Aerospace & Defense Technology

Hosted by SAE Media Group

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Aug 2026

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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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August 21, 2026Episode 415 min

How Digital Tools and Bonding Innovation Are Advancing Military Vehicle Design and Production

As military ground vehicle manufacturers add autonomous navigation, advanced sensing, counter-UAS capability, and survivability features to next-generation platforms, the production environment behind those systems isbecoming as critical as the vehicle architecture. Digital engineering, model-based workflows, mixed reality, automation, and advanced materials are helping defense suppliers accelerate production, improve installation quality,reduce weight, and move complex designs from prototype to fielded system. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Season 16’s focus on military ground vehicle systemscontinues with a look at the manufacturing and design technologies enabling more efficient vehicle production. ClickBond , a Nevada-based manufacturer of adhesive-bonded fastening systems, provides structural hardware, adhesives, tooling, and installation methods for aerospace, defense, industrial, and vehicle applications. The interview explains how Click Bond is using digital tools tomodernize manufacturing and installation, and work around digital twins, AI, robotics, and human-augmented production. These capabilities reflect a broader defense-industry shift toward digitally connected design and manufacturingenvironments. The guest on this episode is Bill Perez, Senior Product and Application Strategy Manager at Click Bond.

August 14, 2026Episode 315 min

Advancing Tactical SATCOM Through Multi-Orbit Network Integration

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Robert Jacobson, CEO of Lite Coms, discusses howtactical SATCOM systems are evolving to support resilient, multi-orbit connectivity for expeditionary, fixed, and mobile military operations. Lite Coms designs and delivers tactical SATCOM terminals for mission-critical communications, including fly-away auto-acquire systems, rugged flat-panel terminals, and modemassemblies built for LEO, MEO, and GEO network environments. The conversation explores multi-orbit network integration, modular terminal engineering, accelerated development cycles, advanced manufacturing, and emerging approaches to command-and-control communications.

August 6, 2026Episode 29 min

Modular Counter-UAS Systems for Military Vehicles

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Bryan Bockmon, CEO of AimLock, discusses how autonomous targeting and AI-enabled fire control are being applied to one of the fastest-evolving battlefield threats: small unmanned aerial systems. The conversation examines AimLock’s latest collaboration with FN America and howthe companies are integrating sensor fusion, autonomy, and precision engagement capabilities into vehicle-mounted weapon systems designed for counter-UAS missions. RELATED:C-UAS Magazine Call for Papers During SOF Week 2026, AimLock and FN America unveiled the Dunetechnology demonstrator , which brings AimLock’s autonomy suite for networked, layered counter-UAS defense into FN America’s FN DEFENDER® Medium remote weapon station. The integrated system is designed to give militaryvehicles a scalable, mounted countermeasure against low-cost attack drones and other aerial threats. The episode also explores why defense organizations areprioritizing modular, open-architecture solutions that can improve force protection without requiring full platform replacements. Bockmon shares insights on emerging trends in autonomy, precision engagement, and layered counter-drone defense as military forces adapt to a rapidly changing threatenvironment.

July 29, 2026Episode 116 min

Designing and Manufacturing Modern Military Ground Vehicles

How can commercial technologies accelerate innovation indefense mobility and mission-ready vehicle platforms? On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Paul Beaker, chief engineer of advanced product development at GM Defense, shares insights from the Aerospace Manufacturing and Materials Digital Summit 2026 , exploring how the company is leveraging commercial engineering, advanced manufacturing processes, electrification, and rapid technology integration to support evolving military requirements. During his presentation, Beaker also explains how GMDefense is incorporating robotics into its design, inspection, and assembly processes for some of the military ground vehicles it is currently manufacturing. The discussion highlights the company’s approach to accelerating capability development, reducing program risk, and delivering next-generationmobility solutions for defense customers. Tune in to hear how commercial innovation is shaping the future of military vehicle development and operational readiness.

