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 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.
Feb 5, 2026 • 42min
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 05, 26] Season 4 E5 Blue’s Qs
Doug Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, gives a quick readout from a major AirPower Forum. He covers Air Force readiness and the push to restore spares, maintainers, pilots, and training. He discusses tensions between fighting today and investing for tomorrow, base defense and joint coordination, AI and human-machine teaming, and force design for long-range and Pacific operations.
13 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 49min
DefAero Tech Report [Feb 04, 25] Innovation & Acquisition Take Aways from Apex Defense Year Two
Chris Servello, retired Navy public affairs officer and CAVAS Ships co-host, brings naval and industry perspective. Bryan Clark, Hudson Institute director and retired Navy commander, focuses on force design and defense innovation. They discuss services embracing disruptive tech. They explore pairing unmanned systems with traditional forces. They examine acquisition reforms, industry funding worries, and logistics, AI, and edge computing challenges.
Feb 3, 2026 • 37min
DEFAERO Strategy Series [Feb 03, 26] Mark Montgomery on Trump Administration’s National Defense Strategy
Mark Montgomery, retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and national security expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He breaks down the new National Defense Strategy: what it gets right and where it falls short. Topics include homeland and missile defense, China deterrence and cyber gaps, Europe and Russia risks, industrial base and acquisition reforms, and the controversial Golden Dome plan.
Feb 2, 2026 • 36min
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Feb 02, 2026] Look Ahead w/ Byron Callan
Byron Callan, founder of Capital Alpha Partners and independent Washington research analyst, offers sharp defense industry commentary. He previews the impact of the shutdown-averting deal on contractors. He reviews Q4 earnings themes, capital allocation moves and program updates like KC-46 and B-21. He discusses industrial base capacity, Europe’s push for strategic autonomy, and friction between U.S. policy and allied partners.
Feb 1, 2026 • 1h 8min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Feb 01 ’26 Business Report]
Richard Aboulafia, aerospace strategist; Sash Tusa, European defense analyst; Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein, Bank of America aerospace equity analyst. They discuss market swings and tech weakness. They cover Europe boosting defense spending and sovereignty moves. They debate transatlantic trade frictions, aircraft certification tensions, and Boeing’s KC-46 charges. They review earnings and commercial aerospace developments.
Jan 30, 2026 • 48min
Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Jan 30, ’26 Washington Roundtable]
Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific security expert on China and alliance strategy. Dov Zakheim, former Pentagon comptroller and defense budget analyst. Jim Townsend, NATO and European defense specialist. Michael Herson, Washington policy and appropriations adviser. They debate looming shutdown effects on defense funding, tariff and trade confrontations, NATO’s deterrence needs, U.S. pressure on Ukraine and Iran, and China’s military shakeup.
Jan 29, 2026 • 51min
Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Jan 29, 26] Season 4 E4: The Asymmetric System
Michael Stewart, retired Navy captain and naval aviator who led the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities Office, discusses disruptive warfare and the Hellscape concept. He talks denial strategies versus massed adversaries. He explores unmanned systems supporting manned airpower, distributed sensing, and the challenges large militaries face adopting disruptive change.
Jan 28, 2026 • 33min
Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Jan 28, 25] Brig. Gen. “Geoff” Kent on Sustaining & Supporting in Highly Contested Conflicts
Brig. Gen. James “Geoff” Kent, a seasoned Army sustainment and logistics leader, discusses contested logistics and regional sustainment frameworks in Europe. He covers fabricating parts forward and autonomous delivery. He talks about treating sustainment as a weapon system, building redundancy and alternate hubs, and integrating AI, wargaming, and civil‑military partnerships for resilient support.
Jan 27, 2026 • 29min
Defense & Aerospace Technology Report [Jan 27, 25] Using AI to Thoughtfully Fix an Outdated Supply System
John Cofrancesco, founder of American AI Logistics and AI-for-supply-chains expert. He spotlights misaligned purchasing that shrinks the supplier base. He explains how AI can forecast demand and enable pre-stockpiling of parts. He urges stocking munitions, piece parts and tooling. He discusses policy shifts, procurement automation and industry adoption challenges.
