Defense & Aerospace Report

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 President Trump’s new tariffs after the Supreme Court’s ruling last week and Republican efforts to adopt new tariff legislation; takeaways from the president’s longest ever state of the union address; efforts to restore full Department of Homeland Security funding and update on Reconciliation 2.0; whether the president will get the $1.5 trillion defense budget he wants for 2027 as consensus settles on a more modest boost of around $1.1 trillion to $1.2 trillion; US-Iran talks continue in Geneva as Washington masses more forces in the region and prepares to evacuate US personnel from Israel to press Tehran into a nuclear deal; tensions between the president and military leadership as Trump says his chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, thinks a war with Iran would be easy as news reports indicate military leaders are concerned about the impact of a protracted and unpredictable conflict on weapons stocks, equipment and personnel; Ukraine’s allies shape another 106 billion euro aid package that Hungary has threatened to derail; as former US Army Europe chief retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges tells reporters his train was attacked, one of five suspected Russian attacks on Europe that day; the Pentagon’s threat to seize Anthropic’s Claude AI model and blacklist the company unless it allows its technology to be used for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance; after two months as Joint Staff Director Vice Adm. Fred Kacher will leave his job and return to the Navy; Beijing again cuts rare earth shipments to Japan; Kim Jong Un teases a summit with Trump amid US-Korea strategy strains; an escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel; and Washington’s decision to open a pop-up consulate for Israeli settlers in the West Bank town of Efrat.

We attended the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium so you didn’t have to. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems president Dave Alexander gives us the latest on a slew of programs. We review the event and Air and Space Forces magazine editor Tobias Naegele and Mitchell Institute Dean David Deptula add their views. Plus a headline or two. All powered by GE!

Mesh Feigenbaum, a managing partner at Engineered Metal Tech who is one of the world’s leading experts on the gigantic forging presses that are critical for the worldwide aerospace and defense supply chain, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss an updated version of his 2018 benchmark study of global industrial capacity that rings alarm bells for major commercial and military programs; the importance of forging facilities; the problematic nature of depending on gigantic pieces of equipment that are aging and when they fail are out of action for years, derailing supply chains; China’s strategic approach of investing in sovereign capacity and capability; why the business is so challenging commercially one without government support; and the investment necessary for the United States to revitalize a critical industry.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics 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 an assessment of Russia’s war Ukraine as the conflict enters its fifth year; update on the fighting and impact of SpaceX’s decision to suspend Russian access to StarLink data; whether Vladimir Putin as more vulnerable as the war takes its toll on Russia’s finances and economy; what will convince Moscow to back off its maximalist demands; key transformations in warfighting over the past four years as both sides have struggled to gain advantage; prospect an economic deal with Moscow that would see US industry rebuild Russia would convince Russian leaders to turn away from Beijing; whether it’s reasonable to expect Ukraine to hold elections in May as demanded by President Trump; and what to expect in year five of the conflict.

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 defense industrial implications of the Supreme Court’s rulings against most of President Trump’s tariffs and his reaction to impose an additional 15 percent tariff across the board; prospect the administration will retaliate against European nations that shift rapidly increasing spending away from US weapons in favor of domestic ones; Canada’s new defense strategy; consequences of a possible Iran attack and Britain’s decision to deny US forces use of bases in UK and Diego Garcia; analysis of Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict enters its fifth year; a changing competitive US defense industrial landscape; 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 on the Supreme Court’s decision that some of President Trump’s tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal; what’s next for nearly $200 billion in tariff revenue collected over the past year as the president imposes new tariffs under other legislation; US threat of retaliation if Europe shifts away from buying American systems in favor of domestic weaponry; India’s Rafale order including 31 naval variants of the Dassault fighter; Canada’s new National Defense Strategy; Northrop Grumman partnership with Embraer to help market the KC-390 tanker-transport in the United States; impact on Leonardo’s C-27 production line after Saudi Arabia’s ordered for four of the transports in a maritime patrol configuration for delivery in 2029; Airbus earnings including frustrations with Pratt & Whitney; and BAE Systems’ investors call.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, 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 Supreme Court’s ruling against the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify tariffs; outlook for ending the Ukraine war as Washingon increases pressure on Kyiv as Russia touts $14 trillion in business for America; in advance of his trip to Beijing, President Trump said he’s talking Xi Jinping about US arms sales to Taiwan; the confirmation by a US official that China appears to have conducted an unground nuclear test in 2020; Japan and South Korea make good on their promises to invest in the United States in exchange for lower tariff rates; Washington’s efforts to improve relations with India and make new friends in South and Central Asia; the president’s “Board of Peace” and the future of Gaza; after massing the biggest US military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion, Trump gives Tehran an ultimatum to make a nuclear deal in 10 days or “really bad things will happen;” Britain balks at letting US forces using bases in the UK and Diego Garcia to strike Iran as the president criticizes London’s decision to turn over control of Diego Garcia to Mauritius; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu pushes for a pardon for a corruption charges as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the next government should “encourage migration” of Palestinians living on the West Bank.

