Defense & Aerospace Report
Defense & Aerospace Report, sponsored by Bell
Welcome to the Defense and Aerospace Report podcast, our weekly podcast on the global defense and aerospace business sponsored by Bell, and hosted by Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. Each week, we’ll bring you interviews with industry leaders and the business’ best analysts to put events in context, identify trends and keep an eye on what’s next in a fast-moving world. Defense & Aerospace Report is your global source for national security and aerospace news, thought leadership and analysis, founded and edited by Vago Muradian.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 18, 2026 • 41min
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Feb 18, 26] Retired Admiral Mike Rogers on America's Unpreparedness for a GPS Attack
Mike Rogers, retired U.S. Navy admiral and former NSA and U.S. Cyber Command director, now advising cybersecurity firm Claroty. He lays out how GPS went from military tool to critical economic infrastructure. He describes jamming, spoofing, physical and orbital threats. He argues replacement is unrealistic and discusses augmenting GPS with 4G/5G, spectrum policy, and the stakes for autonomous systems.
7 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 32min
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 17, 2026] Look Ahead w/ Byron Callan
Byron Callan, senior analyst at Capital Alpha Partners who tracks defense and aerospace policy, discusses takeaways from the Munich Security Conference. He outlines shifting transatlantic cooperation, Europe's push for industrial urgency, Canada’s new buy-domestic defense strategy, and the changing services market amid AI and budget politics. He also previews key geopolitical events for the week ahead.
Feb 14, 2026 • 1h 1min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 14 ’26 Business Report]
Richard Aboulafia, aerospace strategist; Sash Tusa, European defense market analyst; Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein, Bank of America equities specialist. They debate Europe’s rearmament and SCAF tensions. They cover Canada’s F-35 hedge, market moves vs. tech, trainer and autonomy trends, HAL’s fighter exit, airport drone threats, and Saudi ambitions for a domestic defense industry.
Feb 13, 2026 • 1h 3min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 13, ’26 Washington Roundtable]
Dr. Dov Zakheim, Pentagon comptroller and budget expert; Dr. Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific security scholar; Jim Townsend, former DoD Europe chief and NATO specialist; Michael Herson, defense policy and appropriations analyst. They debate a DHS funding standoff and its practical impacts. They unpack NATO’s changing command, Europe’s push for strategic autonomy, China’s regional moves, Japan’s election, and Middle East and Gulf security shifts.
Feb 12, 2026 • 51min
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 12, 26] Season 4 E5 Buy, Buy Blue Birds
Andrew Hunter, former Air Force acquisition executive with deep defense procurement experience, shares his take on shifting DoD acquisition practices. He discusses portfolio management moves, impacts of downgrading AFMC leadership, and funding tradeoffs for programs like tankers and strategic airlift. The conversation also covers munitions production, long-range strike concepts, and contractor performance considerations.
Feb 12, 2026 • 32min
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Feb 04, 26] Dr. Eugene Rumer on Latest Russia-Ukraine Headlines
Dr. Eugene Rumer, director of Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia program and former U.S. intelligence officer, provides expert analysis on the Russia–Ukraine conflict. He discusses battlefield shifts toward drone-led, small-unit fighting. He examines prospects for talks, wartime elections, U.S. security guarantees, the realism of big U.S.-Russia deals, and Europe’s need to bolster its defenses.
Feb 10, 2026 • 31min
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Feb 10, 26] Steve Grundman on Acquisition Reform and Recent DoW Headlines
Steve Grundman, former Pentagon industrial base chief now with the Atlantic Council, offers sharp takeaways on acquisition reform and industrial policy. He discusses the underperforming contractors list and how pressure drives industry moves. Topics include missile production deals, government equity in suppliers, strategic minerals stockpiles, and shifts in export and transfer rules affecting allied supply chains.
Feb 9, 2026 • 33min
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 09, 2026] Look Ahead w/ Byron Callan
Byron Callan, independent Washington research analyst and founder of Capital Alpha Partners, breaks down recent defense market turmoil. He talks algorithm-driven momentum in trading. He reviews capital markets for defense firms and European procurement shifts. He previews Munich Security Conference, supply-chain and munitions investment moves, and what to watch in the week ahead.
Feb 8, 2026 • 58min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 08 ’26 Business Report]
Richard Ablaffi, aerospace consultant focused on production dynamics and defense policy. Sash Tusa, London equity analyst tracking European defense markets. Rocket Ron Epstein, Bank of America analyst covering sector performance and finance. They discuss market volatility and commercial aero vs defense performance. They cover Airbus vs Boeing production strains, Europe’s defense procurement and stockpiling moves, and supply-chain and missile production scaling.
Feb 6, 2026 • 58min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 06, ’26 Washington Roundtable]
Dr. Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific strategy expert; Jim Townsend, transatlantic and NATO specialist; Dr. Dov Zakheim, former Pentagon comptroller; Michael Herson, congressional and procurement insider. They debate DHS funding fights and prospects for a big defense reconciliation. They dissect U.S. policy toward Europe, renewed U.S.–Russia military talks and arms-control ideas. They also cover trade ties with India and strategic moves over Diego Garcia.
