The Merge

Sean Blackman, co-founder and CEO of Nooks, shares insights into the world of classified business with the Pentagon. He discusses the innovative concept of Classified-Infrastructure-as-a-Service (CIaaS), which offers subscription access to secure workspaces. Sean delves into the challenges startups face in obtaining security clearances and how Nooks navigates these hurdles. He also explores the impact of COVID on real estate, the advantages of shared SCIFs, and his vision for a streamlined classified network by 2028.

Dan Robinson, CEO of Red 6 and co-founder of the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), shares his vision for the future of pilot training. He discusses how AR technology transforms military simulations into immersive outdoor environments. Robinson highlights the challenges of training scarcity and the need for realistic scenarios that enhance safety and readiness. He explores the integration of manned and unmanned teams in training and how data from AR can objectively measure pilot proficiency, ultimately revolutionizing the training landscape.

Mike sits down with Steve “Wingie” Wingfield to discuss the Joint Direct Attack Munition, aka the JDAM—the world’s first operational GPS-aided bomb.Wingie played a big role in the Air Force, doing weaponsflight testing and requirements writing, then went on to have another career at Boeing working on JDAM and other weapons. He’s one of the few people who got to see the entire storyarc, from the pain points in Desert Storm that started the whole thing, to other evolutions like Laser JDAM and extended range JDAM, and how those programscame to be.If you want a rare inside look at how one of the most successful acquisition programs in the past 30 years happened, this episode is for you. Links• Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! ---- Follow us on...• LinkedIn• Instagram⁠• ⁠X⁠• ⁠Facebook⁠• ⁠Website⁠ ---- 00:0001:02 intro05:43 JDAM name origin06:56 accuracy spec origin10:43 Desert Storm McPeak Memo11:16 GAM before JDAM12:29 Kosovo combat debut14:39 40k for 40k competition17:44 JDAM adoption22:50 production feast & famine25:19 9/11 demand signal26:33 surging with standards28:43 Iraqi Freedom GPS jamming29:53 Laser JDAM origins33:38 the impact36:01 hitting moving targets37:54 106 mph!39:39 MOP41:33 JDAM-ER41:47 Ukraine42:53 integration and modularity43:41 aerial mining46:22 outro #military #airforce #navy #aviation #tech #technology #JDAM #boeing #GPS #defense #desert storm #iraq #syria #afghanistan #miltech #engineering #USA #security

In this episode, Mike sits down with Dan Jablonsky, CEO ofUrsa Major, to discuss solid rocket motors and how Ursa Major is doing it differently.Once dominated by just two suppliers, America’s SRM propulsion base has been stretched thin—leaving gaps exposed by today’s conflicts. Dan explains how Ursa Major is tackling that challenge withmodular production, 3D printing, Highly Loaded Grain propellants, and advanced manufacturing using what they’ve learned from their liquid motor product lines.We also talk about the big picture: hypersonics, cruisemissiles, and upcoming programs with RTX (Raytheon), the U.S. Navy (SM-2, SM-3, SM-6), the Army, and Stratolaunch.If you want to understand why missile production is one of the biggest defense challenges of our time—and how new entrants like Ursa Major are building solutions—this episode is for you. Links• Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠!• Ursa Major website• Ursa Major LinkedIn• Ursa Major Instagram • Ursa Major X ---- Follow us on... • LinkedIn• Instagram⁠• ⁠X⁠• ⁠Facebook⁠• ⁠Website⁠ ---- 00:0000:42 intro01:04 Ursa Major02:22 company name03:48 getting into the SRM business05:29 SRM industrial base07:15 doing SRMs differently09:14 SRM 10112:07 Highly Loaded Grain13:08 increasing missile range15:34 rapid development16:44 scale with safety22:25 rapidly adapting SRMs to the threat23:03 3D printing everything?24:59 hypersonic motors27:20 missiles in space27:47 affordable mass29:14 outro

In this discussion, Benjamin "Chuck" Angus, Director of Business Development in Naval Power at Raytheon, delves into the realm of electronic warfare and its pivotal role in modern military operations. He highlights how offensive electronic attacks, such as the advanced NextGeneration Jammer, disrupt enemy communications and degrade their technology. Angus emphasizes the importance of integrating electronic warfare with traditional combat strategies and reflects on historical advancements during conflicts like Desert Storm. The conversation sheds light on the future of aerial warfare and the collaboration needed between military and industry.

The discussion kicks off with a dive into defense tech investing trends and the buzz around the Golden Dome initiative. They explore frequency auctioning and the urgency for a U.S. reckoning shaped by Ukraine's conflict. Criticism of the Defense Innovation Unit sparks debate on military innovation and creativity. Historical insights on naval warfare reveal how innovations like the gyroscope transformed strategy. The conversation culminates in reflections on evolving military tactics and the interplay between traditional and modern technology.

Tomorrow’s fight will be fast, complex, and contested. Victory won’t come from a single platform, weapon, or payload—it will depend on how well everything works together. That’s where modeling and simulation (M&S) matters.This week, Raytheon (an RTX company) joins us to discuss how they are leading the way with Rapid Campaign Analysis and Demonstration Environment (RCADE), a campaign-level M&S capability built to help decision-makers think beyond individual systems and enables them to see the entire operational ecosystem.

Don’t miss our newsletter!That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense!In this episode, Mike sits down with Sheila Cummings,founder, president, and CEO of Cummings Aerospace. Cummings Aero started in 2009 supporting the Huntsville,Alabama missile market, but recently decided to launch their own product—the Hellhound.The Hellhound S3 is a man-portable, 3D-printe,d jet-powered kamikaze drone...and we have the FIRST-PUBLIC views of the actual drone—audio and video!BREAKING NEWS: Sheila also announced a new variant—theHellhound S4. It’s tube-launched, bigger, better, and even faster than the S3! If you're into military drones, cutting-edge tech, and thestart-up culture of finding ways to help the warfighter—this episode is for you. Links• Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠!• Mike Benitez on LinkedIn• Cummings Aerospace• Sheila’s op-ed----Follow us on... • LinkedIn• Instagram⁠• ⁠X⁠• ⁠Facebook⁠• ⁠Website⁠ ----  00:00 start01:18 intro01:56 origin story05:03 high speed background06:34 Hellhound origin story10:54 introducing the Hellhound11:27 3D-printed12:31 finding an engine13:34 See the Hellhound21:20 naming the Hellhound22:39 family of drones24:38 supersonic variant29:22 China & Industrialization32:32 Industrial Mobilization Board35:47 outro

Joe “Grip” Beissner, Director of Requirements and Capabilities for Radio Frequency Solutions at Raytheon, a business of RTX, joins us to discuss the cutting-edge AESA radars Raytheon delivers for our warfighters.

Jon 'Stormin' Norman, Vice President of Requirements & Capabilities at Raytheon, offers insights from his extensive military weapons experience. He discusses the pivotal role of advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon systems, particularly the AIM-120 and AIM-9X missiles, highlighting their evolution and improved capabilities. Norman also covers the Stormbreaker weapon's precision targeting and versatility in challenging conditions. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of collaborative innovation in enhancing operational effectiveness in modern warfare.