How should the US Air Force design itself to meet today’s challenges – and tomorrow’s? Tim Walton and Dan Patt of the Hudson Institute have a new report out with answers, and we’ll take a good look at it. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mike Rogers, a retired US Navy admiral and former director of the National Security Agency and commander of US Cyber Command who is now the chairman of the advisory board of cybersecurity firm Claroty, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his commentary in The Hill,  “America is dangerously unprepared for a GPS attack,” including how the current network the nation depends on for its military and economic security is under “duress;” the variety of threats its faces from jamming, cyber, spoofing as well as physical damage; how to create a new systems by leveraging 5G investment as well as thoughtful spectrum allocation; and the Trump administration’s approach to cyber security.

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 takeaways from the Munich Security Conference; what transatlantic cooperation will look like as Europe works to decouple from its historic dependence on the United States; Canada’s new defense industrial strategy from buying 75 percent of its weapons from the United States to directing 70 percent of military purchases to domestic firms with the goal of increasing exports to 50 percent; outlook for reconciliation 2.0 as President Trump abruptly opposes the funding maneuver; what Amentum, Parsons and SAIC say about the future of the services market; Mike Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of defense for industrial base, addresses the Hudson Institute; 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 Wall Street had it’s worst week since November on a tech selloff even as new federal data showed lower than expected inflation and better than expected jobs growth; despite tensions with Washington, Ottawa put a down payment on the next 14 F-35 Lightning II fighters on top of the 16 jets on order as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks alternative options; as the Munich Security Conference convenes French President Emmanuel Macron calls for Europe to become more globally competitive, British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer seeks a multinational defense initiative with Europe and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explores joining France’s nuclear deterrent; Macron works to savage the Franco-German SCAF program by convincing Dassault to be more accommodating as Germany’s aerospace industries association BDLI hopes two versions of a common SCAF can be built — one for Germany, the other for France; importance of defending commercial airports from drones; India’s HAL out of the fighter business save for the Light Combat Aircraft; and takeaways from Saudi Arabia’s World Defense 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 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 impact of a looming shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security as Democrats block funding; prospects for another defense reconciliation package; House passage of federalized elections and measure to halt Trump’s Canada tariffs; what’s next after a federal judge blocks the Pentagon’s efforts to punish retired US Navy captain and current Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly for participating in a video advising troops to not follow illegal orders; a Munich Security Conference where French President Emmanuel Macron make the case for a more globally competitive Europe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will underscore a new era in international relations; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth skipped the NATO defense ministerial where Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby framed his Washington’s vision for the alliance as NATO adopted a new command structure and Arctic strategy; the White House imposes a firm deadline on Ukraine to end the war and hold elections by June or lose all US support; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s landslide victory; China sentences Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison; Taiwan’s Lai Ching Te’s warning that if China invades his country, an empowered Beijing will seek other territories it claims; the revelation that Chinese warships sailed 100 kilometers off Australia’s coast in December and Japan’s arrest a Chinese fishing boat captain for ignoring calls to stop for an inspection; US forces seize another Venezuelan tanker in the Pacific; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump as more US forces mass in the Gulf to support a possible Iran attack as Washington and Tehran talks continue; and Israel’s efforts to annex the West Bank.

