Defense & Aerospace Report

Dr. Mark Lewis, the chief of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, discusses the drive to advance national security research through five new labs — microelectronics, hypersonics, energetics, infrastructure and innovation, and tech acceleration and innovation — an update on hypersonic propulsion and control technologies, microelectronics for legacy systems as well as high temperature applications like hypersonic weapons, and the approach needed to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses prospects for a government shutdown, the case for a Ukraine supplemental and what the Biden administration should do to help Kyiv absent legislation, the impact of 500 new sanctions on Russia, European defense spending outlook as European governments strain under entitlement demands, 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 another big week on Wall Street; budget uncertainty in Washington as well as France and Germany; the slow pace of Western rearmament, leadership changes at Boeing to improve production quality; whether business travel will decline with changes in how many work and high pricing; earnings analysis as BAE Systems, Garmin, Hensoldt, Hexcel, MTU, and Rolls-Royce report; Washington’s 500 new sanctions on Russia in the wake of the killing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Hungary’s decision to buy 18 Saab Gripen C/D fighters that it started leasing in 2001 as signal of Budapest’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership; and takeaways from the Singapore Airshow.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, CavasShips Podcast cohost and Provision Advisors founder Chris Servello, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss Biden administration’s imposition of 500 new sanctions on Russia in the wake of the Alexei Navalny’s killing as Western government’s negotiated a deal that would have released the opposition leader and others from captivity in exchange for Russian spies and thugs, what governments need to do as Russia grows more aggressive in waging war on Western nations from assassinations on their soil to malign information operations, how to destablize Vladimir Putin and his increasingly brittle regime by wooing senior Russian leaders with eased sanctions and financial incentives, revelation of the global scope and details of China’s cyber espionage worldwide, global implications of America’s continuing support for Israel as Jerusalem continue strikes on Gaza and indefinite military occupation while rejecting two-state solution, and Armenia’s decision to suspect participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

We usually look at the future of airpower. In this episode, we look at the past – at least as the public sees it. The Apple TV series Masters of the Air depicts bomber combat in the Second World War. Is it realistic? And what will the public learn from it about airpower, for better or worse? We ask aviation historian Doug Birkey. Dr. Tom Karako brings us up to date on the air war in Ukraine. And some of the week’s headlines. Powered by GE!

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 tenth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and the second anniversary of Moscow’s attempt to seize Kyiv, the imperative to get far tougher on Russia that’s been at war with the West for decades, how to punish an increasingly emboldened Vladimir Putin who killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny and assassinated a Russian defector in Spain, the imperative for Congress to approve more military assistance to Ukraine, why actively destabilizing the Putin regime must become a priority, and roundup of views from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses takeaways from the Munich Security Conference as Vladimir Putin kills his political adversary Alexei Navalny and Ukraine looses ground as GOP leaders continue to block aid for Kyiv, analysis of the US Air Force’s reorganization to better prepare for great power conflict and update on the competition to quickly field a Collaborative Combat Aircraft; and Joy Schoffler of Distinctive Edge Partners on the competition among innovative cyber, space, AI and renewable energy companies on the sidelines of the SXSW gathering in Austin next month 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 market’s new worries about higher shipping costs as traffic diverts around Africa in wake of Houthi Red Sea attacks, China’s deepening economic woes, Airbus earnings and what results mean for Boeing, US Air Force’s reoptimization for great power conflict, drive to accelerate programs like Next Generation Air Dominance as well as move to allow three of five Collaborative Combat Aircraft competitors to advance in Increment One of the effort, Ukraine begs for more aid and strikes security and arms deals with France and Germany as GOP lawmakers balk on helping Kyiv, and expectations for the Singapore Air Show.

Dr. Patrick Cronin, Michael Herson, Jim Townsend, and Dr. Dov Zakheim discuss topics including Senate passage of an aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, growing Russian provocations, Estonia's warning of a potential attack on NATO, the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy, influencing Bibi Netanyahu, and political implications of recent elections and retirements in the US.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall discusses priorities and next steps for changing the air service, reorganizing the Air Force for great power competition with China, challenges in executing the re-optimization plan, the need for investment in defense and aerospace programs, and challenges and changes in the Air Force.