On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to fire US-made precision missiles into Russia, Vladimir Putin’s escalating nuclear threats and increasing Russian sabotage operations including suspected cutting of undersea cable between Finland and Germany, recommendations for the new administration on cyber as well as AI and science investment, the need for a stand-alone Cyber Force, the wisdom of Taiwan’s recent statement it would buy US destroyers and F-35 Lighting II fighters to curry favor with President-Elect Trump, and the problematic nature of the incoming administration’s reported plans against senior military officers.
On this innovation conversation to highlight key topics in the countdown to the Apex technology and innovation conference next year in Washington, sponsored by Clarion Defence, retired Adm. Sir George Zambellas, the Royal Navy’s 100th First Sea Lord who now advises small innovative companies, discusses lessons from the Ukraine war, a “Darwinian” approach to the development of cutting edge technologies including AI without artificial constraints, the need to envision how adversaries will weaponize breakthrough technologies, determining the right balance between manned and autonomous systems, preparing the force to better exploit AI and autonomous capabilities, how allies and partners can work together in more competitive environment and where mutual trust is weakened and more with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. To learn more about the Apex conference, sponsorship and attendance opportunities please visit apexdefense.org .
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security discusses President Biden’s decision to allow Kyiv to use US supplied weapons against Russia steps up strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and 50,000 Russian and North Korean forces entr the fray, whether the new weapons will change the course of the war that’s expected to end the day Donald Trump returns to the White House, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz’s phone call with Vladimir Putin; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses Trump’s picks for top jobs, the implications of the Department of Government Efficiency and deep cuts to spending as well as the federal workforce, takeaways from the Mitchell Institute’s Airpower Future Forum and the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium, 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 Wall Street’s year-long surge that’s showing signs of slowing as worries about the Department of Government Efficiency to trim federal spending by $2 trillion a year hits services companies, incoming administration fills top national security jobs as focus shifts to key Pentagon management and acquisition jobs, allies adjust to the new reality as Taiwan says it will spend more on defense and buy US destroyers and fighter jets it doesn’t need to curry favor with the incoming president, what Friedrich Merz will mean for Germany and Europe as Olaf Scholtz’s “traffic light” coalition collapses, Boeing jet production resumes, activist investor Elliott buys a $5 billion sake in Honeywell and demands the breakup of the nation’s last big conglomerate, air cargo market softens as worries grow that economy will slow, and the number of parked jets waiting for Geared Turbofan updates increases to 729.
Space policymakers from President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration debated what may be in store for the civil and defense space sectors, including sending humans to Mars instead of the moon, and establishing a Department of the Space Force. Laura Winter speaks with Doug Loverro, President, Loverro Consulting, LLC, former NASA Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense for Space Policy, and deep experience with defense space programs, classified and unclassified.
Driving Down the Cost of Military Applications of Hypersonic Technology By Kevin W. Billings OBE Hypersonic technology, defined as speeds exceeding Mach 5 (approx. 3,800 mph), has captured significant attention across the world due to its immense potential in revolutionizing air travel. Moreover, with the promise of faster, more efficient, and highly maneuverable platforms, hypersonics
On this week’s Technology Report, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is now the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the executive director of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 project, discusses Russia’s recent boasting about its intelligence gathering and probing attacks on US water infrastructure, why water infrastructure is being targeted and how Washington should respond, Microsoft’s vulnerabilities and ways to improve government-industry cooperation, how one man saved the internet and lessons to safeguard it in the future, securing the cyber supply chain, Iran’s cyber role, countering disinformation as House Inteligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner’s calls out GOP for parroting Russian propaganda, and takeaways from the multinational operational that defended Israel from massive Iranian missile and drone attack.
By Mackenzie Eaglen When war broke out in Gaza and shortly thereafter Houthi fighters threatened shipping in the Red Sea, US Marine forces of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) were quickly routed to the area to reinforce allies. Since their deployment in October, this unit now faces an indefinite extension since the Navy does