The Drone Ultimatum

ACS

The preeminent podcast for all things drones, defense tech, defense policy, and modern warfare. Featured guests include industry leaders, policy experts, military warfighters, business titans, and many more. Hosted by Steve Simoni, co-founder and CEO of Allen Control Systems.

  1. HACE 5 DÍAS

    Why True Drone Swarms Don't Exist Yet | Emma Bates

    Emma Bates, co-founder and CEO of Cachai, joins the show to break down what true drone swarming actually means and why almost no one has achieved it. Drawing from her background in defense modernization and distributed systems, Emma explains how her team is building software that enables drones and autonomous systems to operate without a single point of failure. The conversation dives into distributed consensus, the difference between “common” and “consistent” operating pictures, and why the U.S. must rethink how it evaluates and procures software. It’s a deep, funny, and surprisingly human discussion about autonomy, warfare, startups, and what it really means to make machines think together. Episode 54. Links to the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 18 min

  2. 31 OCT

    How to Redefine Battlefield Logistics with 3D Printing | Dan Magy

    Dan Magy, co-founder and CEO of Firestorm, returns to the show for a live episode recorded at Battlefield 2027. Firestorm is building deployable, modular 3D printing systems that can manufacture drones, parts, and tools directly at the edge of operations — a game-changing capability for contested logistics. We discuss how Firestorm’s portable manufacturing units are reshaping military production, the lessons learned from early Army field tests, and how 3D printing is enabling faster repair and sustainment in the field. Dan also shares his perspective on the realities of scaling a defense startup, the “valley of death” between R&D and procurement, and what it takes to survive in the new era of defense innovation. Links to the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

    28 min

  3. 25 OCT

    Jet Engines & Reinventing Oil Systems for Next-Gen Weaponry | Rob Sladen

    Rob Sladen is the Chairman and CEO of Zulu Pods, a company pioneering next-generation lubrication and fluid delivery systems for aerospace and defense. Before founding Zulu Pods, Sladen spent 13 years at Pratt & Whitney designing jet engines — experience that now fuels his startup’s role as the “picks and shovels” behind future weapon systems.In this episode, we talk about how Zulu Pods’ “Tide Pod for jet engines” was invented, the state of DoD procurement, and why small defense startups face such steep barriers breaking into military programs. Rob also dives into dual-use technology, cost-plus contracting, and why the Army’s approach to acquisition timelines desperately needs reform. It’s a sharp, insider look at building in defense, raising capital, and rethinking how the next generation of aerospace systems will actually get built. Links to the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 26 min

  4. 18 OCT

    The GovCon Game: Relationships and Red Tape | John Ferry

    John Ferry returns to the show for one of the most blunt conversations yet about the defense startup ecosystem. From the realities of selling to government and surviving the “valley of death” to the cultural dysfunction inside acquisition, Ferry lays out why so many startups die before getting their product fielded and what it actually takes to win.Steve and John discuss how relationships drive every contract, why SBIRs rarely translate to real programs, and how companies like Anduril changed the game through capital, branding, and strategy. They also unpack the coming wave of private equity in defense tech, the illusion of “dual use,” and how the primes still shape who gets a seat at the table.This is the insider’s look at the real mechanics of government contracting, culture, and survival in defense tech.Episode 51. Links to the show: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 30 min

  5. 13 OCT

    Inside AV Inc: Drones, Directed Energy, and Defense Innovation | Church Hutton

    Church Hutton, Chief Growth Officer at AV Inc. (formerly AeroVironment), joins the show for a deep dive into the future of autonomous systems, directed energy, and defense innovation. A retired Army officer and longtime Hill staffer, Church brings an insider’s view of how national security priorities, procurement, and industrial competition with China are evolving. He shares how AV is doubling down on robotics, drones, and lasers following its merger with BlueHalo, and why the company’s investments in internal R&D are outpacing much of the defense industry. Steve and Church also dig into lessons from Ukraine, U.S. homeland defense policy challenges, and what’s next for programs like Golden Dome and directed-energy systems. This episode unpacks how the defense industrial base is changing and what the next generation of defense companies are getting right. Links to the show: ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 10 min

  6. 11 OCT

    Autonomous Fighter Drones and the Next Era of Air Superiority | Jeff Wright, SplashOne Robotics

    Jeff Wright, founder and CEO of SplashOne Robotics, joins the show to discuss how his company is developing small, purpose-built fighter drones to redefine air superiority. A former Marine and Air Force Special Tactics Officer, Wright brings a warfighter’s perspective to modern defense tech — from the limits of current counter-drone systems to the coming shift toward autonomous, air-to-air combat. We cover the “drone bubble” shaping defense startups, how SplashOne is tackling the kill chain end-to-end, and why bullets—not missiles—may define the next era of air defense. Wright also shares what he learned leading drone initiatives across INDOPACOM, why he built his first prototypes in his garage, and what it takes to found a defense startup straight out of uniform. This episode goes deep on the future of air combat, the realities of defense innovation, and the mindset required to build the next generation of fighter drones. Episode #49. Links to the show: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Substack⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Follow Steve: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ ⁠Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 26 min

  7. 4 OCT

    Solid Rocket Motors and America’s Hypersonic “Sputnik Moment” | Max Vozoff

    Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer at X-Bow Systems, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges and opportunities in America’s solid rocket motor industry. With decades of experience, including early work at SpaceX, Vozoff explains why the U.S. is facing a “Sputnik moment” in hypersonics and energetics — and how X-Bow is building new manufacturing methods to meet the demand. We dive into X-Bow’s “rocket factory in a box,” distributed production concepts, and their growing role as a second source supplier for hypersonic weapons. Vozoff also shares lessons from startup scaling, his perspective on contracting bottlenecks in defense, and what it will take for America to regain an edge in critical propulsion technology. This is a rare insider’s look at the transformation of one of the defense sector’s most overlooked but essential industries. X-Bow Systems: https://www.xbowsystems.com/ Episode #48. Links to the show: YouTube Spotify Substack Apple Podcasts Instagram X (Twitter) LinkedIn Follow Steve: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 19 min

  8. 26 SEP

    FAA, DJI, and the Next Era of U.S. Drone Innovation | Todd Graetz, CEO, Aerolane

    Todd Graetz, co-founder and CEO of Aerolane, joins the show to share how his aviation startup is reimagining air cargo with autonomous glider-based aircraft. From his early work launching one of the first large-scale drone programs at BNSF Railway to building Aerolane's innovative “air cart” system, Graetz has been at the forefront of UAV and aerospace innovation for over a decade. We discuss the challenges of scaling U.S. drone manufacturing, the realities of FAA regulation, and why bans on Chinese drones won’t solve the underlying problems. Graetz also reflects on recruiting rare engineering talent, lessons learned from entrepreneurship inside a Fortune 500, and the future of autonomous cargo transport. This is a deep insider’s look at drones, aviation, and what it takes to change how goods move through the sky. Todd Graetz: LinkedIn Episode #47. Links to the show: YouTube Spotify Substack Apple Podcasts Instagram X (Twitter) LinkedInFollow Steve: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Allen Control Systems

    1 h y 30 min
Ver todo (55)

Acerca de

The preeminent podcast for all things drones, defense tech, defense policy, and modern warfare. Featured guests include industry leaders, policy experts, military warfighters, business titans, and many more. Hosted by Steve Simoni, co-founder and CEO of Allen Control Systems.

Información

  • Creador
    ACS
  • Años de actividad
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodios
    55
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © ACS
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Drone Ultimatum

También te podría interesar