Tactics & Tech Podcast (TTP)

Joshua Bailey

TTP is your source for interesting stories involving tech, drones, robotics and automation for Defence and industry. We've got some jaw-dropping stories from people across the globe and aim to talk about some of the challenges we're facing across Defence and industry now and want to share our vision for the future of these technologies! Your hosts, Andrew Crowe and Josh Bailey have spent years in UAS, CUAS, Robotics and Defence tech and want to democratise robotics, drones and autonomous systems, by sharing inspiring stories, education & information through podcasts, YouTube and education through our website. If you're interested in being on the show or working with us, please get in touch at info@ttpod.net or our website www.ttpod.net

  1. Smart Mass: Joni Sytsma Pt 2 - on Counter-UAS Rockets, Components and Australia's Drone Future

    3d ago

    Smart Mass: Joni Sytsma Pt 2 - on Counter-UAS Rockets, Components and Australia's Drone Future

    This week Joni Sytsma returns for Part 2 to talk about the Western drone industry's inflection point, building counter-UAS interceptors from drone components, and her vision for sovereign Australian manufacturing. Joni argues that the US ban on foreign drone components is creating a vacuum Australian makers can fill, provided they can build the picks and shovels: the autopilots, flight controllers, motors and ESCs that every platform depends on. She explains her own approach at Rocket Fast Drones, where in-house fabrication is cutting costs and reducing reliance on overseas suppliers, while a recent test flew one of her autopilots to 5,000 feet on a rocket in New South Wales. The episode also looks at her safety-first destructive testing program, why she believes smart mass delivered by rocket-launched interceptors could be a missing piece of the counter-UAS puzzle, and her vision for keeping Australia worth living in. Key takeaways (01:01 to 03:30) US bans and the Western inflection (03:30 to 07:00) Picks and shovels, not just gold (07:00 to 09:00) Big Bird and SpaceX dreams (09:00 to 11:00) Safety, thermals, walking the drone (11:00 to 13:30) Aerospace jobs for Brisbane (13:30 to 17:00) Rocket-launched counter-drone interceptors (17:00 to 19:30) Keeping Australia good If you missed Part 1, go back and catch the build-it, crash-it, rebuild-it story first.

    23 min

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

    Introducing Treating Mental Illness Like a Physical Injury with Olympian Alexi Pappas from No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie. Follow the show: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie After becoming an Olympian in 2016, runner Alexi Pappas was afraid to slow down. Her mother had died by suicide when Alexi was just four years old, and she feared that her own depression would become a death sentence, too. But with the support of friends and family, she found the strength to get help and heal. Alexi’s story is for anyone who wants to feel a little braver, to face the world new each day, and understand that it doesn’t take Olympic strength to change your life. In this conversation you’ll learn: – Why we should treat mental illness like a physical injury – How to tell the difference between pain as warning vs. pain as transformation – The best way to support someone who is suffering – How to embrace the unknown with excitement rather than worry You can learn more about Alexi Pappas and buy her book at https://www.alexipappas.com/. And watch Blake on Alexi’s podcast, Mentor Buffet, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtbyxv34TMw. Enough Foundation's mission is to spread reminders in every form — bracelets, messages, actions, community — until feeling ENOUGH becomes the cultural default. To learn more, visit weareenough.co.  Produced, Directed, and Cinematography by Wubetu Shimelash / IG: Wubetu Shimelash Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. While supplies last. Visit http://www.weareenough.co/rules for full terms. More information on Blake’s other projects here:  Morning Water  Morning Water is a daily hydration formula that restores energy, balance, and performance with essential electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients in one simple routine.  To learn more, visit morningwater.co and use code NOMAGICPILL for 25% off your first order. SONIA  Sonia is a conversational AI companion designed for emotional support. Through voice and text, it offers guided wellbeing sessions, including meditations, journaling, personalized recommendations, and practical exercises. To learn more, visit www.soniahealth.com and download it on the App Store. MOOVLAB At MOOVLAB, we bring health and wellness to your workday.  MOOVLAB - the answer to sitting is moving.  To learn more, visit www.moovlab.com Follow Blake on Instagram and stay up to date with Lemonada on Facebook and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at lemonadapremium.com. Subscribe to Spotify Premium to watch ad-free video. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns you may have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Build It, Crash It, Rebuild It: Joni Sytsma on Speed, Sovereign Hardware and Saving Lives

