Defense & Aerospace Report

Michael Herson, a top lobbyist at American Defense International, joins former Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim, Asia-Pacific Security expert Patrick Cronin, and ex-Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend. They tackle the complex legislative hurdles in U.S. defense appropriations and the tensions surrounding military modernization amid inflation. The discussion dives into fragile U.S.-China trade agreements and the geopolitical effects of the Ukraine conflict, as well as NATO's air defense needs and the intricacies of military accountability.

Whether your plane is hypersonic, stealthy, or rocket powered, he knows the science behind it. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue’s Applied Research Institute, gets technical with us. Plus many airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Wes Rumbaugh with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the think thank’s recent conference — America’s Golden Dome Explained — on what we know about President Trump’s effort to establish a national air and missile defense system over the United States, how much the network would cost, how effective it would be, the challenges ahead and role of allies in the effort.

On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jeb Nadaner, the senior vice president of government relations at Govini who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy during the first Trump administration, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administrations focus on defense industrial strategy; how to ensure success including by extending the tenure of program managers; the role of both heritage and new economy contractors in delivering new capabilities quickly and at scale; role of the government in software development; and getting the most out of the Defense Production Act.

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 latest from the Hill as lawmakers grapple with reconciliation, the NDAA and appropriations, a rescission package from the Trump administration, as well as hearings and the Senate Armed Services Committee’s reconciliation markup; the implications of the acrimony between President Trump and Elon Musk, and the outlook for SpaceX; a deeper look at Golden Dome in the wake of a major CSIS conference; takeaways from Oshkosh’s investor day; important historical lessons from France before World War II; 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 an up week on Wall Street as the relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk ended acrimoniously after the world’s richest man blasted the president’s big beautiful bill of legislative priorities, vowing to use the fortune he used to help Trump get elected to punish lawmakers who voted for it as president in turn vowed to punish Musk through his government contracts and other means if he does so; the outlook for SpaceX and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in the wake of the breakup; the Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup of the reconciliation measure that includes big news for military programs; the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent; new regulations on unmanned systems and supersonic flight over the United States; Britain’s most consequential Strategic Defence Review in decades that pledges higher defense spending to boost nuclear capabilities, attack subs, combat aviation, ground and joint warfighting; French concerns that high debt will curb more military spending; and Chinese efforts to curry favor with Europe with preferential access to rare earth elements and ordering hundreds of new Airbus jetliners.

In this lively discussion, guests include Michael Herson from American Defense International, Dov Zakheim, former Pentagon comptroller, Jim Townsend, ex-Pentagon Europe Chief, and Patrick Cronin from the Hudson Institute. They dive into President Trump’s controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” and its impacts on national debt, while Elon Musk joins the fray with scathing remarks. Topics also cover the appointment of General Grynkewich as NATO's top commander, escalating military strategies in the UK and Ukraine, and rising tensions with China post-Shangri-La Dialogue.

There’s fast, and then there’s hyperfast. Hermeus is developing a hypersonic transport for the U.S. Air Force, and they took a big step recently with the first flight of their proof-of-concept plane. Founder and CEO A.J. Piplica joins us with the inside story. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Heather Penney, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, talks alongside Tim Walton from the Hudson Institute and retired Navy commander Chris Servello. They delve into Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, analyzing its innovative drone strategies and implications for U.S. forces. The conversation highlights how these tactics can inform base security and adapt military responses in the face of evolving threats from adversaries like Russia and China. They also emphasize the urgency of advancing military technology to stay ahead in modern warfare.

In this discussion, Sam Bendett, an analyst specializing in Russia and unmanned systems, joins Eugene Rumer, a director at the Carnegie Endowment with extensive expertise in Eurasia. They dive into Ukraine's bold “Operation Spider Web” against Russian bomber bases, reflecting on its strategic implications. The conversation reveals the resilience of both nations, with insights on Russian public sentiment and the U.S. support dynamics. They also explore the influence of Poland's elections on European backing for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.