Defense & Aerospace Business Report

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is making news all over the place, and their president Dave Alexander joins us to talk CCA, advanced air launched effects, and more. And John Tirpak previews next week AFA warfare symposium. Plus a big week for headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

David Schild, the executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, discusses the push to convince Congress to back legislation investing in printed circuit boards; and SAIC Chief Technology Officer Bob Ritchie discusses how the company’s cloud-based command and control contract with the US Air Force can serve as a model for getting big things done fast with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses discusses how Ukraine can defend itself and wage offensive operations in the absence of US support, the unprecedented role of Chinese industry in Ukrainian capabilities, how Russia is improving its capabilities, the spat between the Ukrainian president and his chief of defense staff, and the Pentagon’s Replicator effort with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses appropriations, budget and supplemental outlook, analysis of Boeing’s earnings report and defense business, US arms exports, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

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 strong US jobs growth and declining inflation, the paradox of increasing air travel demand and declining fares, HII’s strong results, Boeing’s decision to suspend financial guidance for 2024 as management focuses on improving quality and withdrawal of request for a limited exemption for the 737 Max 7 engine inlet deicing system, the EU’s $54 billion economic aid package for Ukraine, and Washington’s decision to approve 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters for Turkey and 40 F-35 Lightning II strike jets for Greece.

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 bipartisan tax bill that passed the House, a border deal to clear more Ukraine funding hangs in the balance as the House moves to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the EU approves $54 billion in economic aid for Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy fires his popular chief of defense staff Gen. Valeri Zaluzhny, Washington telegraphs strikes on Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for Tehran-backed militia’s attack that killed three Americans and wounded 40, Beijing purges its top rocket scientist as US and Chinese leaders meet, and the Gaza war continues as the Biden administration sanctions four Israelis for their role in West Bank violence against Pa

Viable electric aircraft have been on the horizon for a while now. But it looks like the first customer might well be the United States Air Force. We’ll talk with a pioneer in the field, Kyle Clark, the head of Beta Technologies, whose Alia eVTOL plane just concluded testing with AFWERX and is in line for procurement. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Sally deSwart, the managing director of Clarion Defence, discusses the new Apex innovation and technology conference in Washington, the events that will pave the way for January 2025 gathering, and what will make it unique; and Dr. Jimmy “Reverend” Jones, the Air Force’s service’s warfighting applications lead for STITCHES — System-of-Systems Technology Integration Tool Chain for Heterogeneous Electronic Systems; Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer; Colin Carroll who works strategy and growth at Anduril Industries; and Dr. Wes Naylor, Helicon Chemical’s CEO discuss how accelerate innovation at the Hudson Institute with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

Eric Fanning, the president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, discusses the budget and supplemental outlook, the Biden administration’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy, and what to expect at the Singapore Air Show; and on the first installment of our monthly land warfare segment, sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Dan Roper, a retired US Army colonel who is now the director of national security studies at the Association of the United States Army’s Land Warfare Institute, discusses lessons from the Ukraine war including the reality that people, equipment and weapons matter, look at the US Army’s Indo-Pacific role. and the services modernization plans with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the legislative implications of Donald Trump’s growing lead in the GOP presidential primary race, prospects for the Ukraine supplemental as lawmakers work toward a immigration deal and the White House says it would accept border closure to fund Kyiv, takeaways as leading companies report 2023 earnings and what to expect from disclosures this week including from Boeing, and a look at the week ahead; and Michael Harpin, the competitions section chief in the Cyber Defense Education and Training branch at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, discusses the agency’s fifth annual President’s Cup cyber competition with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

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 another strong week on Wall Street on reports that the US economy grew faster than anticipated in the last 2023 quarter, earnings reports, Boeing’s CEO appears on Capitol Hill as Alaska and United airlines CEOs blast the jetmaker and Sen. Maria Cantwell announces hearings, NATO orders $1.2 billion in new artillery shells as hopes of more Ukraine aid from America continue to dim, US Navy secretary suggests Britain needs a bigger military, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps argues for more ships and the Chief of the General Staff says it’s time for conscription.

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 how Donald Trump is complicating a border-Ukraine aid deal and appropriations as the Pentagon runs out of assistance for Kyiv, whether America’s allies in Europe and Asia can keep Ukraine afloat until Washington gets its act together, the implications for American power and the global rules based order if Russia wins, Hungary pumps the brakes on Sweden’s NATO membership after Turkey approves Stockholm’s accession, implications of China’s weakened economy as well as population loss and increasingly unpopular leadership, North Korea’s recent nuclear saber rattling, congressional reaction to Biden administration’s strikes against Houthi targets, Israel’s continued rejection of pea

Operation Poseidon Archer, the U.S. effort to negate the Houthi threat to shipping, is all about naval aviation. How is it going and where is it going? We ask the Sagamore Institute’s Dr. Jerry Hendrix, a retired US Navy captain, naval aviator and strategist. CNA’s Sam Bendett updates the drone air war in Ukraine. And we even have some headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On this week’s Technology Report, Dr. Dave Young, the chief operating officer officer of CAES — Cobham Advanced Electronic Systems — discusses electronic warfare lessons from the Ukraine war, how US capabilities compare to Russian and Chinese ones, the need to increase training with closely held EW systems before conflict to better prepare commanders on how best to employ them, scaling production through greater automation, impact of the CHIPS Act and the additional investment necessary in other vital fields with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

Dr. Keoki Jackson, the senior vice president and general manager at the National Security Sector at MITRE, discusses the report the federally funded research develop center crafted with the Aspen Strategy Group — “A Sum Greater Than Its Parts: Integrated Deterrence and Strategic Competition” with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the dimming outlook for Ukraine supplemental funding and the global implications of Washington rejecting more resources for Kyiv, the right approach to understanding geopolitical challenges, and a look at the week ahead; and Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute discusses the think tank’s Jan. 24 conference — Solving Operational Problems with Today’s Technology — the first of a new series on innovation with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

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 another big week on Wall Street, budget outlook in Washington as worries mouth regarding more Ukraine funding and what that tells allies and partners worldwide, growing number of parked aircraft as ticket prices drop, delivery and production numbers, Boeing taps the former head of naval nuclear reactors as its quality adviser after Alaska Airlines incident, Britain’s bilateral security pact with Ukraine, and a second flight of Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider bomber.

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 a short-term deal to keep government open as the prospect for Ukraine supplemental funding evaporates, Britain strikes a security pact with Ukraine as Kyiv’s losses among its most experienced troops mounts as Western weapons and ammunition run out, ways to keep funding Ukraine in absence of supplemental, US continues strikes on Houthis as Iran and Pakistan exchange strikes, DPP wins in Taiwan but loses control of parliament to KMT, Israel continues to brush off US peace efforts as cracks grow within Israeli government over how and whether to save hostages, and the GOP race after the Iowa Caucuses.

Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, looks at China’s 2023 in the air and what’s likely in 2024. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and Steve Grundman of the Atlantic Council and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University — who both lead the Pentagon’s industrial policy office — discuss the Biden administration’s first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy that was unveiled by last week with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.