Aerospace & Defense Technology

Modern defense platforms are evolving rapidly, with modularcomputing emerging as a key enabler of that transformation.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Shaun Fischer, Director ofDevelopment and Open Systems Solutions at Leonardo DRS, discusses the company’s newly launched THOR —Tactical, High‑Performance Embedded Computing, OpenArchitecture, Rugged — embedded computing chassis and the new military applications it is designed to enable. THORsupports a broad range of compute payloads, including Intel®, Arm®, and NVIDIA®‑based single‑board computers; high‑performance GPUs for AI and machine‑learninginference; and RF and digital signal‑processing modules for electronic warfare and secure communications.Fischer also explains how the chassis aligns with the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the open‑architecture initiative shaping the acquisition of next‑generation defense technologies.Sponsored by Smithers.

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technologypodcast, we continue our Season 14 focus on military embedded computing and networking, featuring keynote remarks from the 2026 AUSA Global Force Symposiumand an interview with Jeff Baldwin, Director of Engineering at Sealevel. To open the episode, we share an excerpt from a keynoteaddress by Under Secretary of the Army Michael Obadal delivered at the 2026 AUSA Global Force Symposium in Huntsville. In this segment, he describes real‑worldadoption of AI‑enabled tools and outlines one of five principles guiding technology integration, referencing the use of AI‑assisted systems in targeting system development and evaluation.Sealevel designs and manufactures rugged embedded computing platforms and I/O solutions used in mission‑critical military and commercial applications, supporting aerospace and defense OEMs, systems integrators, and service organizations. The company recently published an article analyzing the Department of War’s 2026 AI Acceleration Strategy and its impact on customer requirements for modular, scalable embedded computing architectures — particularly as AI workloads drive higher demands for processing performance,data movement, and system integration at the edge. During his interview, Baldwin discusses the impact of thisstrategy on companies that are designing and manufacturing AI-enabled embedded computing systems and networks.

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we bring you highlights from Arm CEO Rene Haas’ keynote at the live‑streamed Arm is Everywhere event, wherehe outlines how agentic AI is reshaping the future of compute. The discussion centers on Arm’s landmark move into silicon with the launch of its Arm agentic AI central processing unit (CPU), purpose‑built for next‑generation AI data centers. We also connect those developments to growing U.S. militaryinterest in AI‑driven decision‑making, resilient computeinfrastructure, and energy‑efficient data centers that can operate at scale. It’s a timely look at how commercial AIhardware roadmaps are increasingly intersecting with defense and national security priorities.Recent Department of Defense announcements underscore acoordinated push toward agentic AI backed by hyperscale, cloud‑native infrastructure. From the rapid expansion of GenAI.mil with OpenAI integration, to the U.S. Army’s conditionalagreements for privately financed hyperscale data centers, and the Department of the Air Force’s exploration of data‑centerleasing in Alaska, the message is consistent: AI‑driven operations require massive, resilient, and energy‑aware compute at scale. Complementing that infrastructure build‑out, the Air Force’s Cloud Onemodernization awardto Oracle highlights how secure, multi‑classification cloud platforms are being adapted specifically to support agentic AI workflows in defense environments. Against this backdrop, Arm’s launch of its agentic AI‑focused AGI CPU is particularly relevant to aerospace and defense leaders. For the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast audience, these developments illustrate how commercial silicon innovation and defense AI priorities are rapidly converging —reshaping the hardware foundations of future military operations.Sponsored by Smithers

Defense Unicorns, a Colorado-based startup, recently  demonstrated a key enabler for continuoussoftware delivery to the F-22 Raptor. For the first time, software in the F-22 open mission system compute enclave was installed and upgraded on the aircraft in a matter of minutes. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technologypodcast, the CEO of Defense Unicorns explains how their secure software delivery technology enables faster, repeatable updates to flight‑critical systems without changing the aircraft’s underlying hardware. He walks through the Air Force demonstration showcasing how new F‑22 mission capabilities can be packaged, deployed, and updated more rapidly than traditional methods allow. The conversation highlights what was delivered during the demo and why this approach represents a major shift in how legacy fighter platforms can receive software-driven upgrades at speed.Season 14 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast is sponsored by Smithers.

