Defense & Aerospace Report

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a week on Wall Street; the House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act; implications of US efforts to push Ukraine to ceasefire that now appears to include Kyiv giving up on NATO membership in exchange for Western security guarantees; outlook for the SCAF next-generation air program as French, German and Spanish defense ministers meet in advance of meeting next week between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz; the GCAP consortium's invitation that Canada join Britain, Italy and Japan in developing a family of next generation air systems; Boeing closes its $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems as the company's Air Force One program is delayed another year to mid 2028 and the Federal Aviation Administration reviews the proposed angle of attack alert system for 737 Max 10 jets; SpaceX prepares its IPO the company could be working $800 billion; and JP Morgan Chase hires Berkshire Hathaway's Todd Combs and recruits veteran advisers including Jeff Bezos, Michael Dell, Ford CEO Jim Farley, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and retired Gen. Dave Petreaus to oversee bank's $1.5 trillion Security and Resilience Initiative investment fund.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss passage of the House's version of the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act that includes $8 billion more than the administration requested as the Senate decides against extending Obamacare subsidies raising the prospect of another government shutdown in January after the current continuing resolution that ended the last record shutdown expires; Ukraine's partnership with European allies to blunt US demands that Kyiv meet Moscow's demands by handling over the whole Donbas to Russia as President Trump steps up his attacks on Europe as “weak” and “decaying” in the wake of his National Security Strategy that made clear Washington sees European allies as a bigger threat than Russia; Germany's drive to become Europe's largest army and France's army chief says the nation must prepare itself to sacrifice its children to defend itself as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Europe is Russia's next target within five years and nations should prepare for war on a scale not seen since World War II as Britain's attack subs suffer from low availability; China and Russia work together in air and naval maneuvers aimed at pressuring Japan and the United States as Washington approves the export of NVIDIA's H200 chips to China; the Lowy Institute's latest Power Index that finds China, North Korea and Russia have risen in the ranks as America has declined; and the 40th Australia-US Ministerial that says “full speed ahead” on the AUKUS partnership.

This week, it's China, China, China. How has the pacing threat changed in 2025, and what's ahead in 2026? We hear from Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, about systems, strategy, and more. Plus a bumper crop of #airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

On this month's innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference  Jan 27-28, 2026, in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Dr. Seth Jones, the president of the defense and security department and the Harold Brown chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book — “The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance” — the nature of the threat posed by China to focus modernization efforts; lessons of the past to help America bolster its industrial capacity; importance of leadership and sufficient funding; grading the Trump administration's effort to accelerate the delivery if needed capabilities at scale; and role of the entire industrial ecosystem including allies and partners in delivering more capabilities, more quickly. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org

On today's program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dr. Jerry McGinn, a former deputy industrial base chief who is now with the director of the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new paper he coauthored with his colleague Cynthia Cook — “Putting the Industrial Base on a Wartime Footing” — including past spending cycles, survey of defense spending by US allies and adversaries, and what Washington must do if it's rhetoric is to turn into reality.