    Jun 7

    Build It, Crash It, Rebuild It: Joni Sytsma on Speed, Sovereign Hardware and Saving Lives

    This week Joni Sytsma joins Josh to talk about counter-UAS, hypersonics and the engineering philosophy behind her new high-speed medical delivery drone. An aerospace engineer with a career spanning micro air vehicles, hypersonics, space launch and counter-drone systems, Joni is now founder of Rocket Fast Drones, where she is developing a VTOL platform purpose-built around the medical golden hour. Joni walks through a career arc that began building autonomous aircraft at the University of Florida in 2004, ran through US Air Force Research Laboratory (including early work on the loitering munition that became Switchblade), pivoted into hypersonics and the AIM-260 air-to-air missile, then brought her to Australia for the HiFire program, Gilmore Space, and a stint as CTO of Department 13. She also unpacks how leading the $200M iLaunch program sharpened her conviction that sovereign hardware, not software, is the real bottleneck for the entire sector. The episode also looks at her build-fly-crash-rebuild methodology, why she believes speed will define the next generation of drones, and her mission to make Australian-made medical delivery drones a reality. Key takeaways (00:00 to 03:50) From uni drones to Switchblade (03:50 to 06:00) Sequestration, hypersonics, then Australia (06:00 to 09:00) Pokemon counter-drone at Department 13 (09:00 to 11:55) iLaunch and sovereign space manufacturing (11:55 to 14:30) Rocket Fast Drones and the Western inflection (14:30 to 16:30) AeroMed 1000 and the golden hour (16:30 to 19:30) Build it, crash it, rebuild it Stick around for Part 2 next week!

    21 min
  4. From Drone Racing to the Battlefield: Keirin Joyce Part 2

    May 31

    From Drone Racing to the Battlefield: Keirin Joyce Part 2

    Wing Commander Keirin Joyce returns for Part 2 of his Tactics & Tech conversation, turning to where uncrewed systems are heading next. Drawing on his PhD in technology prediction, Keirin argues the hardware problems are largely a matter of time, while the real challenges lie in software, autonomy, and trust. In conversation with hosts Andrew Crowe and Josh Bailey, Keirin explains why certification has become the long pole in the tent for the whole industry, from AI-generated code that 1990s-era standards were never built to handle, to hydrogen-electric propulsion no aviation safety authority yet knows how to certify. The tension is clear: in a society that grants no trust until something is certified, regulation may be a bigger brake on progress than technology. The episode also looks at how military drone racing builds social licence for drones, opens STEM pathways into defence industry and academia, and creates adaptive sport for injured and veteran personnel. Key takeaways (00:00 to 01:15) The ScanEagle began as a tuna-spotting aircraft before soldiers repurposed it for surveillance, a perfect example of Keirin's theme that technology becomes powerful or not depending on how people use it. (02:28 to 04:55) Military drone racing is gaining momentum, with upcoming events in the US and UK, growing interest from Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore, and a possible event in Australia's north around 2027. (05:22 to 06:45) Hardware is advancing steadily, but software, AI and autonomy are the hard problems, along with how to trust code a human did not write. (06:52 to 07:55) Certification is the biggest bottleneck, with software standards rooted in 1990s aircraft practice and poorly suited to AI-generated code. (08:23 to 09:55) Hydrogen-electric propulsion is a major focus for new designs, yet no safety authority anywhere has a regulation for certifying it. (09:55 to 10:55) Regulation, not technology, may be the primary constraint, with the real challenge being the balance between under and over regulation. (12:36 to 13:25) Australia has grown to around 30,000 remote pilot licences in a decade, while the regulator's capacity has not kept pace. (13:25 to 16:25) Military drone racing is building social licence, STEM and recruitment pathways, and adaptive sport for veterans, with a pitch for Invictus around 2031.