Michigan-based renewable energy company Sesame Solar has introduced a new approach to powering and extending flight duration of uncrewed aerial vehicles for both commercialand military applications. The company’s mobile off-grid power solutions have already been used by the  U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers and other defense organizations for a wide variety ofapplications, including extending drone flying times. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Sesame Solar Co-founder and CEO Lauren Flanagan explains how the company’s new mobile hydrogen‑powered nanogrids are redefining what’s possible for long‑range drone operations.The conversation dives into how this closed‑loop system eliminates fuel‑supply logistics, supports autonomous drone missions for up to six months, and enhances operational resilience in contested or off‑grid environments. We also look ahead at how nanogrid technology may shape the future of UAVs by offering scalable, renewable, and self‑sustaining power for next‑generation drone fleets.

In January, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched a new Program Executive Office to speed the procurement and deployment of drone and counter‑drone technologies — aimed at staying ahead of rapidly evolving threats. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Jeffrey Starr, CMO of D‑Fend Solutions, breaks down what this new office means for advancing counter‑UAScapabilities in civilian airspace. We also explore DHS’s newly announced $115 million investment in counter‑drone systems to help secure America250 celebrations and FIFA World Cup 2026 venues. Subscribe to the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Anello Photonics CEO joins us to explain how SiPhog silicon photonic gyroscope technology enables drones to maintain navigation in GPS‑denied and contested environments. This conversation reveals how photonic innovation is reshaping the future of uncrewed aircraft and autonomous flight.

In December, the Defense Department issued a request forinformation to gauge the defense industry's ability to develop more than 300,000 drones "quickly and inexpensively" by 2027.Over the next year, the Department plans on spending up to$1 billion to fulfill their need to acquire a large number of the "very best of low-cost American-made drones," according to a December 2025 press release. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense TechnologyPodcast, we learn about a new tool that could help manufacturers optimize the way they design and create new drones. Austin Spiegel, CTO of Sift, is the guest on this episode to explain how their "unified observability platform" to explain how drone manufacturers can leverage their platformto optimize their design, validation, manufacturing and overall engineering processes from prototype to operations.

The U.S. Air Force Sustainment Center’s Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) has taken a major step toward modernizing depot operations: securely connecting manufacturing machines, robots, and digital analytics tools across previously isolated enclaves.This capability was driven by Corsha’s Machine Identity Provider (mIDP), a zero-trust platform that recently received an Authorization-to-Operate (ATO) within the 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group. With mIDP, WR-ALC can authenticate every machine-to-machine connection and enable real-time data sharing for robotic systems and shop-floor automation.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Corsha CEO Anusha Iyer explains how machine identity, continuous authentication, and secure connectivity are accelerating digital sustainment for the U.S. Air Force — and what this means for the future of industrial manufacturing and depot modernization.

In this episode, Packet Digital CEO Terri Zimmerman breaks down the company’s push to expand U.S.-based production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for military unmanned aircraft systems. She discusses new investments, manufacturing plans at the Badland Batteries facility in North Dakota, and why domestic energy-storage capability is becoming a mission-critical requirement for future UAS operations. Zimmerman also offers insight into engineering challenges, supply-chain constraints, and the performance demands shaping the next generation of drone power systems.

As aerospace companies race to deliver cutting-edgetechnologies faster and more efficiently, digital innovation is taking center stage. For decades, manufacturers have relied on digital twins for design and simulation. Today, the industry is entering a new era with virtual twins. According to Dassault Systèmes, a virtual twin is "an immersive scientific digital model that mirrors a real-world product, system, or process in meticulous detail." Virtual twins allow engineers to predict performance, eliminate errors, and optimize designs before production even begins. This breakthrough is helping aerospace and defense manufacturers reduce development cycles, improve quality, and accelerate time-to-market for next-generation technologies.On the latest episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we sit down with two experts from DassaultSystèmes:Mariah Otte, Aerospace and Defense Solution ArchitectJason Roberson, Aerospace and Defense Industry Value ExpertTogether, they explain how virtual twins are transformingaerospace design and manufacturing, and what this means for the future of innovation in the sector. From simulation-driven engineering to predictive performance modeling, this conversation dives deep into the tools and strategies shaping tomorrow’s aerospace solutions.

