Defense & Aerospace Report

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.

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 defense and aerospace stock performance on Wall Street and in Europe; the air travel outlook as the US government shutdown derails the transport system as Delta projects robust holiday season; China’s clamp down on rare earths as Washington threatens 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods; Denmark’s decision to buy another 16 F-35 Lightning II fighters from Lockheed Martin and considers P-8 Poseidon patrol planes from Boeing; the Pentagon’s decision to clear the Navy to pick whether Boeing or Northrop Grumman will build the service’s new FA-XX superfighter; the implications of the $6.1 billion deal by President Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb for 11 large icebreakers for the US Coast Guard, with the first four to be built in Finland and the remainder made at two yards in America; Indian pilots demand that the 787 be grounded to investigate the emergency power system on the planes; the explosion at the Accurate Energetic Solutions plant in Bucksnort, Tenn., as the Pentagon demands a sharp increase in weapons production; and what to expect at the defense edition of Joanna Speed’s Aerospace Event in Washington, DC, where the Defense & Aerospace Report is a proud media sponsor, and both AeroDynamic Advisory and Bank of America are founding partners.

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 comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the continuing US government shutdown as Democrats make their case why closing was the right thing to do to protect health care for millions of Americans; Russia continues its provocations against Europe and NATO as the Ukraine war grinds on; details about the administration’s National Defense Strategy surface during John Noh’s confirmation as the deputy assistant secretary of defense of IndoPacific affairs; Washington and Beijing close in on a trade deal as China clamps down on rare earths exports; Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States conduct exercises as China and Malaysia conduct theirs; the hard line LDP President Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister; and the deal brokered by President Trump to end the Gaza war on its second anniversary moves ahead with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hostages and prisoners to be exchanged over the coming days as the president suggests he might go to the Middle East.

AeroVironment has been making unconventional systems for decades. But now they have a new name and a new portfolio. What’s it like to bring a legacy company into the new tech world? Chief Growth Officer Church Hutton has the answers. And we have this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today’s program, sponsored by Elbit America, Bill Alderman of Alderman & Company, a boutique firm specializing in aerospace and defense mergers and acquisitions, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of the US government shutdown on small companies across the sector and how soon before the closure becomes painful; how personnel cuts impact the contracting and regulatory oversight ecosystems; growth areas in the budget; what thoughtful supply chain management means as the Pentagon seeks to accelerate production of weapons large and small; the new administration’s approach to merger and acquisition approvals; and the implications of the US government taking ownership stakes in companies that accept Pentagon investment funding.

On today’s Land Warfare Series program, sponsored 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, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the expected messages that Army leaders will delivery at the association’s annual meeting and tradeshow next week in Washington, DC; the programs the force will need to execute operations worldwide; learning the right lessons from the Ukraine war as well as from the Cold War, Afghanistan and Iraq; keys countering thoughtful and agile adversaries; novel approaches to fighting in highly contested battlefields; why size matters for military forces in an era when conflict could both erupt quickly and escalate rapidly; and why precision and good leadership are vital. Our coverage of AUSA is sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

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 and how long it will last; how this showdown might be different than earlier ones; why Wall Street’s reaction is muted; interesting the latest government data; how messaging the meeting President Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could impact on programs and allied cooperation; takeaways from AeroVironment’s investor day; developing a drone supply chain that’s free of Chinese components; KBR’s spin; and a look at the week ahead.