Aerospace & Defense Technology

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Aerospace & Defense Technology

The Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast provides independent coverage of information that impacts the business, innovation, and trends occurring across all segments of aerospace and defense, with an emphasis on technology. Across a continuing series of seasons, the A&DT Podcast provides insights into the most pertinent topics occurring in today's aerospace system engineering field. The podcast also features interviews with experts on topics featured at SAE Media Group Defense's U.S. and Europe-based live conferences and exhibitions.

  1. NOV 29

    How Pratt & Whitney is Using a Robot to Help Build Jet Engines

    Pratt & Whitney is using a new robot named Alfred to assemble high-pressure compressor rotors for its GTF PW1100G-JM engine that powers the Airbus A320neo family of aircraft. In September, the aircraft engine manufacturing company published a blog post describing how Alfred is helping to reduce the assembly process time for GTF engines. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Aftermarket Global Operations, Pratt & Whitney, explains how they're using Alfred today. Kirkpatrick also discusses how the company will expand its use of robotics in the future.

    15 min

  2. NOV 22

    Scaling Manufacturing and Production of 'Data as a Service' Electric Drone

    The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced a new $20 million award to Kraus Hamdani Aerospace for its Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program. Under the contract, Kraus Hamdani, the California-based drone as a service manufacturer, will use the funding to support the scaling of production of its K1000ULE unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The K1000ULE is a solar-powered glider drone that has demonstrated the ability to fly non-stop for 26 hours, and has been evaluated by DoD for a wide variety of defense applications over the last two years. On episode 4 of season 6 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Fatima Hamdani, co-founder of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace explains what the APFIT program is and how it will help the company scale production of its autonomous drone that also can be used as a flying cell tower.

    19 min

  3. NOV 15

    The Unusual Machines Approach to Low Cost Drones and Drone Components

    Unusual Machines CEO Allan Evans is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.   Headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Unusual Machines describes itself as a "classic American technology company born from garage tinkerers and hobbyists, focused on serving the emerging drone industry with unique and innovative products." The company recently launched a new low cost flight controller for drones, the Riot Brave F7, that achieved "Blue UAS" certification from the Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in August. Over the last year, DoD launched its new "Replicator" initiative, which is focused on the deployment of thousands of new low cost or "attributable" autonomous systems such as drones. On this episode of the podcast, Evans provides some perspective on Replicator, how the war in Ukraine is reflecting the effectiveness of low cost modified drones in modern warfare, and the future of low cost drones and drone components manufactured in the U.S.

    14 min

  4. NOV 8

    Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination: The Army's Future Vision for Fused AI

    The U.S. Army has been establishing a new cross-functional team focused on exploiting the fusion of deep sensing data for decision-making in long-range targeting throughout 2024. During this episode, we present some of the comments made by U.S. Army leadership during the 2024 AUSA conference and exhibition. One feature of AUSA is the "Warriors Corner" where panel discussions are hosted to discuss how the Army is using new technology. Listen to this episode to understand how the U.S. Army wants to use AI and ML for processing, exploitation and dissemination to become more data-driven and efficient in the way they operate aircraft, ground vehicles, drones and other weapons and technologies. The three Army discussions are given in the following order in this episode, with audio courtesy of the U.S. Army Multimedia and Visual Information Division: 1. LTG Anthony R. Hale, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, U.S. Army 2. BG Rory Crooks, Director, Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team, U.S. Army Futures Command 3. Brandon Vanorden, Division Chief, Operations, Headquarters, Department of the Army, G-2

    18 min

  5. NOV 1

    Why the Air Force is Using the Virtualitics AI Approach to Weapon Sustainment

    On the first episode of Season 6 of the podcast, Michael Amori, CEO and co-founder of Virtualitics, is the guest to explain how the U.S. Air Force is using the company's "Integrated Readiness Optimization" AI applications to deploy a data-driven weapon sustainment strategy. Season 6 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast is focused on the rise of AI, autonomy and robotics across the aerospace and defense industry.

    16 min

  6. OCT 18

    The Army's Vision for Space and Satellite Communications

    During the Association of the U.S. Army's annual AUSA conference and exhibition, the conference featured a panel titled "Army Space Vision: Delivering Effects for Combat Ready Formations." On the fourth and final episode of Season 5, we feature Colonel Pete Akinson's presentation and question and answer session from his participation in this panel. Atkinson is the Principal Space Advisor for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. He provides a basic overview of new space-focued personnel and technology deployments that the Army has been focused on this year. Atkinson also provides a brief update on the first year of the Army's new SATCOM as a Managed Service (SATaaMS) project involving Intelsat and SES earlier this year.

    9 min

  7. OCT 10

    The Future of Space Mobility

    On Oct. 7, Hera, the European Space Agency's first "planetary defense spacecraft," was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. ESA has tasked Hera with investigating the aftermath of NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, which altered the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022. The spacecraft, along with two cubesats (named Milani and Juventas), will assess the impact crater and study Dimorphos’ surface and internal structure, as well as the gravity conditions, with the goal of improving planetary defense strategies. Beyond the unique mission it has been tasked with, Hera is another space exploration mission that reflects the growing trend that has emerged in recent years where government agencies are increasingly relying on private companies for space launches and missions. Kevin Lausten, President of German spacecraft electric propulsion system provider Morpheus Space, is the guest on this this episode of Season 5 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast. Austen breaks down the Hera mission and also discusses future trends to watch in space mobility. Season 5 of the podcast features interviews focused on next generation satellite and space technology.

    24 min

  8. OCT 4

    Developing a Data-Driven Digital Strategy for Space Force Operations

    Dan Laubach, Raft LLC's Senior Director of Programs, is the guest on episode 2 of season 5 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast. Season 5 is focused on next generation satellite and space technology.   In June, Raft LLC was one of 20 companies selected by the U.S. Space Force to for an Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) multi-year contract for the development of ground-systems software. The agency's Spacewerx technology development arm is also currently working on the "digital spaceport" initiative with a focus on three areas, the infrastructure layer, data layer and application layer with an overall goal of digitally modernizing the way the Space Force accesses and manages data.

    16 min
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About

The Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast provides independent coverage of information that impacts the business, innovation, and trends occurring across all segments of aerospace and defense, with an emphasis on technology. Across a continuing series of seasons, the A&DT Podcast provides insights into the most pertinent topics occurring in today's aerospace system engineering field. The podcast also features interviews with experts on topics featured at SAE Media Group Defense's U.S. and Europe-based live conferences and exhibitions.

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