This episode examines the technical and strategic foundations behind Guam’s new advanced manufacturing hub, developed through ASTRO America in coordination with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Program. Neal Orringer of ASTRO America and Alex Benham of the Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) provide an engineering-level discussion of the facility’s additive manufacturing capabilities, supply-chain objectives, and workforce development plans. The conversation outlines how the hub will support distributed sustainment, accelerate part production near the point of need, and bolster naval readiness across the Indo-Pacific.

While hydrogen-powered flight promises zero emissions and high efficiency, it also brings some of the toughest engineering challenges: cryogenic storage, high-pressure systems, and the constant risk of leakage. At the heart of solving these challenges are sealing solutions and advanced materials — the hidden heroes that make safe, reliable hydrogen flight possible.On this sponsored interview episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Margauz Ningre-Corier, Aerospace Sales and Market Development Manager at Omniseal Solutions is the guest expert who will dive into how these technologies are being developed, what hurdles remain, and where the future of hydrogen-powered air mobility is headed.

During the 2025 Association of the United States Army(AUSA) annual meeting and exhibition, Forterra announced several major defense industry vehicle partnerships and introduced four new integrated modules designed to enable autonomy for military vehicles, communications and more. Headquartered in Clarksburg, Maryland, Forterra develops autonomous mission systems for specific defense applications, including robotics and self-driving vehicles. The company has a new partnership with BAE Systems that will rapidly prototype an autonomous Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). Separately, Forterra has also collaborated with Oshkosh Defense and Raytheon to develop the "DeepFires" autonomous vehicle launcher technology. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Patrick Acox, Forterra Vice President of Defense Growth, is the guest to explain how their company provides autonomy enabling modules for a wide variety of military applications.

Windlift, a North Carolina-based startup, recentlyannounced successful results from initial testing of a new autonomous tethered drone system that leverages winds aloft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS). Windlift's new "GUARD" system is a mobile platform that includes a launcher and a tethered drone equipped with a navigation system that autonomously leverages wind to maintain altitude and stability. "GUARD is set to deliver performance far beyond what's possible today. Where most tethered drones struggle or fail in high winds, GUARD excels. As the wind increases, the GUARD platform, originally designed to harness the wind through complex flight patterns for airborne power generation, thrives," said Rob Creighton, Windlift Founder & CEO. "This breakthrough has been in the making for years, with technical oversight from the Naval Research Laboratory every step of the way. Initial testing marks a pivotal moment."Creighton is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace& Defense Technology podcast to explain how Windlift's autonomous tethered drone system leverages wind to power a wide variety of defense applications.

During the Association for the United States Army (AUSA)2025 annualmeeting and exhibition, AimLock announced a partnership with Overland AI that will integrate their autonomous targeting and engagement systems into Overland’s new ULTRA autonomous ground vehicle. The partnership announcement came following the U.S. Army’sselection of Overland AI for a vendor position in their UxS Autonomous Maneuver Program that will evaluate autonomous capabilities using upfits on their Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). “The evolution of autonomy on the battlefield is changingthe very nature of ground operations as we know it, and our systems are at the forefront of helping the warfighter prevail against the enemy,” said Bryan Bockmon, CEO of AimLock, commenting on their new partnership with Overland AI. Bockmon is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace &Defense Technology podcast to discuss their new partnership with Overland AI and the future of autonomous targeting systems in modern warfare.

During the Association for the United States Army (AUSA)2025 annual meeting and exhibition, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll's opening keynote presentation provided a reality check on the type of technologies their soldiers are using on a daily basis. While AUSA's annual exhibition featured some of the mostadvanced ground vehicles, drones and weapons systems available on the market, Driscoll said that most of the technologies the Army uses on a daily basis weredeveloped 30 years ago. According to Driscoll, "if small arms defined the 20th century, drones will define the 21st."Listen to this episode of the Aerospace & DefenseTechnology podcast to hear selected portions from Driscoll’s AUSA 2025 opening keynote. In his keynote, Driscoll discusses the Army’s transition to a drone-centric future and an acquisition paradigm reshaped by Silicon Valley principles. He details how the service will contract with startups, accelerate AI/robotics/Drone prototyping, and shift from multi-yearprocurements to lean, iterative delivery in months and thousands rather than years and billions.

