Defense & Aerospace Report

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Tim Heath and Barry Pavel of RAND Corporation join host Vago Muradian to discuss the federally-funded research and development center’s new report — “U.S.-China Rivalry in a Neomedieval World: Security in an Age of Weakening States” — that was co-authored by Heath as well as Weilong Kong and Alexis Dale-Huang.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Dave Allvin discusses the service's reorientation to focus on great power competition, changes and movement within the Air Force, combat wing reengineering and its impact on operations, developing future capabilities, and implementation challenges and the path forward.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the global impact of a chaotic week in Washington, growing European defense investment as allies gird for return to power of anti-NATO and pro-Putin Donald Trump, what to expect from three key meetings in Europe — the Ukraine Contact Group, NATO foreign ministers and Munich Security Conference — tempering comparisons that today’s security environment mirrors the 1930s, why turmoil in the Middle East after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel hasn’t escalated into a wider regional war, South Korea tapped to provide air defense for Saudi Arabia, recap of key reports issued last week, what to expect at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium 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 performance of the group as the Standard & Poor’s 500 hits an all time high, more production problems on 50 new Boeing jets, Spirit AeroSystems suspends 2024 guidance, whether United Airlines will cancel its order for 100 Max 10 jets, after billions of dollars in investment, the the US Army cancels its Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft, Babcock and Saab capital markets days, and Ukraine’s new military leadership.

Guests Dr. Patrick Cronin, Michael Herson, Jim Townsend, and Dr. Dov Zakheim discuss Republicans torpedoing their own border-Ukraine deal, Supreme Court case involving Trump, aid measures for Ukraine-Israel-Gaza, China and Russia advancing their global narratives amidst chaos in the US, Zelenskyy replacing his top general, getting aid to Ukraine without approval, former Polish President calling for US leadership and propaganda game, China's economic woes, and the search for a deal to end fighting in Gaza.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is making news all over the place, and their president Dave Alexander joins us to talk CCA, advanced air launched effects, and more. And John Tirpak previews next week AFA warfare symposium. Plus a big week for headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses the push to convince Congress to back legislation investing in printed circuit boards; and SAIC Chief Technology Officer Bob Ritchie discusses how the company’s cloud-based command and control contract with the US Air Force can serve as a model for getting big things done fast with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses how Ukraine can defend itself and wage offensive operations in the absence of US support, the unprecedented role of Chinese industry in Ukrainian capabilities, how Russia is improving its capabilities, the spat between the Ukrainian president and his chief of defense staff, and the Pentagon’s Replicator effort with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

Byron Callan of Capital Alpha Partners discusses appropriations, budget and supplemental outlook, analysis of Boeing's earnings report and defense business, US arms exports, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. The podcast also explores recent military strikes, defense spending, operating margins, inflation impact on contracts, updates and challenges for Boeing's defense business segment, and concerns about Boeing as a national strategic asset.

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 strong US jobs growth and declining inflation, the paradox of increasing air travel demand and declining fares, HII’s strong results, Boeing’s decision to suspend financial guidance for 2024 as management focuses on improving quality and withdrawal of request for a limited exemption for the 737 Max 7 engine inlet deicing system, the EU’s $54 billion economic aid package for Ukraine, and Washington’s decision to approve 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters for Turkey and 40 F-35 Lightning II strike jets for Greece.