On today's program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks at the week ahead. Members of team Dr. Dov Zakheim and Chris Servello join to discuss the recent Reagan National Defense Forum.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers' frustration with the administration's boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO's conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump's pressure on Japan's hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that's angered Beijing, the decision to not sanction Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin's trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; the Tennessee special election; lawmakers' frustration with the administration's boat strikes and plans to cut troops from Europe; the new National Security Strategy that makes clear the United States will no longer shoulder responsibility for the global rules-based order it created, puts the Americas at the center of its strategy, criticizes Europe for impeding peace in Ukraine and that Washington will “cultivate resistance” by backing European nativist political parties that oppose migration and promote nationalism; characterizes China as primarily an economic threat although does call for a bigger US role in the IndoPacific to deter conflict and if necessary, fight and win; ongoing US efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a deal to end fighting so Washington and Moscow can resume trade ties; American officials demanded rope to pick up NATO's conventional defense responsibilities by 2027; Trump's pressure on Japan's hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to ease pro-Taiwan rhetoric that's angered Beijing, the decision to not Chinese spy agencies involved in the Salt Typhoon attack on US government and industry, and sale of some of advanced computer chips China wants; French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beijing and Vladimir Putin's trip to New Delhi; European efforts to convince Belgium to release 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine; and what to expect from the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Silicon and Sanctuary: From the F-47 to a comeback for hypersonics, it's been a big year for airpower technology. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue's Applied Research Institute, rates 2025's developments and picks some technologies to watch in 2026. And in this holiday season, we learn about a small church with big meaning for the United States Air Force and Britain's Royal Air Force, with The Venerable Dr. Giles Legood, Air Vice-Marshal and Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the RAF.    Plus a few headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today's Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Maj. Gen. Tom Feltey, the commander of the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, along with Col. Nick Dvonch, the division's artillery commander, and Col. Jose Reyes, the commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade “Blackjack,” join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the 26-02 brigade certification rotation last month at the National Training Center where the 1st Cav's novel waves-based approach to create advantage in highly contested future battlefields, whether in Europe, Asia or elsewhere, was tested under operational conditions.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US drive to end the Ukraine war; whether a deal will fracture the NATO alliance; European support for Ukraine should Washington decide to partner with Moscow; impact of European Central Bank's decision against being a “backstop” on Ukrainian use of 140 billion euros in seized Russian assets; the impact of the corruption scandal involving those close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Russian claims to have taken Pokrovsk from Ukrainian forces; and whether Ukraine is delivering as much pain on Russia through strikes on energy and shipping as Russia is on Ukraine through massive air strikes targeting civilians.

DEFAERO Daily Pod [Dec 01, 25] Week in Review & Byron Callan's Week Ahead by Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a Wall Street ended a short trading week up on expectations of another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve and strong Black Friday growth; Trump administration's push to pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal that would be good for US and Russian companies; Europe seeks ways to defend itself and its interest without Washington's help; the race to return the flight control software on 6,000 or half the global Airbus A320 jetliner fleet to an earlier version that's less susceptible interference from solar flares; Poland's decision to pick Saab's A26 submarine over five competing European and Korean designs as its next submarine under a 2.5 billion euro program for three boats that fall under the EU's 50 billion euro SAFE loan program for new weapons; whether Canada will pick ThyssenKrupp or Hanwha for its patrol submarine project for up to 12 conventional attack boats; the British Army's decision to again halt use of its Ajax family of vehicles by General Dynamics after crews complained about being sickened by severe noise and vibration; and whether the Trump administration's operations in the Caribbean will be a boon for defense startups as both the Wall Street Journal and Reuters detail the challenges faces by Silicon Valley startup Anduril.

Secretary Hegseth has proposed a new way for the Air Force to buy its most complicated systems. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall joins us to break it down, and examines defense reform generally. And what's the latest with the Golden Dome missile defense project? We'll get answers from Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Plus a few headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs who advises on the agenda of the annual Halifax International Security Forum, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from this year's gathering in Nova Scotia that puts democracy at the center of security; the 30-nation survey of global security trends that's a key feature of the annual gathering; top threats; international perceptions of the United States, Canada, China, Russia and Israel; sentiments on compulsory military service; and themes in the his third book — co-authored with John Ibbitson — “Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk.”

On today's Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration's effort to pressure Ukraine to accept Russia's terms to end the ongoing war or risk losing US support; how the pressure campaign on Kyiv is driving allies and partners to accelerate efforts to reduce their dependence on Washington and US systems; whether Ukraine can satisfy its needs especially if US support ends abruptly; Rheinmetall and Renk capital market's days; a banner year for initial public offerings, spin offs and a changing defense market; takeaways from the International Institute for Strategic Studies' report “Deep Precision Strikes: Europe's Quest for Long-Range Missile Capabilities;” 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 and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a dismal week on Wall Street over worries about the economy, AI and whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates; the implications of the Trump administration's pressure on Ukraine to accept a peace deal that would mean Kyiv accept all of Russia's demands or risk losing all US support; France's pledge to sell Ukraine up to 100 Rafale fighters by Dassault as Washington sells 48 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II to Saudi Arabia; Rheinmetall's capital markets day; takeaways from a busy Dubai Air Show; and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy call that travelers to be more civil to usher in “a golden age of travel.”