MGI Engineering recently unveiled their new long-rangeautonomous precision strike drone, TigerShark, at the 2025 Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event in London. MGI is a U.K.-based engineering consultancy founded byformer Formula 1 (F1) Chief Designer Mike Gacoyne. The company developed TigerShark in response to the growth in demand from defense customers for the top of low cost drones, one way effectors and loitering munitions that havebeen effectively used on both sides of the war in Ukraine. Gascoyne is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace& Defense Technology podcast to explain how MGI is leveraging their history of collaborating with Formula 1 racing teams to design low cost precision strike drones that can be manufactured at scale.

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Fuse Integration CEO Sumner Lee is the guest to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is re-defining how military communications and networks are leveraged in contested environments. Lee is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who founded FuseIntegration in 2010 with the goal of providing user-centric communications, networking and computing technologies for defense customers. Earlier this year, the company launched its new AI Radio Environment (AIRE) technology. AIRE provides an application interface for third-party AI developers to train onreal-time RF and network data models. By training on real-time data, third-party developers can create cutting-edge algorithms that learn better network routes, link prioritization or other key parameters to produce a more effective and resilient network.Listen to this episode to learn how Fuse Integration isusing AI to ensure warfighters are connected when it matters most.

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation acquired the KARGO UAV program from Kaman Air Vehicles in April, and recently launched a new upgraded variant of the medium-lift autonomous uncrewed aerial vehicle, the KARGO II. The KARGO II is a larger capacity version of the KARGO UAVwith increased payload capacity  "from approximately 500-800 lbs. (227-363kg) to over 1,500lbs (680kg)," according to the company's August 12 announcement about theupgrade. The original version of the UAV completed several flight testing and demonstration milestones under U.S. Army and Marine Corps contracts, prior to Piasecki's acquisition of the program in April. Piasecki plans to manufacture the KARGO II at its Heliplexfacility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and expects to add new program partners and suppliers over the next year. The company expects the production version of the KARGO II to become available by 2027. John Piasecki, CEO of Piasecki Aircraft Corporation, is theguest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to discuss the future of the KARGO UAV program.

In 2024, Microchip launched PIC64, a new portfolio of microprocessors that the Chandler, Arizona-based company claims could enable a generational leap in embedded processing performance for aerospace and defense applications. The new MPU technology is supported by  a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC-V) architecture with an embedded Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) Ethernet switch. Check out the article featured in the September 2024 issue of Aerospace & Defense Technology to learn more about what the new processor could provide for spaceflight computing applications. Bill Dillard, Senior Manager of Aerospace and Defense at Microchip, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain how the PIC64could also advance embedded processing performance for a wide variety of aerospace and defense applications. 

A dual-use quantum accelerated simulation startup recentlyestablished a strategic collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to advance its mission-critical modeling and simulation capabilities with quantum computing. BQP (BosonQ Psi), the Syracuse, New York-based startup, has also announced a new "oversubscribed $4.9 million seed round to expand its unified digital twin platform, BQPhy®, for mission-critical industries, including aerospace, defense (A&D), and semiconductors," according to a July announcement aboutthe new funding round. The startup's BQPhy simulation platform is powered byquantum algorithms that are capable of unlocking significant gains in high performance computing when compared to platforms that use legacy algorithms, according to BQP. “Our quantum-inspired solvers are setting a new benchmarkin simulation technology, bridging today’s computational limits and the quantum-ready future,” said Abhishek Chopra, BQP’s Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer. “The traction we're experiencing from AFRL/RQ and industry-leading design partners validates the immediate impact and substantialROI our platform delivers today. We're also making significant R&D progress in quantum-native solvers for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Machine Learning (ML), paving the way for future simulation workload for the next generation of data centers where HPC and quantum computers operate side by side.”Chopra is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain how their simulation technology leverages quantum algorithms for simulation and modeling.

