Defense & Aerospace Business Report

Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, discusses the new report he authored — “Russia’s Digital Tech Isolationism: Domestic Innovation, Digital Fragmentation, and the Kremlin’s Push to Replace Western Digital Technology” — how Moscow uses its digital technology for global advantage, impact of sanctions that have driven a rise in domestic capability and greater partnership and reliance on China, the global market for Russian and Chinese digital technologies among nations that want to operate outside US and Western sanctions, how to counter Russian dis and misinformation, and outlook for social media regulation in Washington with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dmitri Alperovich, the chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator think tank who co-founded the cyber security giant CrowdStrike , discusses the new book he coauthored with Garrett Graff — “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century.” — similarities and lessons from the West’s Cold War competition with the Soviet Union, why China is more vulnerable than the Soviet Union and how the West can win the contest, how best to cooperate with Beijing, and a report card on US efforts to improve cyber security with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss last week’s deal that saw Russia exchange innocent Americans and Russian activists for Russian assassins, spies and hackers, and whether the deal will prompt Moscow to take more hostages in the future; update on the Ukraine war and growing worries that Kyiv is losing the conflict and if so, what Western nations can do to change the battlefield dynamic; a new Duma law that prohibits soldiers from using their personal electronic devices on the front; and how Vice President Harris and those around her regard Russia, Ukraine and NATO; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the sharp market drop on Aug. 5, 2024, and how global worries impacted defense and aerospace equities; a look at Boeing’s results last week and news that Kelly Ortberg will succeed Dave Calhoun as the giant’s CEO; defense budget pr

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 discuss Wall Street meltdown on a sharper than expected drop in new jobs even as the Federal Reserve said rate cuts are imminent; Boeing taps one of the industry host highly regarded retirees — former Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg — as its new chief executive as the company also reports dismal earnings and needs to raise capital; Airbus, BAE Systems, MTU, and Rolls-Royce also report earnings; and the Air Force says still going to develop a new, six-generation manned fighter even as it rethinks the penetrating counter air portion of the Next-Generation Air Dominance program.

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 former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s mark up of four appropriations bills including defense; the decision to exchange Russian killers, spies and thugs to free American reporters and rights activists from captivity in Russia; soaring tensions in the Middle East after Israel assassinated two Hamas and one Hezbollah leader and whether Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s goal is a wider regional war; Russia’s steady advance in Ukraine; China hacks into Germany’s cartography office as America revamps its Indo-Pacific relationships to better deter Beijing; and a look at the US presidential race and possible candidates to serve as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

The US Air Force has sunk a Navy ship -- with a new anti-ship weapon launched from a B-2. We’ll get into the implications with the Sagamore Institute’s Dr. Jerry Hendrix, a retired US Navy captain, naval aviator and strategist. And CSIS’s Dr. Tom Karako comes by to update us on the latest in air and missile defense around the world. Plus the top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Former Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist who is now the president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association and Dr Arun Seraphin who runs NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the US budget outlook as Congress is expected to opt for another continuing resolution to fund government rather than legislation; impact of funding uncertainty on the very innovation ecosystem the Pentagon is courting; what to expect from the ETI conference in Washington Aug. 7-9; role of supplemental in driving innovation, bolstering supply chains and production capacity; feedback from the association’s membership; defense impacts irrespective of Harris or Trump victory in November; and Boeing’s decision to tap former Collins CEO Kelly Ortberg as the company’s next chief executive.

On this month’s innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next January in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, Air Commodore Blythe Crawford, the commandant of the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Center, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the nature of innovation and the need for greater agility, the right and wrong lessons from Russia’s war on Ukraine, the big problems that need solving, grading progress, issuing many small but demanding contracts to help determine the innovative companies that can delivery from those that can’t — and documenting the results — and keys to driving culture change. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org

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 Office of Management and Budget’s midyear review that shows lower deficit projections than the Congressional Budget Office; budget outlook as Congress moves to again opt for a continuing resolution rather than passing a budget bill; analysis of second quarter earnings and management statements on budget and profit outlook; thoughts on the “Economic Consequences of Weak Governance and Policy Instability” hosted by The Budget Lab at Yale University and The Niskanen Center think tank; takeaways from the Farnborough International Air Show; 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 discuss an upcoming week on Wall Street after a shaky start on lower than expected inflation and strong profits; American Airlines joins Delta and United in posting muted earnings prompting questions whether the jetliner market is cooling as the world’s aerospace and defense leaders gathered at a muted Farnborough Air Show; Boeing nears an announcement of a new CEO; Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani says that he’s “personally” ok with Saudi Arabia joining Britain and Japan in the Global Combat Air Program even as Japanese officials suggest doing so would create reputational risk; and Babcock, Bombardier, Booz Allen Hamilton, Dassault, General Dynamics, General Electric, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Textron