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss congressional dynamic as lawmakers vote to release Epstein files as they advance NDAA and appropriations and debate the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies; redistricting starts to turn against the Republicans and the House descends into disarray; the 28-peace plan Washington appears to have crafted with Moscow to end the Ukraine war without consulting with Kyiv that satisfies Russia's demands and comes as Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces his worst corruption scandal and the US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Gen Randy George visit to Ukraine this week as Russian forces advance on Pokrovsk; Poland's accusation that Russian agents tried to sabotage Warsaw-Lublin rail line and western security services try to convince Azerbaijan to hand over Yaroslav Mikhailov, a Russian who is accused of engineering the bombs that made their way onto DHL logistics aircraft; Chinese pressure on Taiwan and Japan as Washington announces arms sales to Taiwan and India; Japan's first sale of a weapon system to the United States; China's attempt to fill the void left by the US skipping COP 30 in Brazil and and the G-20 in South Africa this weekend; President Trump's praise for Saudi Arabia's Mohamed bin Salmaan at the White House as the nations sign trade deals and the sale of nearly 50 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lighting II fighters that have prompted concern in Israel as its forces launched a new round of air strikes in Gaza.

Uncertain budgets. Acquisition reforms. Government shutdowns. What's an industrial base to do? Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning, one of Washington's most astute observers of government, is right in the middle of that storm. He tells us about it all. And we have headlines from a wowza week in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today's Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine's fight to defend Pokrovsk as Russian forces increase attacks to take a town seen as key to controlling Donbas; how Moscow is changing tactics to increase battlefield gains, including targeting Ukraine's energy grid; how Ukraine is responding at the tactical level at the front as well as strategically with deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure; Washington's strategy to end the war and how Europe is stepping up; and Moscow finally stands up its unmanned systems force.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Bill Lynn a former deputy defense secretary and Pentagon comptroller who since 2012 has served as the president and CEO of Leonardo DRS, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration's defense acquisition reforms; what can be bought commercially to address military needs and what has to be developed; role of government funding in bolstering production capacity; outlook for US defense spending and global defense cooperation; the transformation of Leonardo DRS on his watch; and how politics in Washington have changed over the past decades. Lynn's tenure will end at the close of year when he will be succeeded by John Baylouny, the company's chief operating officer.

On today's Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss progress on the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations now that the US government shutdown is over; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's comments last week critical of heritage contractors and his desire to buy 90 percent of what the service needs through commercial sources; implications of NATO and Britain moving away from special mission US aircraft in favor of European options; Germany's rising defense spending as well as takeaways from Hensoldt, Renk and other German firms; likelihood US will strike Venezuela; 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 and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street's mixed week on concerns the Federal Reserve might not cut interest rates as expected in December; the end of the US government shutdown ends with a continuing resolution through January that included included funding to develop Boeing's E-7 for the Air Force over the Pentagon's objections; President Trump's decision to back away from the food tariffs he imposed that have sent prices for soaring as his administration finalized trade deals including with Switzerland; the US drive for NATO adoption of the E-7 as an E-3 AWACS replacement collapses as Britain decides against renewing its lease for three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft as London eyes Hensoldt's Pegasus; Columbia's decision to buy Gripen jets from Saab for $3.6 billion; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's statement that defense contractors saying they “conned the American people and the Pentagon” and says that he wants to buy 90 percent from commercial vendors and 10 percent “in the worst of cases” from specialist firms; the increasingly acrimonious squabble between Dassault and Airbus over leadership of the Franco-German next-generation SCAF family of air systems; the decision by Boeing machinists in St Louis to end the company's second longest strike; the concern by US intelligence officials that F-35 Lighting II fighter technology might leak to China if Washington sells the Lockheed Martin jets to Saudi Arabia; themes for this year's Dubai Air Show; BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce's market statements and Hensoldt's capital markets day.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the longest US government shutdown in history that ended with a new continuing resolution, but will only span until January when the mayhem could begin all over again; appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act move ahead; another open House seat; the State Department's decision to designate so-called “antifa” groups in Germany, Greece, Hungary and Italy as foreign terrorist organizations; Russian forces advance in Ukraine and strike the nation's energy infrastructure as Ukrainians brace for the worst winter since the war began nearly four years ago; Britain reportedly curbs some intelligence sharing with Washington over the Trump administration attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific it claims are narcotraffickers; tensions between China and Japan rise over Taiwan; Australia and Indonesia prepare to sign a defense treaty; and in Gaza Hamas continues to hand over the bodies of Israeli hostages as China and Russia push back on the US effort to garner United Nations support for President Trump's peace plan for the region.