    25 min
  5. 250 Kilos, 750 Kilometres, Fully Uncrewed - with Keirin Joyce

    May 24

    250 Kilos, 750 Kilometres, Fully Uncrewed - with Keirin Joyce

    Wing Commander Keirin Joyce returns to Tactics & Tech to discuss some of the most significant uncrewed systems work underway in Australia today. Fresh off the country's sixth Military International Drone Racing Tournament, Keirin provides an in-depth look at Camel Train, an aerial autonomous logistics project built on an Australian Jabiru aircraft fitted with a fully sovereign autonomy stack. The platform is designed to carry 250kg over 750km to any location with a suitable landing strip, without a pilot on board. In conversation with hosts Andrew Crowe and Josh Bailey, Keirin explains the project's civilian and defence applications, the regulatory pathway being navigated through a CASA experimental certificate, and why Australia is uniquely positioned to lead the world in uncrewed systems development. Our discussion also explores the Corvo X small UAS, eight years in the making, and how military drone racing has evolved from a way to support soldiers' hobbies into a genuine proving ground for emerging tactics. Key takeaways Camel Train is a sovereign Australian capability, integrating technology from RF Design, CubePilot, Revolution Aerospace and Mission Systems into a single common autonomy stack. The platform is designed to carry 250kg over 750km to anywhere a light sports aircraft can land, with the goal of going fully uncrewed at an upcoming flight test in South Australia. A CASA experimental pathway is deliberately enabling the technology to proliferate into the commercial sector, with clear humanitarian value such as resupplying communities cut off by cyclones. Australia is helping drive international detect-and-avoid standards, including the newly released certification standard, putting local industry at the cusp of being first to market. The Corvo X small UAS is the standout of Keirin's career, eight years in the making, now the only belly-sitter VTOL small UAS in service anywhere and available in a non-ITAR export version. Military drone racing began as a way to support soldiers' hobbies and quickly became a tactics incubator, with the 2022 Ukraine experience validating ideas the teams had been exploring since 2017. Recent tournament serials show sport translating directly into tactics, from precision payload delivery to aerial jousting, where the Australian Navy team scored a standout intercept. Stick around for Part 2 next week!

    20 min
  6. Thinking Like the Bad guys: Counter-Drone Tactics & Tech with Department 13's Ben Westgarth

    04/20/2025

    Thinking Like the Bad guys: Counter-Drone Tactics & Tech with Department 13's Ben Westgarth

    🔍 Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with the Chief Technology Officer of Department 13, a leading Australian counter-drone company, to explore how they're reshaping the fight against rogue and non-cooperative drone threats. We dive into the real-world challenge of drone detection and takeover, the philosophy behind resilient electronic warfare systems, and why traditional jamming isn't enough. From audio signal processing to RF exploitation, the CTO shares his unique journey from self-taught software engineer to leading one of Australia's most advanced drone defense tech teams. This episode unpacks how Department 13 is building smart, low-signature, protocol-based takeover systems that don't just jam—they outthink. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: From Hacking Audio to Drones – How a career in digital audio signal processing evolved into RF-based drone defense. Protocol-Based Takeover – Why precision, not power, wins the counter-drone battle. Resilience Over Reaction – Designing systems that anticipate future threats, not just today's. Non-Cooperative Users – The growing problem of unauthorized drones over prisons, critical infrastructure, and conflict zones. Real-World Deployments – How Department 13 detects hundreds more drones than site owners expect. System-of-Systems Mindset – Why integration is the key to solving drone threats at scale. If you're interested in how to counter the growing threat of small drones—without starting an RF arms race—this is one you don't want to miss. Want a database of drone TTPs and searchable Lessons Learned? Get it for your team: https://dronesec.com/?ttp Find out more: https://department13.com/ or contact on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/department13 You can find more details on our website at: www.ttpod.net/ or follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ttpod

    30 min
  7. Robotic Javelin Fire & Building Uncrewed Systems Startups with Stephen Bornstein