EnCharge AI, a California-based startup, recently launchedthe EnCharge EN100 artificial intelligence (AI) chip, developed with a scalable analog in-memory computing architecture. The launch of EN100 came a year after EnCharge AI signed apartnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the new chip. “EN100 represents a fundamental shift in AI computingarchitecture, rooted in hardware and software innovations that have been de-risked through fundamental research spanning multiple generations of silicon development," said Naveen Verma, CEO at EnCharge AI. "These innovations are now being made available as products for the industry to use, as scalable, programmable AI inference solutions that break through the energy efficiency limits of today’s digital solutions. This means advanced, secure, and personalized AI can run locally, without relying on cloud infrastructure. We hope this will radically expand what you can do with AI.”Verma is the guest on this first episode of Season 10 the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast. He explains how the EN100 delivers up to 200+ TOPS of total processing power for edge computing applications, and why it represents a major breakthrough for on-device AI.

Kymeta achieved a major breakthrough for the satellite communications industry recently by connecting four concurrent beams in Ku- and Ka-band frequencies with a single antenna aperture, during a demonstration in April. Enabled by the company's unique metamaterials antenna surface, the technology was demonstrated and validated at Kymeta's headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Until this point, according to Kymeta, interoperability in the Ku and Ka bands has been possible only with Electronic Steered Antennas (ESA) using multiple physically separate antennas, which proves problematic due to the size and power usage required to operate. Kymeta Chief Scientist Ryan Stevenson is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain how they were achieved this groundbreaking demonstration of satellite communications.

The sealing components and materials that are used in spacelaunch and exploration vehicles can face extreme environmental challenges due to the harsh conditions encountered during launch, operation, and re-entry. Howcan materials and sealing technologies be developed in a way that helps improve space vehicle performance? How can precision machining or testing and simulation contribute to improving development and production times for newspace firms? John Tark, Space & Defense Business Manager, OmnisealSolutions, is the guest on this sponsored interview episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to answer these questions and more.

During his appearance at a Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) event held in March, Major General Gregory Gagnon, a top U.S. Space Force official, said that the U.S. Space Force expects to launch more than 100 satellites in 2025. Have you ever considered the challenges of operating inspace that companies must address when designing satellites for military and non-military applications? In the latest issue of Ansys Advantage, simulation software provider Ansys outlined these considerations in their article "The State of Satellites: Applications, Challenges and Opportunities."According to Patrick North, Principal R&D Engineer, Ansys, said that "power, space, and weight" are the primary factors that systems engineers must consider when designing new satellites. North is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain how major aerospace and defense companies use their advanced simulation softwareand tools to design and model defense satellites for a wide variety of applications.

Aitech —  the California-based embedded systems provider — launched their new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled picosatellite constellation platform, IQSat, during the Space Foundation’s 40th annual Space Symposium, recently held inColorado. Pratish Shah, U.S. General Manager, Aitech, is the guest onthe first episode of Season 9 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain how the company is leveraging commercial off the shelf (COTS) embedded computing modules to develop low cost space-based AI and machine learning (ML) with their new IQSat technology.

Amprius recently launched its 450 Wh/kg SiCore™ lithium-ionbattery, the most energy dense battery it has ever developed for electric aircraft and other mobility applications. The California-based lithium-ion battery maker has made several advancements in battery energy density with its silicon anode material system, and is now preparing to move to mass production of SiCore. The commercial launch of the 450 Wh/kg SiCore™ cell followsthe broader introduction of Amprius’ SiCore™ platform in January 2024. That announcement marked the debut of a new generation of silicon anode cells engineered for both high energy and high power in a single format. Their lithium-ion batteries have already demonstrated the ability to extend the range and flight times of drones and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS). The company is now focused on mass producing their lithium ion battery to support more aviation and defense applications. Amprius CTO Dr. Ionel Ștefan is the guest on this episodeof the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain their latest battery energy density breakthrough and how they're preparing for mass production of their batteries.