Can automation actually replace pilots? A top general says one pilot is enough for lengthy global bomber missions. Bomber expert Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute looks at what the idea is and whether it's a good one, and covers other significant issues in the bomber force. And we have this week's airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

On today's program, sponsored by Elbit America, Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the end of the longest-ever US government shutdown and the prospects that another one in late January after the continuing resolution adopted by lawmakers expires; impacts of the shutdown that will linger for years and months, including on uniformed and civilian workforce; the win for Boeing's E-7 radar plane that was the only defense progam included in the CR; update on Golden Dome; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's drive to revamp the Pentagon's entire acquisition system; and what's in the reconciliation package.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lt. Gen. Dave Bassett, USA Ret., the former director of the Defense Contract Management Agency who is now a senior counselor at the Cohen Group, former Pentagon industrial base chief Steve Grundman now with the Atlantic Council and Executive in Residence at the RSA consultancy, and Dr. Jerry McGinn, a former deputy industrial base chief who now leads the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's sweeping drive to revamp the Pentagon's acquisition architecture to accelerate the fielding of capabilities that address operational problems, adopt more commercial products that address military needs, scale production of weapons and systems, and increase sales to allies and partners.

On today's Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what's next now that lawmakers are moving to end the US government shutdown; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's address last week revamping the Pentagon's acquisition architecture accelerate the fielding capabilities; what has to happen for the reforms to succeed; Venezuela and Russia's battlefield gains in Ukraine; analysis of recent earnings including Hensoldt, Rheinmetall and other firms; issues to track in 2026; 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 and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street's worst tech sell off since April; the longest US government shutdown as the Trump administration cuts flights; the Supreme Court hears the constitutionality of the president's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's acquisition reforms to accelerate development of new capabilities; Germany's rearmament including new helicopters, night vision gear, weapons and interest in four more P-8 maritime patrol planes from Boeing as the first of eight already ordered jets is delivered; Berlin and Paris say they will determine the fate of SCAF next-generation combat aircraft program by the end of the year; the Pentagon clears hurdles to allow Saudi Arabia to order as many as 48 F-35 Lightning II jets by Lockheed Martin; Hensoldt, Leonardo and Rheinmetall report earnings;  and the UPS MD-11 crash in Louisville that killed 12 and left more than a dozen injured after the plane's left engine fell off on takeoff. 

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the longest US government shutdown; President Trump's call that senators break the filibuster to end the closure as Democrats have a banner Election Day; the Senate votes on a new war powers resolution as the administration hints at military action to topple the Maduro government in Venezuela; Russian forces advance toward Pokrovsk seen as key to controlling Donetsk; takeaways from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visits to Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia where he met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun as the president continued to comment on Xi Jinping, a Taiwan invasion and nuclear testing in the wake of his trip to Asia last week, and saying American forces would take action in Nigeria to stop what he called mass killings of christians by Islamist militants even though there appears no evidence of such sectarian violence; Hegseth's meeting on Friday with top defense and aerospace executives to unveil his new acquisition reforms to more quickly field new weapons; Saudi Arabia wants F-35 Lightning II fighters as Mohamed bin Sultan to Washington next week; and the legacies of former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at age 84 and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who said she would retire in 2027 after more than four decades in the House.

