Defense & Aerospace Report

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics chief Greg Ulmer joins us with fresh insights on the futures of F-35 (Block 5!), NGAD (more!), F-55, airlift, and more. Plus airpower headlines, including fussin’ up at the FCAS Ranch. Powered by GE!

On today’s program from the Paris Air Show, sponsored by Alderman & Co., Steve Parker, the interim head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, joint Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what winning the US Air Force’s contract to develop the manned-fighter element of the Next-Generation Air Dominance program — dubbed the F-47 — means for the company, the investment required to win, how the company worked to bound troubled programs and get them back on track, implications should the E-7 airborne warning and control aircraft be cancelled as proposed by the Trump administration, Golden Dome, the F-15EX, FA-XX and the prospect of more F/A-18 Super Hornet jets, and the export outlook in the wake of President Trump’s rhetoric and imposition of tariffs.

On this Land Warfare episode, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dr. John Nagl, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who is now a professor of Warfighting Studies in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations at the Army War College, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to analyze the US Army's lessons learned from the Ukraine war and the service's new Army Transformation Initiative, an update on efforts to better prepare the force for war in the Indo-Pacific and Cold War lessons worth relearning, attributes that should shape the Army's next tank and ground vehicles, and more.

On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss Israel’s attack on Iran and whether the long-planned strikes will stop Tehran’s drive to acquire nuclear weapons; the trade deal between Washington and Beijing; the budget outlook as lawmakers build a national budget, and what happens if efforts to craft a reconciliation package fail; takeaways from hearings including on the F-35 Lightning II; additional thoughts on Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web attacks on Russia; 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, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a flat week on Wall Street as Israel attacked Iran vowing to destroy Tehran’s nuclear program and Tehran responded with large-scale missile barrages on the Jewish state; analysis of a sophisticated attack that included stealth, conventional and unmanned aircraft including modifications to the F-35 Lighting II fighter than increased the jet’s range, eliminating the need for aerial refueling; US and Chinese negotiators agree to give American industry access to China’s critically important rare earths in exchange Washington capping tariffs at 55 percent; an Air India 787 jetliner crashed killing 241 of the passengers onboard — one passenger survived — as well as 33 on the ground, a tragedy that changed the dynamics at the Paris Air Show that convenes tomorrow at the legendary Le Bourget airfield outside the French capital; the Pentagon is reviewing the agreement among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to develop nuclear powered attack submarines; and what to expect at this year’s Paris Air Show.

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, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss uncertainty in Congress as reconciliation, the Trump administration’s rescissions request, authorizations, appropriations and markups move ahead; President Trump deploys 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA amidst largely peaceful protests against the administration’s deportation policies; American and Chinese negotiators agree to allow the US access to critically important rare earths as tariffs on China will be capped at 55 percent; the Pentagon reviews the agreement among Australia, Britain and the United States to cooperate on nuclear attack submarines; Russia surges drone attacks on Ukraine as it masses forces for a major offensive to retake territory; talks to craft a ceasefire increasingly diminish as Russia concludes it can win the war; Washington withdraws US diplomats from Iraq as Israel is imminently expected to attack Iran as the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency declares Tehran in breach of nonproliferation obligations as Iranian officials vow to expand their nuclear program.

Whether your plane is hypersonic, stealthy, or rocket powered, he knows the science behind it. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue’s Applied Research Institute, gets technical with us. Plus many airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Wes Rumbaugh with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the think thank’s recent conference — America’s Golden Dome Explained — on what we know about President Trump’s effort to establish a national air and missile defense system over the United States, how much the network would cost, how effective it would be, the challenges ahead and role of allies in the effort.

On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jeb Nadaner, the senior vice president of government relations at Govini who served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy during the first Trump administration, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administrations focus on defense industrial strategy; how to ensure success including by extending the tenure of program managers; the role of both heritage and new economy contractors in delivering new capabilities quickly and at scale; role of the government in software development; and getting the most out of the Defense Production Act.

On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the latest from the Hill as lawmakers grapple with reconciliation, the NDAA and appropriations, a rescission package from the Trump administration, as well as hearings and the Senate Armed Services Committee’s reconciliation markup; the implications of the acrimony between President Trump and Elon Musk, and the outlook for SpaceX; a deeper look at Golden Dome in the wake of a major CSIS conference; takeaways from Oshkosh’s investor day; important historical lessons from France before World War II; 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, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss an up week on Wall Street as the relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk ended acrimoniously after the world’s richest man blasted the president’s big beautiful bill of legislative priorities, vowing to use the fortune he used to help Trump get elected to punish lawmakers who voted for it as president in turn vowed to punish Musk through his government contracts and other means if he does so; the outlook for SpaceX and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in the wake of the breakup; the Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup of the reconciliation measure that includes big news for military programs; the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent; new regulations on unmanned systems and supersonic flight over the United States; Britain’s most consequential Strategic Defence Review in decades that pledges higher defense spending to boost nuclear capabilities, attack subs, combat aviation, ground and joint warfighting; French concerns that high debt will curb more military spending; and Chinese efforts to curry favor with Europe with preferential access to rare earth elements and ordering hundreds of new Airbus jetliners.