Last week, Electra announced a new $115 million Series B investment that will provide funding for the pre-production and certification phase of its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid electric aircraft. Electra, a Virginia-based company, was first launched in2020, and previously completed the first flight of a demonstrator prototype hybrid electric aircraft, the Goldfinch EL-2 in 2023. Since then, the company has been developing the EL9 as an “Ultra Short” aircraft powered by blown lifttechnology that only requires 150 feet for takeoff and landing. Electra has secured more than 2,200 pre-orders valued at$10 billion for the EL9, and is currently collaborating with the U.S. Air Force on the development of the EL9 for military operations. Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology Podcast, to explain how EL9's blown lift hybrid electric propulsion system works, their latest progress with the program and when it could be ready for commercial and military operations.

Over the last year, research and evaluation projects led bydefense agencies in the U.S., U.K. and around the world have demonstrated the potential advantages of operating hybrid and all-electric vehicles for a variety of military applications. The U.K. Ministry of Defense, for example, recently gave anupdate on its evaluation of hydrogen power units (HPU) for electric vehicle charging. The U.S. Army recently released an update on its own testing of a hybrid tactical vehicle prototype in Germany. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Mark Findlay, CEO of U.S. and U.K.-based engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) explains why establishing definitive use cases and requirements are essential to unlocking the future potential of hybrid and all-electric military vehicles.

Finland-based startup Donut Defence is developing a donut-shaped in-wheel electric motor for air, land and sea military vehicles. In December 2024, Donut Defence was selected to participate in the DEFINE Accelerator program that connects technology companies that are developing and scaling defense, security and dual-use technologies. Michael Waksman, CEO of Donut Defence, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology Podcast to explain how the Donut Motor could provide the type of architecture and performance necessary to power next generation military electric vehicles. The podcast is now in its eighth season, running during the month of April with a focus on the future of military electric vehicles. This episode is sponsored by New England Wire Technologies.

Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) Ethernet is a real-time networking capability that is being developed by a growing number of embedded computing companies for theearliest stages of adoption by aerospace and defense manufacturers and their suppliers. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) TSN working group, it is a set of standards that provides deterministic connectivity within IEEE 802-aligned networks. Nigel Forrester is the Director of Product Strategy for Concurrent Technologies, a UK-based provider of high performance embedded computing solutions for aerospace, defense and many other industries.

A House committee hearing held earlier this month outlined the current federal regulations that limit the use of counter unmanned aircraft system technologies by state and local authorities to detect and mitigate the use of illegally operated drones in civilian airspace. "Make no mistake, the recent events in New Jersey have highlighted the ease with which bad actors could utilize drones with nefarious and malicious intent or conduct illicit drone operations," Troy Nehls, House Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman said in his opening remarks during the hearing. "We must continue to support and foster new aviation technologies – the future of American aviation depends on it. That responsibility includes ensuring the appropriate and safe use of counter-UAS technologies in the nation’s airspace by authorized users to make certain that civil aviation safety is not jeopardized." Lisa Ellman, Executive Director, Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA), was one of three expert witnesses that participated in the hearing. She is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to discuss how current counter UAS regulations can be improved to address illegally operated drones in civilian airspace.

AeroDefense has been developing drone detection technology to address drones flying in civilian airspace for several years has just released a new system, Air Warden Essentials, that could help increase awareness of random drone sightings incivilian airspace. The system uses a small receiver and cloud computing services to monitor drone traffic using networked Remote ID broadcasts. The company produced the new system based on their "Collaborative Drone Detection Network (CoDDN)" that was developed through a Department ofDefense contract.  Taylor Sinatra, Chief Operating Officer of AeroDefense, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast. He discusses the use of the AirWarden Essentials system for a variety of civilian and military applications.

Czech Republic-based startup Dronetag has launched a new pocket-sized drone-agnostic Remote ID receiver, RIDER, amid the rise in unidentified drone sightings in U.S. airspace.While counter UAS systems focus on neutralizing unididentified drones, Dronetag's new technology is a wireless portable system that provides real-time situational awareness. The device is capable of tracking Remote ID signals from commercially operated drones, and transmit that information to a mobile application.Lukáš Brchl, CEO and Founder of Dronetag, said a major goal for the company's with its drone detection technology is to lower the cost of providing awareness of commercially operated drones in public airspace. "RIDER provides a 'Level 0' solution for situational awareness, offering three connectivity options for real-time data sharing: integrated LTE, Bluetooth, or USB-C." Brchl says, "While mobile phones were initially expected to handle such tasks, their technical limitations left a gap that RIDER now fills seamlessly."On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Brchl explains how the RIDER system works and how it can be used by public safety agencies and drone operators for real-time awareness of commercially operated drones in public airspace.

