The Merge

The Merge
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The Merge

Military technology, trends, and national security...presented with unique insights, salt, and wit from combat aviator veterans and industry experts. Fence in for interviews and anecdotes about the ins, outs, and happenings at the intersection of technology, industry, strategy, and policy of aerospace and national defense. Brought to you by The Merge newsletter.

  1. The Future of Air Warfare: Radars (Sponsored)

    3 DE MAR.

    The Future of Air Warfare: Radars (Sponsored)

    Joe “Grip” Beissner, Director of Requirements and Capabilities for Radio Frequency Solutions at Raytheon, a business of RTX, joins us to discuss the cutting-edge AESA radars Raytheondelivers for our warfighters.

    38min
  2. The Future of Air Warfare: Weapons (Sponsored)

    23 DE FEV.

    The Future of Air Warfare: Weapons (Sponsored)

    Jon "Stormin" Norman, Vice President of Requirements & Capabilities at Raytheon, a business of RTX, joins us to discuss the cutting-edge air-to-air and -surface weapons and effectors Raytheon delivers for our warfighters.

    22min

  3. 16 DE FEV.

    E46 – Expendable Tech for F-35 Threat Training

    Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! In this episode, Mike sits down with Brett “Snappy”Abbamonte, a former Marine Corps F-35 pilot now at Advanced Strategic Insight (ASI) Inc. Snappy is the program manager for ELITE (ExpendableLower-cost Integrated Training Emitter), a compact, cost-effective system designed to mimic high-end surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats. Dive into how this innovative tech is reshaping training,enhancing readiness, and solving a critical warfighter problem—offering a firsthand look at how operators are using ELITE in the field to sharpen their edge. If you're into military training, cutting-edge technology,and boosting warfighter readiness—this episode is a must-listen.   Links • Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • Mike Benitez on LinkedIn • Brett “Snappy” Abbamonte on LinkedIn • ASI company • ELITE product   ---- Follow us on...  • LinkedIn • Instagram⁠ • ⁠X⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- 00:00 start 01:11 intro 03:08 Snappy 04:49 F-35 magnifies a growing problem 07:21 the 3-solution problem 10:31 good-enough solution space 12:12 ELITE 13:51 size and power 15:35 as a target 17:45 customers 20:27 remote controlled 22:00 how to keep it low cost 23:34 creative training 25:09 how the training looks 26:47 RAF Lakenheath 31:19 SBIR experience 38:02 valley of death 38:34 end of year money 40:27 squadron innovation funds 42:14 expendable concept validated 42:50 Marine Corps weapons school example 44:40 expendable allocation 46:14 tools for innovative training 49:30 memory lane 49:45 callsign story 51:40 outro #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity#defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #usmc#innovation #war #strategy #aerospace #china #airpower #f35 #training #readiness #electronicwarfare

    53min

  4. 17 DE JAN.

    E45 – Operational War w/ John Warden

    Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! In this episode, Mike interviews retired Air Force Colonel John Warden. John is an Air Force pioneer who shaped how the modern world thinks about warfare—specifically the concepts of the operational level of war, parallel attack, and centers of gravity. He is most noted as the creator of Warden’s Five Rings and the architect of the Gulf War air campaign—but there’s much more than that. We talked about how his thoughts were shaped in Vietnam and the 1980s, how he ended up in the Pentagon, and what series of events led to his framework being used to create Operation Desert Storm. We applied the real lessons from Desert Storm to discuss China, why it’s a strategic threat, and the blind spot in US national security. If you’re into history, strategy, warfare, military tactics, and national security—this episode is for you.   Links • Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • Mike Benitez (LinkedIn) • Winning Peer Wars ---- Follow us on...  • LinkedIn • Instagram⁠ • ⁠X⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes 01:31 intro 03:31 Vietnam experience 05:56 Vietnam reshaped the Air Force 10:36 post-Vietnam thinking about the Middle East 13:56 command structure in the 1980s 16:14 Bitburg to Georgia to Italy 17:38 the 5 Rings - War College origins 18:13 missing the operational level of war 26:17 Warden's 5 rings 29:36 the other usefulness of the 5 rings 32:13 Checkmate 34:25 Checkmate, 5 Rings, and the Soviet Union 35:20 Fuel and the Fulda Gap 39:37 context for Desert Storm 42:44 Checkmate and Desert Storm 45:34 Checkmate gets into Desert Storm 48:26 the original 3-week plan 54:01 Not learning from Desert Storm? 57:24 today's challenges 58:29 China revelation #1 1:00:44 The Gulf War...on US soil 1:02:41 The US cyber vulnerability 1:06:52 China 2027 2035 2049 1:08:36 homeland defense blindspot 1:09:49 coastal defense 1:11:38 self-deterrence? 1:14:42 global reach global power 1:17:48 commitment to defense 1:18:51 outro #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #usmc #innovation #war #strategy #aerospace #china #desertstorm #gulfwar #airpower #militaryhistory #militarypower #iraq #middleeast #desertstorm #gulfwar

