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.

  1. 6H AGO

    Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [May 15, ’26 Washington Roundtable]

    On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by L3Harris, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of 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 Congress and the Trump administration’s $1.15 trillion defense budget request, Reconciliation 2.0 as well as a new 3.0 version; lawmaker reaction to Pentagon’s claim the Iran war has cost $29 billion; update on talks to end the US-Israel war on Iran as the CIA estimates Tehran has reconstituted much of its capabilities as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed except to shipping Iran allows; news reports that Emirati and Saudi aircraft participated in operations against Iran as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited the UAE where Israeli air defenses troops are stationed; Saudi Arabia proposes a nonaggression pact with Iran; in the first of four planned summits, President Trump flatters Xi Jinping but the Chinese leader warns of Taiwan as a flashpoint in the relationship that could lead to conflict as American eagerness for more business for US firms fails to land deals; Vladimir Putin suggests his Ukraine war is coming to an end even as he continues to bombard the country and Kyiv disrupts Moscow’s Victory Day commemorations; bipartisan lawmakers force a vote on Ukraine aid as the administration continues to punish Europe for not supporting the Iran war by abruptly canceling a planned nine-month deployment to Poland of 4,000 troops from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, some of whom had already arrived in the country to help deter Russian aggression; and an update on redistricting and their impact on November’s elections.

    1h 5m
  2. 6D AGO

    Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [May 09, ’26 Business Report]

    On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. “Rocket” Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss another strong week on Wall Street on stronger than expected US jobs figures and momentum trading despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate an end of the Iran war as both sides continue to fire on each others forces and Iranian attacks on international shipping; air travel outlook as jet fuel prices soar; President Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first of four meetings this year between the leaders as Washington pursues its “grand bargain” with talks that will cover trade, critical minerals, Taiwan and AI; Trump’s threat that European nations face a 25 percent tariffs on cars unless the EU accepts a trade deal by July 4 as the president threatens to withdraw troops from Italy and Spain and reassess its relationship with NATO after members of the defensive alliance refused to participate in the US-Israel offensive war on Iran; Rheinmetall’s new joint venture company with Destinus with plans to start production later this year of a new cruise missile with more than 430 miles of range and the German giant’s proposal to take over Germany’s F126 frigate program from Damen and deliver six ships under a 12 billion euro contract; Turkey’s plans for a new ICBM with a three-ton warhead and range of nearly 4,000 miles; outlook for British defense as Labour lawmakers call for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation after a drubbing in local across England, Scotland and Wales; AirAsia’s decision to order 150 Airbus A220 jetliners; and a look at Embraer, Hensoldt, Howmet, Rheinmetall, RocketLab, and Transdigm earnings.

    1h 7m
  3. MAY 8

    Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [May 08, ’26 Washington Roundtable]

    On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by L3Harris, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank,Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello; former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of 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 what’s next for the Iran war as Tehran and Washington continue talks while exchanging fire that damaged cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the UAE’s key oil port at Fujairah; Washington’s Project Freedom mission to escort ships through the strait; Israel’s continuing strikes on Lebanon; how the energy crisis precipitated by the war shaped the European Political Community summit in Yerevan and the ASEAN meeting in the Philippines; Ukraine gains the upper hand with strikes deep into Russia as Moscow prepares to commemorate Victory Day and Russians grow increasingly frustrated with the war; President Trump threatens European allies with a 25 percent tariff on cars if the EU doesn’t approve a trade pact by July 4; analysis of the administration’s decision to cut 5,000 of 36,000 American troops from Germany and threat to pare back US forces from Italy and Spain as well; what to expect when Trump and Xi Jinping meet in Beijing; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Australia and Vietnam as Tokyo considers exporting used warships to the Philippines; and North Korea’s new constitution that drops reuniting with the south as a goal.

    1h 6m
4
out of 5
143 Ratings

About

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.

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