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, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that’s in peril as senators worry that tax cuts will increase the debt as the Congressional Budget Office warns that the debt will increase by another $2.4 trillion; Elon Musk called the spending plan a “disgusting abomination,” prompting a flurry of insults between the president and the man who helped getting him reelected as the world’s richest man turned his sights on Republican leaders; reconciliation, the NDAA, appropriations as well as he administration’s rescission and more detailed budget plans; the White House’s decision tap US Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich as NATO’s next Supreme Allied Commander Europe, signaling America will keep the top military job in NATO; Britain’s Strategic Defence Review that proposes more spending for nuclear weapons, doubling the attack sub fleet, buying more F-35 fighters, improving ground forces and jointness; Ukraine’s daring attacks on Russia’s strategic bombers and Kerch bridge; the consequential Shangri-La dialogue including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning about the threat posed by China; elections change the political dynamics in Seoul and Warsaw; Gaza descends further into chaos as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says that Israel needs to wean itself off US weaponry.

There’s fast, and then there’s hyperfast. Hermeus is developing a hypersonic transport for the U.S. Air Force, and they took a big step recently with the first flight of their proof-of-concept plane. Founder and CEO A.J. Piplica joins us with the inside story. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On this special edition of the Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Tim Walton of the Hudson Institute, Air Power Podcast co-host JJ Gertler and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attack on strategic bomber bases across Russia; the lessons from from the attack that are applicable to US forces; how to secure American bases at home and abroad; and learning from China’s use of large unmanned aircraft to carry large numbers of smaller unmanned craft to swarm targets.

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 how Ukraine executed “Operation Spider Web” drone attack on strategic bomber bases across Russia; implications of the attack and whether it changes the increasingly grim outlook of the war as Russia masses forces to take Sumy; the growing scale of Russia’s missile and drone attacks on Ukraine; whether the US has enough air and missile defense weapons remaining to give Kyiv to blunt the assaults; what to expect from Washington as President Trump criticizes Vladimir Putin but declines to penalize him; the Senate’s new Russia sanctions package; Ukrainian and Russian representatives meet in Istanbul; how after three years of war Ukraine can put enough pressure on Russia to help end the war; and what Karol Nawrocki’s election in Poland means for Warsaw’s support for war.

On this week’s Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the US defense budget outlook that could include a big jump in spending that flattens; the complex dynamics between the administration and Congress; the impact of tariffs and how nations like China will retaliate; takeaways from IISS’ Shanghai-La Dialogue; Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attack on Russia’s bomber bases; 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, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss a rocky week on Wall Street that ended with the best month since 2023; President Trump doubles tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent and curbs aerospace, chip, and chemical export as well as educational visas to China; whether this is a negotiating tactic born of frustration with slow talks between Beijing and Washington or the latest effort to decouple the world’s two leading economies; investors’ “TACO” mindset and the reality that despite a chaotic approach the administration has increased tariffs; the Senate pushes back on the House’s reconciliation package; newsflow from the IISS’s annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that China could attack Taiwan at any time and call that allies spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, and French President Emmanuel Macron and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas’ view that a partnered China and Russia constitute a major threat to the global rules-based order that must be countered, and Indian defense chief Gen Anil Chauhan’s acknowledgment that India lost fighters in its recent conflict with Pakistan but learned lessons from the experience; Saab’s capital markets day; the latest on the administration’s Section 232 trade investigation; and King Charles’ historic address opening Canada’s new parliament.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s take on the House’s massive reconciliation package; President Trump’s block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president’s frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world’s two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he’ll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu’s renewed threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration’s move to curb reporters’ access to the Pentagon.

We’re used to thinking of UAVs as throwaway systems, but when they cost 20 or 30 million dollars apiece, that changes the approach. Travis Sharp of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has a new study out on the long-term costs and issues of operating collaborative combat aircraft, and we dig in. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Dave Mroczka, the president and chief executive of the innovative firm AI Strategy Corporation, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the company’s 9-Hi technology that uses artificial intelligence to help the military services dramatically reduce the time it takes to develop both requirements and make acquisition decisions, accelerating the delivery of capabilities that in turn helps avoid the costs associated and perils of prolonged delays in decision making, especially for companies trying to navigate the “Valley of Death.”