From CCA engines to hypersonics and basically everything in between, Rolls-Royce is building off a storied past with an eye on the future. John Kusnierek and Kaare Erickson, Senior Vice Presidents of their LibertyWorks technology operation and strategic campaigns respectively, tell us what they're doing and how they do it. And of course, this week's headlines in airpower. Powered by GE! (They make engines too.)

On today's program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dr. Jim Lewis of the Center for European Policy Analysis and Mark Montgomery of the Defense of Democracies and a Cyberspace Solarium Commission senior adviser join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss last trade truce between the United States and China and how it will impact technology exports including advanced chips Beijing seeks and Washington has sought to deny; how America and its allies should work together to create a secure tech ecosystem, including chips and rare earths; and the challenges associated with building nuclear submarines for Korea in the United States.

On today's Land Warfare program, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute and Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a Cyberspace Solarium Commission senior adviser, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Vladimir Putin's new “super” weapons including use of new intermediate-range missiles that have been used in Ukraine as well as the announcement that two new nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable weapons have been tested — a new cruise missile and large torpedo; how they work and how they could change deterrence as well as the fight in Ukraine and elsewhere; how these systems can be countered; how the introduction of the Extended Range Attack Munition developed by the US Air Force for Ukraine will change the war; how Russia is changing its tactics to target Ukrainian energy and power grids; and analysis of President Trump's order that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing.

On today's program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest headlines and looks 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 and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss the week on Wall Street during a strong earnings season; President Trump and China's Xi Jinping trade truce; Trump's pledge to help South Korea develop and build nuclear powered submarines in America and promise to resume nuclear testing after Vladimir Putin said Russia had successfully tested two nuclear powered nuclear weapon; the contours of the administration defense acquisition reforms; Airbus improves margin performance as Boeing announced a $4.9 billion charge on its long-delayed 777X jetliner program as the government shutdown hurts new jet certification and its St Louis workers remain on strike; Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury tells Dassault CEO Eric Trappier to get out of the SCAF next-generation fighter aircraft if the French company doesn't like terms agreed when the program was founded; Kongsberg said it would spin out its marine business; Leonardo DRS' Bill Lynn and Textron's Scott Donnelly retire; and the first flights of two new aircraft — Anduril's YF-44A unmanned aircraft and Lockheed Martin's X-59 Quesst to demonstrate technologies to mitigate the noise from sonic booms for a new generation of supersonic aircraft.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US government shutdown and when it might end; analysis of President Trump's Asia trip including his meetings with China's Xi Jinping, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Korea's President Lee Jae Myung; Trump's pledge to equip Seoul with nuclear attack submarines; the confusion caused by Trump's order that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing after a nearly 3-year hiatus and whether the move enhances US deterrence against adversaries as Russia boasts about two new nuclear-powered weapons — a cruise missile and 100-knot torpedo; how the Extended Range Attack Munition, developed by the US Air Force for Ukraine and with a range of more than 400 kilometers, could change the course of the war as Russia is reported to have fielded a new intermediate range conventional ballistic missile; and the outlook for the Gaza ceasefire.

Major General Mark Mitchum has headed the Air Force's Integrated Capabilities Command (Provisional) since its inception. As the Air Force moves its duties to a new organization and MajGen Mitchum concludes his career, we'll look at what the effort to reform the Air Force has achieved, where it has yet to go, and what's next for one of the service's deeper thinkers. And this week's airpower headlines. Powered by GE! 

