Defense One Radio

Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel discusses his how his service's modernization strategy will shape the future of air combat in an increasingly complex security landscape. Guest: Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, director of Force Design, Integration and Wargaming at Air Force Futures; he's interviewed by Defense One air warfare reporter Audrey Decker. Related viewing: "AI in the Skies," January 28, 2025.

Patrick Tucker describes a Defense Department in transition as Russia's Ukraine invasion approaches the four-year mark. Related reading: "Ukraine military-aid donors aim to set Kyiv up through 2027, Pentagon says," Tucker reported on January 7; And "Kyiv’s donors set production goals to regularize arms donations to Ukraine," he reported two days later.

Reflecting on pivotal geopolitical dynamics, the discussion highlights the intricate ties between Iran and the Houthis, shaping military strategies. The rise of far-right terrorism in the U.S. is explored, revealing its evolution and the influence of social media. Taiwan's military landscape is dissected amidst escalating tensions with China, stressing the importance of indigenous capabilities. Lessons from the Ukraine conflict provide insights into modern military operations, while the decline of the U.S. Navy raises urgent calls for investment in readiness.

Guests: Audrey Decker, aerospace reporter for Defense One; Patrick Tucker, science and technology editor at Defense One. Related reading: Some Republicans remain unsold on Hegseth Russia in talks to send fighter jets to North Korea, INDOPACOM says ‘Multi-headed monster’: Biden, Trump officials address China-Russia-Iran coordination ‘Shock the system’: Startups and DOGE take over Reagan forum Defense officials hopeful incoming administration keeps funding cutting-edge tech

Guests: Brian Potter, Senior Infrastructure Fellow at the Institute for Progress and author of "Why Can't the U.S. Build Ships?" from September 2024; And Nicole Foy, ProPublica’s Ancil Payne Fellow, writing on immigration and labor; her report "An Immigrant Died Building a Ship for the U.S. Government. His Family Got Nothing" was published in October 2024. And don't miss our complementary podcast episode, "How U.S. Navy shipbuilding sank so low."

Guests: Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America; Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.; Ret. Navy Capt. Brent Sadler, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation; And Ret. Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Sources and additional reading: Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress (PDF); U.S. Navy budget materials; "Navy adds $1B to unconventional effort to boost sub production," by Lauren Williams, reporting Sept. 2024; Defense Department's 2024 Defense Industrial Base strategy; And "Restoring Our Maritime Strength: An agenda for the next president’s first hundred days," by Brent Sadler and Jerry Hendrix, writing in the National Review in late October.

A decorated Marine veteran and a video game maker revisit one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. military history.  Guests: Elliot Ackerman, author and contributing writer at The Atlantic; Peter Tamte, founder and CEO of Victura; And Defense One science and tech editor Patrick Tucker. Sources and additional reading: "Goodbye, My Brother," by Elliot Ackerman, writing for Esquire on March 23, 2017; The video game "Six Days in Fallujah"; "Ultra-Realistic Modern Warfare Game Features Awaiting Orders, Repairing Trucks," a satirical video produced in January 2011 by The Onion; "Virtual reality exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a meta-analysis," published August 2019 in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology; "Trauma, treatment and Tetris: video gaming increases hippocampal volume in male patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder," published April 2020 in the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience; And "Putting the Gaming Experience at the Center of the Therapy—The Video Game Therapy® Approach," published June 2023 in Healthcare.  

A retired U.S. admiral shares what he learned from a recent trip to the wartorn country. Guest: Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington and senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

Defense One staff summarize the leading developments from this year's Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington.  Guest: Sam Skove, staff reporter; Patrick Tucker, science and tech editor. Find Defense One's complete AUSA coverage here.

In this episode, defense reporter Audrey Decker shares insights from the AFA conference, diving into the evolution of air warfare. She discusses the U.S. Air Force’s ambitious goals for the N-GAD sixth-generation fighter jet amid budget concerns. Decker also reflects on the complexities of training Ukrainian pilots after a recent F-16 crash. Additionally, she highlights the Osprey aircraft's return to active duty and updates on the B-21 bomber program, emphasizing the challenges of modern military technologies and operational costs.