    1h20min

  5. 22/12/2024

    E44 – Silent Arrow

    Check out our ⁠newsletter, where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! In this episode, Mike interviews Chip Yates, founder of Yates Electrospace Corporation. With a background in racing, Chip has made a name for himself by setting numerous world records as a pioneer in electric-powered motorcycles and airplanes. His journey took a strategic turn when he encountered a complex military challenge, leading to the inception of his company. Chip pivoted to defense, launching Silent Arrow—disposable cargo drones deployed from planes like the C-130. These drones must fly dozens—even hundreds—of miles yet be cost-effective enough to be discarded after just a single use. Chip shares his decade-long journey in defense tech, offering insights into affordable, executable innovation in an industry full of giant companies and complex technology.   Links • Sign up for the newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • Mike Benitez (LinkedIn) • Silent Arrow ---- Follow us on...  • LinkedIn • Instagram⁠ • ⁠X⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠Website⁠ ---- Show Notes 00:50 intro 01:47 Chip's racing background 03:03 company origins 03:41 getting involved in defense tech 04:11 the idea and 1st concept vehicle 06:53 the Smithsonian 08:34 2,000 glider drone 08:48 how Silent Arrow works 10:14 the need for more standoff 12:10 operational evals of prototypes 13:50 crawl walk run 15:03 the Pacific Pivot? 15:52 Airbus partnership 17:26 powered cargo drones 19:29 interesting payloads 20:42 the C-130 of drones 20:59 design and looks 23:10 raising money in defense tech 24:27 more requirement creep 25:37 using a Tesla?! 28:34 timeline for Tesla-launch 29:28 advertising in defense 30:46 2025 expectations 31:26 a super size version 33:50 adaption vs invention 35:36 keeping the cargo intact 38:46 powered version 39:50 advice 40:37 raising money 42:21 outro For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #aviation #airplanes #aerospace #c130 #cargo #mobility #logistics #supply #resupply #drones #unmanned #drone

    43min

  6. 26/11/2024

    E43 – The Laser-Guided Bomb

    Sign up for our ⁠newsletter, where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! Speaking of knowledge bombs, Mike hosts Ed Cobleigh to talk about Paveway: the laser-guided bomb. Ed flew 375 combat missions during the Vietnam War in the F-4 Phantom and was one of the first people to drop the Paveway laser-guided bomb in combat. He earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses and went on to attend Fighter Weapons School, where he remained in order to stand up the guided weapons division and teach Paveway LGB employment. Ed’s had a wild life beyond the Air Force and is now an author with 5 books (and counting). This episode covers not just the tech and tactics but also a first-person account of dropping LGBs in combat 56 years ago!   ---- Links • ⁠newsletter⁠⁠! • Support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠! • ⁠Mike Benitez (LinkedIn)⁠ • ⁠Ed’s website⁠ • ⁠Ed’s books on Amazon⁠ ---- Follow us on... • ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠• Instagram⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠   ---- Show Notes 00:34 intro 01:58 How Ed got to Vietnam 02:31 background of guided bombs 03:35 Paveway history 07:19 Project White Lightning 09:03 the first laser designator 10:19 Dropping the LGBs 12:15 results from the first tests 14:00 training for the first LGB drop 15:04 Zot nickname 17:49 Ed's 2nd tour 20:17 Navy gets Paveway 22:21 teaching LGBs at Nellis 23:45 Red Flag 25:16 Targeting Pods 26:57 Linebacker 1972 27:56 Dragons Jaw Bridge 29:51 Paveway’s legacy 30:46 F-117 and Paveway 32:37 Paveway III 34:29 Paveway lawsuit 35:26 Ed's books 37:45 outro For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #F4 #vietnam #aviation #airplanes #aerospace

