Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to Dr. Shane Arnott, Senior VP Programs & Engineering at Anduril.
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to retired Rear Admiral Tony Lengerich, VP, Naval Programs at Thales Defense & Security.
Scott Forney, the president of General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how the electromagnetic catapults and advanced arresting gear developed and made for the first of the Ford class are being improved for subsequent ships; gauging the progress of Chinese efforts to field electromagnetic systems on their carriers; lessons from electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear that are improving other capabilities and products; the Long-Range Maneuvering Projectile; the partnership with RAFAEL to develop the Bullseye precision cruise missile that leverages of the Israeli company’s Icebreaker weapon; work the company is doing on fission power; role in the Trump administration’s “Giolden Dome” air and missile defense system; impact of Trump’s tariffs on performance and more.
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to Daniel Tenney, VP for Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.
The Navy League Sea, Air and Space Exposition runs Apr 7-9 and is held at the Gaylord National Harbor.
On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Nick Waite, a director at Clarion Defence producing the Apex Innovation Conference April 23-24, 2025, at the Gaylord National Harbor outside Washington, DC, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the upcoming event from agenda and speakers to a discount for listeners of our show; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the strategic and defense implications of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs including that China was not deterred from imposing sanctions of its own on the United States; whether foreign defense and aerospace firms will grow their US industrial footprint; the changing nature of manufacturing and why returning the industrial workforce to past levels is implausible; the outlook for US defense spending as the Senate proposes $100 billion in additional funding over the coming years; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to skip the Ukraine Contact Group to attend Central American Security Conference; likelihood of US-Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the wake of recent news reports of impending attack and staging of B-2 Spirit bombers in Diego Garcia; what to expect from the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference and tradeshow April 7-9; and a look at the week ahead.
The second quarter has opened with U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Independence Day” tariffs, causing Wall Street to suffer its worst days in years. The U.S.-based space economy does not have immunity from the Trump Administration’s trade policies or the markets. Laura Winter speaks with The DownLink regulars Chris Quilty, founder of Quilty Space; and George Pullen, Partner and Chief Economist at MilkyWayEconomy.
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 global market reaction to President Trump’s sweeping tariffs that are being compared by economists as the largest abrupt tax hikes since the Vietnam war if not World War 2; how aerospace and defense stocks fared as the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 10 percent of its value in two days driving markets to their worst day since 2020; despite a warning by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that nations not retaliate otherwise they would face higher tariffs, nations retaliated anyway including China that blocked rare earth exports to the United States; Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell dryly noted that tariffs risk higher inflation and lower economic growth; despite the loss of nearly $6 trillion in market value and damage to America’s reputation as a financial safe harbor, administration officials continued to make the case that the American economy was in tough shape and in dire need of shock therapy even though US stock values hit highs in February; JPMorgan estimated a 60 percent chance of recession this year with some economists worrying about a depression; as aerospace and defense suppliers scramble to cope with Washington’s new tax, Howmet was the first major aerospace firm to declare the tariffs a force majeure event and warn customers it might not be able to deliver as a consequence; and whether defense contracts would be spared from tariffs and how programs cots could be impacted.
Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…keeping the Navy’s fighting ships in fighting trim is all about sequencing the maintenance correctly. Robb Chadwick, a retired flag officer with extensive at sea experience explains how thoughtful sequencing of maintenance can make all the difference in saving time and money.
Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
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 now with the Center for a New American Security, and former 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 tariffs on nations worldwide — driving markets to their worst day since 2020 — as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns nations not to retaliate otherwise they will face higher tariffs; president’s decision to fire three National Security Council staffers and NSA Director Gen. Tim Haugh and his deputy at conservative activist Laura Loomer’s request; Republican lawmakers near reconciliation measure to cut cuts and government spending as well as give the Pentagon more money; House Speaker Mike Johnson weakens his own grip on power over whether lawmakers with young children can vote remotely backfires; Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, speaks for 25 straight hours to inspire Democrats; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats revolt with ranking member Sen. Jean Shaheen, D-NH, overheard telling her Chairman Jim Risch, R-ID, she’s tired of Trump running the committee; days after his vice president lambasted Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland, Trump said he wouldn’t rule out force to take the island; as it pressures Ukraine, Washington hosted Russia’s sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev; Beijing tests a new amphibious capability as it stepped up wargames around Taiwan; and Israel takes more territory in Gaza as a new chief of defense staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir adopts a new strategy to take a hold territory but also play a direct role in humanitarian aid as Gazans protest Hamas and its brutality and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu continues efforts to subordinate the judiciary and security services.
It’s been a huge couple of weeks in airpower, with more coming soon. Boeing’s win in the Next Generation Air Dominance program is the biggest story, but there are so many more that we’re catching you up this week with a full All Wings Considered episode; Vago and J.J. break down all the stories and try to make some sense out of them. All powered by GE!