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the grim outlook for the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations; Vice President Kamala Harris’ first week at the top of the ticket; President Biden explains why he decided it was time to hand the reins to a new generation; the vice presidential sweepstakes; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu becomes the first ever foreign leader to address a joint session of Congress four times as Jerusalem strikes Houthi targets 2,000 kilometers away in Yemen after the Iran -backed group killed one and wounded 10 in a drone attack that leaked past air defenses and struck a Tel Aviv apartment building; and three key train lines in France are targeted with arson attacks that derailed travel plans for hundreds of thousands heading to the summer Olympic Games in

We get updates on major programs -- and visions of the future -- from Greg Ulmer, the head of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and General Atomics CEO Dave Alexander. Plus the top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Dr. Jack Watling, the senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses takeaways from RUSI's flagship land warfare conference this week in London, the future of land warfare, learning the right lessons from Russia's war on Ukraine and avoid the wrong ones, how the ubiquity of unmanned aerial systems changes land warfare, whether militaries are implementing lessons to improve capabilities, the sweet spots for vehicle weight as well as armament, need for more air and missile defenses as well as long-range fires, why NATO has to ready for future attack by Russia as leaders in Moscow make clear their next target after Ukraine is the alliance, an update on the Ukraine war and why Kyiv's position remains precarious despite US and Western aid with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today's program, sponsored by HIl, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses implications of President Biden’s decision against standing for reelection; whether defense sentiment would change if Vice President Harris’ running mate is a former military leader like Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., or retired Adm. Bill McRaven; why defense stocks in 2024-25 are unlikely to perform as they did in 2016; why 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Russo-Ukrainian war; the US Air Force's agreement with Boeing to start development work on the E-7 radar plane and decision to accept Block 40 TR3 versions of the F-35 Lightning Il fighter; expectations from the Farnborough International Airshow and earnings expectations from leading US firms; why US defense stocks have lagged the broader market; and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to President Biden’s decision to drop his reelection bid and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, what’s next as the Democratic Party works to revamp its ticket, how Harris can broaden her appeal, and possible running mates.

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 discuss a down broader market but a good week for defense and aerospace; the US Air Force strikes a deal with Boeing to buy E-7 radar planes and has agreed to accept the long-delayed Block 4 Technology Refresh 3 version of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II; Hexcel, Saab, Textron and United report earnings as other leading companies prepare to report earnings next week; Babcock pre-announces another 90 million pound charge on its Type 31 frigate; takeaways from the Royal International Air Tattoo as the global defense and aerospace industry prepares to convene next week at the Farnborough 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, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian to discuss the budget process as the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump as its presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance as vice president; speculation President Biden said to be increasingly open to stepping aside; New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is found guilty, worries rise that Ukraine is in danger of losing to Russia; after saying he wouldn't fight for Taiwan, Trump suggests that he might support the island nation if Taipei pays more for its security; Britain's defense review; and the Gaza war grinds on and a Houthi missile hits a Tel Aviv apartment building killing one and wounding 10.

This week, three great airpower minds — Major General Jonas Vikman, chief of the Swedish Air Force; retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, president of the Air and Space Power Association; and Dean David Deptula of the Mitchell Institute — look at today’s challenges and the next generation. Plus the top headlines in airpower!

Dr. Jim Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the cyber implications of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the “Chevron” precedent that gave US government agencies broad power to interpret legislation, prospects for more cyber-related congressional action, what needs to be on lawmaker’s to do list, the need to dramatically expand the cyber workforce, assessing the cyber elements of the two presidential campaigns, balancing freedom of speech with the need to counter disinformation in reigning in social media firms, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

Keith Webster, the president of the defense and aerospace council at the US Chamber of Commerce — who last week hosted the defense industrial forum at NATO’s 75th anniversary summit —and Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discuss defense industrial takeaways from the gathering of alliance leaders last week in Washington, how to improve industrial capacity, balancing Buy American with Buy Allied sentiments, and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.