    38min

  7. 20/10/2024

    E42 – B-52 BUFF modernization

    Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! Mike hosts Col. Joseph Little, callsign “Little Joe,” to discuss how the US Air Force is modernizing the legendary B-52 BUFF to keep it flying into the 2050s—100 years after its first flight. Col Little is a B-52 Weapons Systems Officer, a US Air Force Weapons School graduate, a former test squadron commander, and currently serving as the Detachment 5 Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), where he oversees the B-52J program. The B-52J modernization program is a $48 Billion transformation designed to extend the bomber's life into the 2060s. It includes new engines, advanced cockpits, upgraded radar, and more, making it the most significant overhaul in the aircraft's history. This episode covers not just the tech but also tactics, weapons, historical milestones, and untold war stories. Whether you're a fan of military aviation or interested in strategic operations, this insider’s look at the B-52 is a must-listen! For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #b52 #BUFF #bomber #aviation #airplanes #aerospace   Links • Sign up for our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • Mike Benitez (LinkedIn) • Joseph Little (LinkedIn) • AFOTEC, Det 5 (LinkedIn)   ---- Follow us on... • ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ • Instagram⁠ • ⁠X⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠Website⁠   ---- Show Notes 00:49 intro 03:24 yesterday vs today 04:57 B-52 in 2024 05:17 changing the crew roles 05:53 bombardier wings 06:12 The youngest oldest B-52s 08:04 BUFF origins 08:39 Orange BUFF 10:14 test units 11:13 test lessons from Vietnam 13:32 B-52 modernization 14:40 the B-52J 16:18 radar upgrade 21:15 quad crew concept 23:29 Fox-4 kill 24:30 new engines - why 8? 28:22 fixing the tanker bill 28:46 Iraqi Freedom tankers 30:10 engine nacelle issues 32:20 testing validated the model 33:05 rest of the engine mods 35:10 alert start requirements 36:21 cockpit upgrades 38:15 BUFF legacy - James Earl Jones 39:01 culture and change 42:49 the nuke consideration 43:29 AEHF radio upgrade 44:50 B-52 nose job? 46:54 Story 1 - aerial mining 48:44 Story 2 - CBU-105 combat drop 52:05 brakes? 52:51 outro

    54min

  8. 15/09/2024

    E41 – Firestorm

    Don’t miss our newsletter! That's where we drop weekly knowledge bombs to help you make sense of defense! Mike and Jake host Dan Magy, co-founder and CEO of Firestorm. Firestorm’s mission is to democratize the air by re-imaging the way drones are built. They developed a method to 3D-print modular drones at the point of need, using a combination of shipping-container-based factories and localized supply chains. Best of all, the drones themselves are modular—from props to jets, AI to sensors, etc. The conversation went deep into “the why”: how Ukraine led to Firestorm, the real-time changing of the guard on how the Air Force thinks about building a credible force in light of all this, the exciting concept of attritable mass, rapidly innovating via crash-and-learn, and some history to boot. This is an episode you don’t want to miss! For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #ukraine #drone #drones #battlefield #warfare   Links • Sign up for our ⁠amazing newsletter⁠! • Support us on ⁠Patreon⁠! • Mike Benitez (LinkedIn) • Jake Chapman X (@vc) • Dan Magy (LinkedIn) • Firestorm website ---- Follow us on... • ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ • Instagram⁠ • ⁠X⁠ • ⁠Facebook⁠ • ⁠Website⁠   ---- Show Notes 01:00 intro 01:28 counter-UAS startup 01:59 Ukraine starts Firestorm 03:43 the future is RF-denied 04:43:05 Firestorm name origin 05:22 competing in a crowded drone market 06:39 air superiority in the future 06:49 rapid iteration 07:09 Dan’s LinkedIn 08:16 adversaries are sharing tech and tactics 08:51 battle lab of the world 09:36 the pace of evolution - on LinkedIn 10:22 2-week evolution cycles 12:35 drones as physical decoys 13:28 cardboard drones must be honored 14:02 thermite dropping drones 14:32 keeping pace with battlefield innovation 16:00 Investors growing weary? 17:44 high-low mix 19:43 jet-powered drone 20:17 modular propulsion 20:58 autonomy differentiator 21:52 solving for non-recurring engineering 23:23 product iteration 24:08 crash and learn 25:47 failing fast - cost-effectiveness 26:48 VC investing 28:05 attritable mass 28:15 Ukraine's drone capacity 29:59 expeditionary manufacturing 31:15 localizing supply chains 33:47 attrition, reconstitution, and risk 36:25 attrition and operations 38:19 changing of the guard moment 39:50 personal risk?

    42min
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Sobre

Military technology, trends, and national security...presented with unique insights, salt, and wit from combat aviator veterans and industry experts. Fence in for interviews and anecdotes about the ins, outs, and happenings at the intersection of technology, industry, strategy, and policy of aerospace and national defense. Brought to you by The Merge newsletter.

Informações

  • Criado por
    The Merge
  • Anos de atividade
    2022 - 2025
  • Episódios
    48
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © The Merge
  • Site do podcast
    The Merge

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