Defense & Aerospace Report

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.

Byron Callan, a seasoned analyst from Capital Alpha Partners, shares his expertise on defense budgets and geopolitical concerns. He examines the potential for a significant increase in U.S. defense spending while navigating complex political dynamics between Congress and the administration. Callan discusses the repercussions of tariffs, particularly with China’s responses, and insights from the Shanghai-La Dialogue. He also sheds light on Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, exploring its impact on Russia's bomber bases and the broader military strategies at play.

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 a rocky week on Wall Street that ended with the best month since 2023; President Trump doubles tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent and curbs aerospace, chip, and chemical export as well as educational visas to China; whether this is a negotiating tactic born of frustration with slow talks between Beijing and Washington or the latest effort to decouple the world’s two leading economies; investors’ “TACO” mindset and the reality that despite a chaotic approach the administration has increased tariffs; the Senate pushes back on the House’s reconciliation package; newsflow from the IISS’s annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that China could attack Taiwan at any time and call that allies  spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, and French President Emmanuel Macron and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas’ view that a partnered China and Russia constitute a major threat to the global rules-based order that must be countered, and Indian defense chief Gen Anil Chauhan’s acknowledgment that India lost fighters in its recent conflict with Pakistan but learned lessons from the experience; Saab’s capital markets day; the latest on the administration’s Section 232 trade investigation; and King Charles’ historic address opening Canada’s new parliament.

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, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s take on the House’s massive reconciliation package; President Trump’s block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president’s frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world’s two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he’ll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu’s renewed threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration’s move to curb reporters’ access to the Pentagon.

We’re used to thinking of UAVs as throwaway systems, but when they cost 20 or 30 million dollars apiece, that changes the approach. Travis Sharp of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has a new study out on the long-term costs and issues of operating collaborative combat aircraft, and we dig in. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!