June 26, 2026Episode 519 min

Rocket Propulsion, AI, and the Future of Engineering Workflows

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Reaction Dynamics propulsion engineer and Moriusfounder Balin Moher explains how artificial intelligence AI, digital engineering, and structured engineering data could help reshape how aerospace teams design and validate complex rocket systems. The discussion explores Reaction Dynamics’ hybrid rocketpropulsion work, the engineering challenges behind designing rocket components and assemblies, and how Moher created Morius as an on-premises AI design tool focused on keeping engineering work aligned with trusted project data. "Morius runs entirely on-premises - your data never leaves the building - for regulated industries where data security comesfirst," Moher said. The conversation also looks at how AI could support earlierdesign capture, faster iteration, and more reviewable decision-making across safety-critical aerospace programs. As aerospace and defense organizations look for ways toaccelerate development without sacrificing traceability or engineering rigor, Moher explains how tools like Morius could become a reliability layer for AI-assisted design and a force multiplier for engineers working on rockets, propulsion systems, and other complex platforms.

June 19, 2026Episode 413 min

Engineering Spacecraft Components at Scale for Commercial Space Growth

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Brian Ippolitto, Vice President of Space Systems, discusses how spacecraft component engineering is evolving to meet the accelerating demands of commercial space growth. Drawing on more than a decade of experience across engineering, operations, and business development, he outlines the transition from low-volume development programs to high-rate manufacturing — now delivering tens of thousands of precision components annually for satellites, launch vehicles, and deep-space missions. The conversation explores how propulsion systems and critical subsystems are being scaled to production, how quality and reliability are maintained at volume, and what it takes to support the next phase of commercial space expansion. Sponsored by: Omnetics and New England Wire

June 12, 2026Episode 317 min

How Star Catcher’s In-Space Power Grid Could Eliminate Satellite Power Constraints

Star Catcher Industries is developing an in-space powergrid that captures sunlight in orbit and delivers it wirelessly to satellites on demand. The Florida-based startup's approach uses optical power beaming to deliver concentrated solar energy to satellites and spacecraft in orbit. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Star Catcher CEO Andrew Rush explains how theirin-space power grid could help reduce one of the biggest constraints on satellite performance: limited onboard power. The discussion explores how beamed energy could work with existing solar arrays and potentially support higher-power payloads, longer mission operations, and more capable satellitearchitectures. The conversation also looks at the company’s recenttechnology milestones, including end-to-end architecture validation and progress toward orbital demonstrations. As demand grows for communications, Earth observation, defense sensing, and space-based computing, the Star Catcher CEO explains how shared power infrastructure could become a key enabler for the next generation of space systems.

June 5, 2026Episode 213 min

Accelerating Spacecraft Development with AI, Digital Twins, and Simulation

Digital engineering is reshaping how today’s aerospacesystems are conceived and delivered. During the 2026 Siemens Realize Live conference and exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast interviewed Dr. Tom Stoumbos,simulation and test leader at Northrop Grumman, about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital simulation and testing tools to design, manufacture, and produce new satellites and space technologies. Siemens announced several new solutions at the event thisyear, including its Intelligence Center X platform , among others. On this episode, we examine how AI-enabled simulation,digital twins, and integrated engineering environments help teams reduce analysis time while improving design accuracy. By connecting data and models across the lifecycle, engineers can accelerate design iteration, enable parallel development, and bridge simulation with real-world testing. The result is a more agile, data-driven approach to developing next-generation spacecraft capable of meeting increasingly complex mission demands. Sponsored by Omnetics and New England Wire

May 29, 2026Episode 117 min

Radiation-Tolerant Microcontrollers for Expanding LEO Satellite Network

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we speak with the CEO of Vorago Technologies about how radiation-tolerant and radiation-hardened semiconductor technologies are enabling the next generation of satellite constellations, autonomous defense systems, and resilient space infrastructure. The conversation explores how growing demand for AI-enabled edge computing, secure communications, and scalable space architectures is reshaping semiconductor requirements foraerospace and defense applications. Season 15, "Beyond Launch: Engineering Space andSatellite Technology Breakthroughs," of the podcast will featurefour episodes with a range of space engineering and manufacturing experts. If you have a suggested guest, email the podcast host, woodrow.bellamy@saemediagroup.com. Sponsored by Omnetics and New England Wire

April 17, 2026Episode 413 min

How Modular Computing Is Accelerating Modern 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. THOR supports 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.