On today's Technology Report podcast, sponsored by Elbit America, Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his new book, “Navigating Technology and National Security: The Intersection of CFIUS, Team Telecom, Al Controls, and Other Regulations,” that surveys America's export control history for lessons to shape controls that are more effective against China and a new generation of technologies.

On this month's innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference  Jan 27-28, 2026, in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Dr. Jennifer McArdle, the US director of Helsing Inc — the American arm of the European startup — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company's rapid evolution since its founding in 2021; it's self-learning AI technology that taught itself how to fly and execute air combat that was tested in a Gripen fighter by Saab as well as the Europa collaborative combat aircraft; lessons from the Ukraine war including development of the HX-2 aerial vehicle in partnership with frontline troops; the SG-1 Sea Glider autonomous underwater vehicle; the future of autonomy and human oversight over AI-enabled systems; the company's distributed manufacturing approach and role in the surging production worldwide; and its growth strategy. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org

On today's Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; Venezuela war watch as Washington sends a super carrier to the Caribbean; takeaways from third quarter earnings reported by prime contractors, supplier firms as well as services companies; his US-China trade talks could change rare earths availability as leading firms like Lockheed Martin and Leonardo DRS warn of impacts; outlook for Pentagon spending; takeaways from the Depuy Institute's Historical Analysis Conference; 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 and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street on expectations that low inflation figures will prompt Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again; President Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in South Korea to defuse trade tensions as Trump breaks off talks with Canada and Singapore's prime minister warns of a messy post-American world; implications of Beijing decision to stop chip exports back to Europe after the Dutch government decided to take control of Nexperia, a Dutch chip maker with a Chinese parent company; Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to merge their satellite businesses to create a more capable European competitor to SpaceX; Ukraine's decision to buy up to 150 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden's Saab; Washington sanctions Russian oil but denied Tomahawk cruise missiles, prompting Kyiv to use British Storm Shadow weapons to strike a Russian chemical plant as the first Extended-Range Attack Munitions developed for Ukrainians forces by the US Air Force are slated to arrive next month; JPMorgan Chase's decision to invest $1.5 trillion in US national security over the coming decade, from startups to heritage firms, factories and infrastructure, and workforce; and General Dynamics, GE Aerospace, Hexcel, Lockheed Martin, MTU, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Saab, Safran, Textron, Teledyne, and Thales earnings.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what's next for what already is the second longest shutdown in US history; the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the nomination of former GE Vice Chariman Jeff Bornstein as Pentagon comptroller; President Trump's decision to sanction Lukoil and Rosneft a days after his planned meeting with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war fizzled; the failed EU effort to shift Moscow's frozen assets to Ukraine, but successful new sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet; Kyiv's decision to buy 150 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden's Saab; the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing as Chinese officials implement the kind of global standards normally imposed by the United States as Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet in Korea; the president's rare earths agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; the warning by Singapore's prime minister that the transition to a post-American world will be messy as Trump ends trade talks with Canada and moves closer to war with Venezuela; Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan's first female prime minister; and Vice President Vance visits Israel to support a shaky Gaza ceasefire as Israeli lawmakers voted to annex the West Bank, a move that Trump said would never happen.

GE Aerospace is on the cutting edge of commercial jet engines, but what are they up to in defense these days? Vice President of Defense & Systems Engineering Darin DiTommaso lifts the covers on how they work and some of the innovative engines for vehicles -- from CCA to hypersonic -- that are on the way. And this week's airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

On today's Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Lt. Gen. Dave Bassett, USA Ret., the former director of the Defense Contract Management Agency who is now a senior advisor with the Cohen Group consultancy, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; the impact of Pentagon and Army acquisition reforms aimed at accelerating fielding of capabilities and reducing their cost; the resurgence of the Lead Systems Integrator approach to vest greater control with industry as government workforce is trimmed; the Army's drive to put soldiers at the heart of shaping future capabilities; after a legacy of abortive land vehicle modernization efforts, how the service can ensure that the XM30 program is a success; and roles that only the government can play in the defense industrial ecosystem. Our coverage of AUSA is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the upcoming meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest and how it will impact the Ukraine war; how Kyiv can continue striking deep into Russia without US Tomahawk cruise missiles; an update on the ongoing ground war; whether Ukraine would be able to supply billions of dollars in military equipment to the United States without undermining its ability to right for its survival; the European consensus that troops in Ukraine will be necessary despite Moscow's opposition to the move; and whether NATO's response to Russia's recent string of provocations is sufficient to keep deterring Moscow.