    03/23/2025

    Robotic Javelin Fire & Building Uncrewed Systems Startups with Stephen Bornstein

    In this episode of the Tactics & Tech podcast, we're joined by Stephen Bornstein, founder of Cyborg Dynamics Engineering and Managing Director of Athena AI. Stephen walks us through the story behind Australia's first robotic Javelin missile fire, shares how AI-driven battlefield tech is transforming the fight, and offers rare insight into what it really takes to build a defence tech startup in Australia. This episode is packed with lessons on the future of uncrewed systems! 🔑 Key Takeaways: Robotic Javelin Fire – His team conducted Australia's first live Javelin missile fire from a robotic platform, pushing the boundaries of UGV firepower. Startup to Scale-Up – From an Army Reservist and aerospace engineer to leading two cutting-edge defence tech companies. AI for Decision Dominance – AI compresses the decision-making cycle by integrating target recognition, geospatial terrain analysis into live battle maps. Dual-Use Pivot – Originally defence-focused, both Athena and Cyborg have expanded into civil applications like perimeter security and underwater robotics. Breaking Into the U.S. – It took 18 months of collaboration with Tomahawk Robotics before landing their first U.S. contract.  UGVs in Warfare – With manpower shortages and the rise of FPV drones, uncrewed ground vehicles offer real mass and casualty reduction potential on the modern battlefield. TTPs, lessons learned and battlefield doctrine for Group 1-3 drones: https://dronesec.com/?ttp ——————————————— Learn more: 🔗 Athena AI 🔗 Cyborg Dynamics Engineering Find more on our website: 🌍 www.ttpod.net Follow us on LinkedIn: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ttpod

    33 min
  8. Swarm Troopers & the Future of Drone Warfare with David Hambling

    03/09/2025

    Swarm Troopers & the Future of Drone Warfare with David Hambling

    Summary In this episode we sit down with David Hambling, the author of Swarm Troopers and a prolific Uncrewed systems and tech Journalist, to dive into the rapid evolution of drone warfare. David shares how commercial drone technology has completely outpaced traditional military innovation, leading to a revolution on the battlefield. We discuss the failures of rigid defense procurement systems, the rise of AI-driven drone swarms, and how uncrewed systems are shaping the future of warfare. What really stood out was how drones have become a democratized technology—no longer limited to billion-dollar defense programs but now driven by individuals and small teams in garages, rapidly adapting and innovating. With China poised to make major breakthroughs in uncrewed warfare, the next decade will be a race to keep up, and I can't help but wonder if Western nations will be able to match the pace. Key Takeaways Drone Warfare's Rise – In Swarm Troopers (2015), David Hambling predicted the rise of small drones in combat. Today, conflicts like Ukraine confirm how commercial drone tech has reshaped warfare. Procurement Failures – Hambling criticizes Western defense procurement for repeated drone project failures. Meanwhile, Ukraine innovates rapidly, driven by frontline necessity and small startups. Swarming & Autonomy – AI-driven drone swarms are becoming a reality, with Ukraine, Israel, and others already experimenting with coordinated, high-speed attacks. Drone Tech for All – Unlike costly military R&D, drone innovations now come from individuals and small teams, leading to rapid battlefield adaptations like fiber-optic-controlled drones and incendiary 'Dragon Drones.' Future of Uncrewed Systems – China is emerging as a leader in drone warfare, developing advanced uncrewed carriers, aerial swarms, and undersea deterrents, challenging Western nations to keep up. Find out more about David at his website: https://www.swarm-troopers.com/ or contact on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hambling-3037b7a/ You can find more details on our website at: www.ttpod.net/ or follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ttpod Lessons learned from drones on the frontlines—searchable, sortable, actionable: https://dronesec.com/?ttp

    31 min
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About

TTP is your source for interesting stories involving tech, drones, robotics and automation for Defence and industry. We've got some jaw-dropping stories from people across the globe and aim to talk about some of the challenges we're facing across Defence and industry now and want to share our vision for the future of these technologies! Your hosts, Andrew Crowe and Josh Bailey have spent years in UAS, CUAS, Robotics and Defence tech and want to democratise robotics, drones and autonomous systems, by sharing inspiring stories, education & information through podcasts, YouTube and education through our website. If you're interested in being on the show or working with us, please get in touch at info@ttpod.net or our website www.ttpod.net

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