
Defense One Radio
A show about the technology, strategy, media and business trends defining the future of national security.
Latest episodes

Dec 11, 2023 • 52min
The future of defense acquisition
The Army's top buyer and the Pentagon's integration chief talk Ukraine, non-traditional suppliers, and more. Guests: Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Doug Bush sat down with Defense One Global Business Editor Marcus Weisgerber. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Integration, and Interoperability Dave Tremper spoke with Defense One Technology editor Patrick Tucker.

Nov 21, 2023 • 20min
What we learned from a Middle Eastern airshow
Audrey Decker, Defense One staff reporter, discusses the impact of ongoing conflict on the Dubai Airshow, including the absence of the US military, empty booths of major Israeli defense firms, and Boeing's success. The podcast also covers the competition between Boeing and Airbus in the tanker market, uncertainties surrounding the pending $23 billion UAE deal, and Decker's unique experience in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Nov 10, 2023 • 37min
Is this the beginning of the end for Hamas?
This episode, we discuss the daunting task of clearing Gaza City of Hamas as well as Israel's goal of crushing the group once and for all. Guests: Ret. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, distinguished senior fellow on national security at the Middle East Institute (beginning at the 2:15 mark); And Barak Mendelsohn, Professor of Political Science at Haverford College in Philadelphia (at 15:52).

Oct 19, 2023 • 55min
AUSA extras
Guests: Mark Kitz, program executive officer for command, control and communications-tactical (interviewed by Defense One's Lauren Williams, beginning at the 1:10 mark); And Army Brig. Gen. Guillaume Beaurpere of the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, as well as Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank of Network Enterprise Technology Command (with Defense One's Patrick Tucker) at the 9:38 mark).

Oct 13, 2023 • 32min
AUSA highlights
Defense One staff explain some of the major themes from this year's annual Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington. Guest: Sam Skove, Defense One staff reporter; Patrick Tucker, Defense One science and tech editor. Read more from our AUSA coverage at any of the links below: Army eyes munitions stockpiles amid focus on longer wars Army orders loitering munition for testing as soldier-borne tank-killer The Army doesn’t know where a lot of its excess arms and gear are Ukraine wants West's help in training NCOs and officers How the war in Ukraine is reshaping US Army modernization New 155mm round exceeds range of some rockets, can be fired by standard Army artillery AUSA Conference Wire: 'Drones everywhere' AUSA Conference Wire: 'Magazine depth' AUSA Conference Wire: 'A critical juncture'

Oct 4, 2023 • 30min
The uncertain future of an eavesdropping law
We review the history of FISA Section 702 ahead of its possible expiration at the end of the year. Guests: Cindy Cohn is the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation; And Joshua Geltzer is Deputy Assistant to President Joe Biden and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor at the National Security Council. Read over a copy of the recent Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board report on recommended changes to FISA Section 702 (PDF), here. You can also find a transcript of this episode here.

Sep 22, 2023 • 26min
What ‘national security’ means for eastern Europe
Staff reporter Sam Skove shares some of the highlights from his recent trip to Poland, Estonia, and the UK. Read more from Sam's European trip at any of the links below: How a tiny Polish airport became a key node for Western aid to Ukraine Polish support for Ukraine brings lessons, but also risks EU plans to arm Ukraine bearing fruit, but more is needed, Estonia says Estonia plans loitering-munitions unit to hunt enemy air defenses Europe’s defense spending sluggish despite Ukraine war Navies face ‘dreadnought moment' as Ukraine destroys more Russian warships, British admiral says Ukraine learns to fight with a hodge-podge of foreign artillery Beset by Russian airstrikes, Ukraine looks to make its weapons abroad

Sep 15, 2023 • 24min
Unpacking the 2023 Air, Space and Cyber conference
This episode we review several things we learned at the Air & Space Forces Association's annual Air, Space & Cyber conference. Guests: Audrey Decker, Defense One’s air and space reporter (beginning at the 0:46 mark); Lauren Williams, senior editor at Defense One (at 7:48); And Marcus Weisgerber, global business editor at Defense One (at 14:26). Read more of our coverage from this year's AFA conference here.

Sep 8, 2023 • 29min
The Pentagon’s new drone fixation
We dig into the U.S. military's new Replicator initiative, and explore Anduril's recent UAV-firm acquisition. Guests: Patrick Tucker,science and technology editor at Defense One; Chris Brose, chief strategy officer for Anduril Industries. Related reading: “‘Hellscape’: DOD launches massive drone swarm program to counter China,” by Patrick Tucker, reporting August 28, 2023; Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks' Remarks: "Unpacking the Replicator Initiative" at the 2023 Defense News Conference; “The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare,” by Chris Brose (published 2020); And “Anduril buys drone maker Blue Force Technologies amid Pentagon push for autonomous aircraft,” by Marcus Weisgerber, reporting September 7, 2023.

Jul 28, 2023 • 35min
"Oppenheimer," explored
How much of America's nuclear history does the three-hour film pack in and how much did it leave out? Guest: Martin Pfeiffer, a PhD candidate in anthropology at the University of New Mexico.