony before the Senate about the company’s problems and accusations management put profit ahead of safety, helium leaks and thruster problems prompt NASA to keep Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in orbit longer than planned, the Boeing-led upgrade of B-52 Stratofortress bombers is delayed by three years to 2033, Israel to receive more F-15 fighters, Northrop Grumman announces a cost cap increase on B-21 Raider stealth bomber, and takeaways from the Eurosatory 2024 land warfare tradeshow and conference.

Experts Dr. Cronin, Herson, Townsend, and Zakheim discuss Senate boost in defense spending, White House support for Ukraine, Putin's visits, Russia's nuclear space plans, NATO's new Secretary General, China-Philippines tensions, Netanyahu's weapon accusations, and IDF disagreements on the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast.

On today’s first ever Air-Land episode, JJ Gertler, the co-host of The Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, discusses the US Air Force’s re-consideration of the fighter element of its centerpiece Next Generation Air Dominance program in the wake of both the changing nature of the threat and how US forces are likely to fight in the future; and in our Land Warfare update, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper of the Association of the United States Army discusses key themes from the biennial Eurosatory 2024 land systems tradeshow and conference with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discuss the cou tours of the war as Moscow presses its offensive and Ukraine responds with new Western weapons and permission to use them against targets in Russia, how Ukraine is using Western weapons to change the strategic dynamic in Crimea, Russian forces learn lessons but still relies on artillery and manpower, the G7’leaders key to supporting Ukraine will survive elections as Russia and China undermine support for them, whether efforts to undermine Putin will succeed, how newly appointed Defense Minister Andrey Belousev is revamping Russia’s military, new tactics and weapons in war, Putin visits North Korea for more support and if Washington can pressure Beijing to halt its military assistance for Moscow, and where Putin’s red lines truly lie as the Russian leader once again resorts to nuclear saber rattling with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

Byron Callan from Capital Alpha Partners discusses the Senate's $25 billion defense spending increase to deter China and Russia. They talk about the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program challenges, rise of the hard right in European defense, G7 meeting takeaways, and the week ahead in defense.

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 discuss Wall Street holds gains as defense and aerospace stocks are battered, European markets plunge after far right political parties fared in European Parliament elections prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to announce a snap election, facing budget pressures the US Air Force is considering slowing or even cancelling its centerpiece Next-Generation Air Dominance program just weeks before picking whether Boeing or Lockheed Martin will win the contract prompting frustration across companies that invested billions of dollars in technology to win and facilities to execute the program, the FAA investigates fake titanium parts from a Chinese supplier that made it into Airbus and Boeing jetliners, the G7 toughens its stance on Russia and China as Vladimir Putin vows retaliation, takeaways from the ILA Airshow in Berlin and what to expect from the Eurosatory ground systems show in Paris next week.