On today's Look Ahead program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the government shutdown; the Treasury Department's September statement and Secretary Scott Bessent's comments on defense industry share buybacks; Trump-Putin meeting and impact on Ukraine war; prospect Washington would buy Ukrainian drones and other weapons; US military operations in the Caribbean; takeaways from the Association of the United States Army's conference and tradeshow, the Wharton Aerospace meeting, and the defense edition of Joanna Speed's Aerospace Event in Washington; and a look at the week ahead. Our AUSA coverage was sponsored by Lockheed Martin and we are a proud media sponsor of the defense edition of the Aerospace Event.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss Wall Street's strong close despite trade worries and bank losses; US government shutdown outlook; President Trump's planned Budapest summit with Vladimir Putin derails Volodymyr Zelenskyy's push for Tomahawk cruise missiles to continue Ukraine's momentum on strikes against Russia; industrial implications of proposal that Washington buy $50 billion in Ukrainian drones and other equipment for the US military; worry that a scattershot US negotiating approach and Beijing's success in substituting lost American business has increased the confidence of Chinese officials who are no longer cowed by what they increasingly regard as Washington's empty rhetoric; Honeywell says the avionics supply chain is improving as Safran sees it catching up on engine delays; reports the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Boeing to increase 737 production next month; talks next week to end the strike at Boeing's St Louis plants; and takeaways the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting and tradeshow, the Wharton Aerospace conference in DC, and Joanna Speed's Aerospace Event in DC where we are a media partner.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former PEntagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what's next as the US government shutdown enters its third week; President Trump imposition of new sanctions on China as Beijing increasingly demonstrates that it's no longer cowed by Washington; as the president weighed sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for use against Russia, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew to Washington to make the case for US Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike Russia, the president had a call with Vladimir Putin and agreed to meet the Russian leader soon in Budapest, in a move that European leaders worry will undermine support for Ukraine; Sanae Takaichi tries to form Japan's new government; Trump's authorization of CIA cover action in Venezuela as US strikes against Venezuelan watercraft continue and US Southern Command Commander Adm. Alvin Holsey resigns over how the campaign is being waged; the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas goes into effect with hostages and prisoners exchanged, even as Israeli leaders threaten to withhold aid after the militant group failed to turn over all Israeli hostage remains it claims remain entombed by air strikes and would take time and heavy equipment to retrieve; Trump's Sharm El Sheikh summit; and the indictments against former National Security Adviser Dr. John Bolton and Carnegie Endowment analyst Dr. Ashley Tellis who are accused of improperly possessing and disseminating classified information.

Aerospace's top analysts came together this week for a full day of presentations, discussions, and forecasting at the annual Aerospace Event. Our team, all of whom were on stage at the show, will break down what they heard and what it means. Plus AUSA highlights and this week's headlines in airpower, Powered by GE!

DEFAERO Daily Pod [Oct 15, 25] AUSA Wrap-up w/ Bell's Jeff Schloesser & American Rheinmetall's Matt Warnick by Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell

On today's Land Warfare Series program, sponsored American Rheinmetall, Dan Tenney, the vice president for strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of the government shutdown on the company; lessons from the Ukraine war; how to accelerate the acquisition system to field capabilities more quickly; defending against everything from hypersonic missiles to drones; command and control; outlook for the H-60 Blackhawk including the new unmanned variant of the ubiquitous battlefield helicopter; international partnerships; and what to expect at this year's Association of the United States Army's annual meeting and tradeshow. Our AUSA coverage is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.