Topics discussed in this episode include the Navy's readiness goal, Turkey's defense exports, the Pentagon's defense industrial strategy, software development in the army, Lockheed Martin's achievements, Firehawk's contract for hybrid rocket motors, recent developments in the defense industry such as new drone testing and acquisition of defense systems

Discussion on military tech updates, potential changes to Navy's Super Hornet purchase, developments in defense and technology industry, contracts awarded to various companies, and collaborations on AI for drones and flying 5G stations.

In this podcast, defense industry legend Norm Augustine shares his experiences and insights. He discusses the defense industry heyday, consolidation in the 90s, and his involvement with the CIA. They also talk about government procurement contracts, the Last Supper meeting at the Pentagon, and the merger process that created Lockheed Martin. Norm shares personal stories and reflects on his career path and retirement goals.

Sign up for our ⁠⁠amazing newsletter⁠⁠! As the year comes to a close, enjoy (or re-enjoy) one of our favorite episodes of 2023. Mike "Pako" Benitez joins forces with John “Rain” Waters to co-host a first-of-its-kind interview with the Commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds AND the Executive Officer of the Navy Blue Angels. We go behind the scenes with both teams to learn about leadership, flying, teamwork in a way you’ve never heard before. It’s an epic discussion not to be missed! For those interested in #military #leadership #teamwork #flying   ---- Links • Sign up for our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! ---- Follow us on... • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (01:20) intro (2:45) icebreaker (10:06) sitting in the same room (12:53) learning from each other (13:55) T-birds rough period (14:47) sometimes you can see culture (15:40) cultural waves in the two teams (16:36) the T-birds T-38 cultural era (19:02) President Carter’s Crisis of Confidence (26:02) Blue’s “glad to be here” culture (27:59) how tough is the flying? (29:44) there is no off-season (33:37) team dynamics of an exemplar squadron (35:08) The T-birds’ hangar (36:27) contagious culture of excellence (36:42) Agile Combat Employment (37:27) Blue Angels' hangar (39:57) how they travel (43:28) authority and trust are key (45:19) Fat Albert (46:12) Van Halen M&Ms (47:15) they’ve never canceled due to maintenance (48:47) Angels on arrival (50:01) debrief culture (50:52) Fat Albert JATO (52:18) Top Gun Maverick (54:10) new Super Hornets (57:30) T-Birds’ tricks to flying that good (1:03:00) Angels’ tricks to flying that good (1:04:43) counting feathers (1:06:17) aiming to crash (1:07:57) most memorable experience on the teams (1:08:59) Chris Darnell (1:14:12) outro

Don’t miss our newsletter! Mike hosts Billy Flynn to discuss everything you need to hear about the Royal Canadian Air Force. All is not right in Canada; their Air Force has atrophied in several key areas. What happened? Why are the fighter pilots quitting? Can they still contribute to NATO? Is it too late to fix it? Tune in for answers! For those interested in #military #technology #strategy #airforce #NATO   ---- Links • Sign up for our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! Billy Flynn •• website •• LinkedIn •• X (Twitter) •• Instagram ---- Follow the Merge! • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (01:29) intro (07:48) the Royal Canadian Air Force (08:45) how Canada got F-18s (17:54) NORAD and Canada (21:40) why Canada matters to US defense (24:27) the RCAF’s key maritime mission (32:50) Canada’s F-35 debacle (44:33) losing the fighter pilot (52:25) how to fix the RCAF? (56:48) outro

Don’t miss our newsletter! Mike and Jake host REGENT Co-founder & CEO Billy Thalheimer to discuss Wing-In-Ground-effect (WIG) vehicles. Why do they refer to them as seagliders? What is the science and technology that makes them work? Why is there no pilot? Why is the Marine Corps is interested? Tune in for answers! For those interested in #military #technology #strategy #innovation #business #transportion   ---- Links • Sign up our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • ⁠Mike Benitez LinkedIn • Jake Chapman X (@vc) • Billy Thalheimer LinkedIn • REGENT website ---- Follow us on... • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (01:12) intro (03:11) What are WIGs (07:43) Flown by a captain? (10:52) full scale mockup (14:30) $60M Series A fundraise (16:35) Marine Corps application (22:03) electric vehicles in a Pacific fight? (24:30) building a strong board of advisors (25:57) certification and safety (31:10) scale (34:30) dual-use development (36:14) Coast Guard interest? (37:26) Why Rhode Island? (40:15) outro

Sign up for our newsletter! Mike, Jake, and Tim reunite to discuss the latest defense-related news and happenings: Israel at war, Congress elects a Speaker, growing support for the $1B tech hedge against China, and how innovation really works. For those interested in #military #technology #strategy #china #israel #innovation  ---- Links • Sign up for the Merge’s ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • ⁠Mike Benitez LinkedIn • Jake Chapman X (@vc) • Tim Nolan LinkedIn   ---- Follow us on... • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (00:40 ) intro (01:37) Israel/Gaza War (33:07) Congress – the House gets a new Speaker (44:30) the $1B defense tech hedge (51:49) how innovation happens (59:36) Air Force STRATFI-TACFI (1:09:08) outro

Mike Benitez hosts Scott Schneider, CEO of HTX Labs, to discuss the future of learning. Hear about how a small startup pivoted into working with the Air Force and how they’ve used immersive learning in XR to change the way the Air Force trains aircraft maintainers and pilots. For those who like #military #technology #aviation #airforce #learning #training #XR  #VR ---- Links • Sign up for the Merge’s ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • ⁠Mike Benitez LinkedIn • HTX Labs website • HTX Labs email: collaborate@htxlabs.com ---- Follow us on... • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (00:53) intro (01:54) HTX Labs origin story (05:22) what is XR (07:10) EMPACT (10:57) VR and Air Force pilot training (13:58) the “aha” moment (16:52) Pilot Training Next    (21:15) Crew chiefs and maintainers (23:23) ATO/cybersecurity (24:59) working with the Pentagon (26:35) the importance of a contract vehicle (33:10) SBIR story (38:45) questions to ask XR/VR vendors (44:13) outro

Former Australian diplomat John Fowler discusses international relations with a focus on China's ambitions, South America influence, Taiwan invasion, and the impact of Ukraine crisis on China. The podcast delves into diplomacy, military connections, Monroe Doctrine, Belt & Road Initiative, chip industry decoupling, and US policy on Taiwan.

Mike and Jake host Varda Delian Asparouhov, Founders Fund partner and co-founder of Varda Space Industries, to talk about venture capital investing, Varda’s efforts to make drugs in space, and why the Air Force is interested in using their orbiting pharmaceutical lab to help test hypersonic weapons. For those who like #military #technology #airforce #aviation #aerospace #space ---- Links • Sign up for our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠ • ⁠Mike Benitez LinkedIn⁠ • Jake Chapman X (Twitter) • Delian Asparouhov X (Twitter) ---- Follow us on... • ⁠Instagram⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ • ⁠LinkedIn⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes (00:47) intro (05:00) Varda’s connection to Palantir and Anduril  (06:22) Varda’s origin story (08:58) how to find a co-founder (11:42) why drugs (13:23) naming the company (15:39) the space capsule (17:08) Falcon 9 launched into space (19:00) why Ritonavir (22:19) patent a space drug? (26:47) stuck in orbit? (28:27) how it comes back to Earth (30:20) how the Air Force became a customer (33:40) China’s hypersonic news (34:23) Varda’s Air Force STRATFI contract (37:14) Varda’s mission (39:17) Silicon Valley and Congress (42:48) Defense tech investing (47:31) lightning round (56:00) outro