UxV/35 is a new standard recently adopted by the PC104 Computing Consortium to enable rapid development and manufacturing of drones, automatic vehicles, and vessels. The standard provides an embedded computing "stackable bus" architecture where modules are assembled by "mating system boards into stacks like LEGOs™ instead of using wires, solder, and tiny screws." Examples of embedded drone computing applications that can be developed using the UxV/35 standard include flight controllers, radios, and GPS systems. On the first episode of Season 7 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Dom Koenig, Marketing Manager, Kairos Autonomi, explains how UxV/35 could be used to lower the cost of designing and manufacturing drones in the future. Register for SAE Media Group's UAV Technology USA and Counter UAS Homeland events here.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the first episode of Season 5 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, the guest is Joshua Cryer, President and CEO of Reticulate Micro.  Season 5 of the podcast, "Next Generation Satellites and Space Technology," will feature interviews focused on satellite and space technology industry trends and insights such as low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, software-defined satellites, tracking hypersonic missile threats and other new satellite and space technologies. Reticulate Micro has emerged as a unique new commercial and defense company providing video compression technology that makes it possible to send or receive video and high-resolution imagery practically anywhere in the world, over any network, to anyone. In March for example, the company performed an industry first, by streaming live video over a UHF TACSAT radio link.

The aerospace and defense industry has adopted the use of the digital twin as a revolutionary design tool for several decades. Digital twins effectively provide a virtual representation of a product, system or technology that allows companies other than design and test new products before building them physically.   Will the A&D industry ever get to a point where virtual prototypes completely replace physical ones? How are companies using digital twins to improve existing product designs? Dale Tutt, Vice President of Industry Strategy at Siemens Digital Industries Software, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to answer these questions and more.

Art Sellers, SparkCognition Government Systems President and General Manager joins the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to explain their new partnership using AI to improve supply chain efficiency for the U.S. Air Force.

In February, Cadence launched a new generation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the introduction of the Millennium M1 CFDSupercomputer. Millennium M1 is a graphics processor unit (GPU)-based hardware system that is also available with no hardware completely in the cloud. What is a CFD supercomputer, how does it work and what could it provide for engineers and designers of complex aerospace and defense electronics and mechanical systems?   Frank Ham, Vice President of Research and Development at Cadence, joins the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to answer these questions and more.

The U.S. Army recently provided the following definition for "digital engineering," in the article "A Matter of Course," that explains how the Army is developing a new digital engineering course. Here's how the Army describes digital engineering: "Digital engineering is the process of digitally designing military equipment, such as future combat vehicles or other military hardware, to be designed and built in a virtual environment where it can be tested, analyzed and can engage with Soldiers before a single piece of iron is bent to build the prototype. While digital engineering has become the norm in many commercial manufacturing settings, it is still a relatively new concept to the Army, and this knowledge gap has created a need for professional education inside the force." On the second episode of Season 4, we highlight some of the digital transformation and new digital technologies and capabilities being developed and adopted by three of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. The chief executives from each of these industry giants highlighted show they're using digital design tools, developing new digital capabilities and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) during their respective second quarter earnings calls.

This is the first episode of the fourth season of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, where the topical focus is the impact of digital engineering and how the use of new digital tools are re-defining aerospace and defense systems design. This 4-episode season will be published weekly in August.   The first episode features Tyler Saltsman, CEO of EdgeRunner AI, a new startup that is focused on enabling the concept of “Generative AI at the Edge.” EdgeRunner AI recently participated in the Act4Aero Conference at Stanford University, where the U.S. Air Force and Space Force announced new partnerships with AI pioneers such as Saltsman’s startup.   In July, EdgeRunner AI emerged from stealth and announced its official launch  with a $5.5 million seed funding round led by Four Rivers Group with participation from Madrona Ventures. The startup describes its mission as developing small, task-specific Ultra-Efficient Language Models (UELMs) that operate without needing internet access, and providing an industrial type of Generative AI that can run locally on any device or hardware.