The US Air Force is changing the way it does acquisition – or the Department of Defense is changing the way the Air Force does acquisition. Either way, we get details and insight from The Honorable Andrew Hunter, the previous Air Force acquisition executive, along with his (surprising!) wish list. Plus the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics 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 Russia’s war on Ukraine as the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary; outlook for peace as Washington’s presses Kiev to hold elections by May 15 or risk losing US support; US efforts to strike $12 trillion in economic deals with Russia and whether that will prompt Moscow to align with Washington against Beijing; the impact of the US trade deal with India that requires New Delhi to end Russian oil purchases on Moscow’s finances; potential successors to Zelenskyy should elections happen in May as planned; and Ukrainian membership in the EU.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Steve Grundman, a former Pentagon industrial base chief now with the Atlantic Council and the Grundman Advisory consultancy, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Pentagon’s acquisition reform efforts, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming list of contractors deemed to be performing poorly; the Trump administration’s investment stakes in key suppliers; new strategic minerals stockpile; agreements with Lockheed Martin and RTX to bolster missile production; President Trump’s call to drop the long-standing US requirement that nations that buy American weapons check with Washington before transferring them to a third party; and outlook for global defense and aerospace supply chains as nations scramble to bolster their domestic weapons development and production capabilities.

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, 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 rocky week on Wall Street; the Trump administration’s $12 billion “Project Vault” effort to create a strategic minerals stockpile to reduce dependence on China; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s list of poorly performing defense contractors; the administration charters Erebor Bank with $635 million in capital to support defense and tech startups; RTX agrees to the Pentagon’s seven-year deal to invest its own money to boost increase Tomahawk cruise missile output from 60 per year today to 1,000 a year, triple the SM-6 air defense and strike missile production to 500 weapons, and AMRAAM air-to-air missile rates from 1200 to 1900 annually; Russia’s efforts to shadow European satellites; takeaways from the Singapore airshow including Airbus and the Singapore Air Force receive the first automatic air-to-air refueling certification for the A330 Multirole Tanker Transport aircraft, Singapore to buy four P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Indonesia buys M346 trainers but it’s fighter modernization is uncertain, and Uzbekistan orders Embraer’s KC-390; Boeing consolidates 787 jetliner work in South Carolina, moving 300 jobs from Washington the the palmetto state; and Democratic lawmakers want an investigation into SpaceX’s links with China.

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 outlook for continues Department of Homeland Security funding after lawmakers end another partial government shutdown; efforts to secure another big reconciliation measure for defense; President Trump’s threat to sue his own Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh if he doesn’t cut interest rates after replacing current Chairman Jay Powell in May; implications of Texas elections that saw Democrats perform well in districts that Trump won by double digit margins; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “naughty” contractors list; analysis of the administration’s new National Defense Strategy; Washington’s discordant approach to Europe where US officials promise financial support for right-wing think tanks as “resistance” to centrist governments while also pledging partnership on strategic minerals; the Pentagon resumes military cooperation with Russia as Trump seeks a new nuclear deal with Moscow and Beijing as Vladimir Putin demands Britain and France be added to talks; a second inconclusive round of talks US-Russia-Ukraine talks; what we know about the administration’s new trade deal with India; Trump changes course and backs Britain’s decision on transferring ownership of the Chagos Islands that’s home to the strategically important base at Diego Garcia to Mauritius in exchange for a 99-year lease; the administration’s drive to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran; and the latest on Israel’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

The US Air Force faces a lot of questions, and the service’s thought leaders came together in Washington last week to work through them. We have a readout from the conference organizer, Mitchell Institute Executive Director Doug Birkey. And a busy week in airpower headlines. All powered by GE!

Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the second annual Apex Defense conference last week in Washington.