
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
HELLO AND WELCOME TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE. FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M YOUR HOST RYAN ROBERTSON. AND AS YOU CAN TELL WE ARE ON THE ROAD, COMING TO YOU FROM THE AIR AND SPACE FORCE’S ANNUAL WARFARE SYMPOSIUM IN AURORA COLORADO.
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE’LL BE BRINGING YOU STORIES ABOUT THE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGIC INNOVATION ON DISPLAY HERE, AS WELL AS HEARING FROM AIR AND SPACE FORCE LEADERSHIP AS THEY FACE THE CHALLENGES OF MODERNIZATION AND A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION.
JUST AHEAD ON THIS EPISODE, WE HEAR FROM GENERALS ALLVIN AND SALTZMAN THE CHIEFS OF STAFF FOR THE AIR AND SPACE FORCES RESPECTIVELY, AS THEY WORK TO SET THEIR BRANCHES ON A COURSE FOR SUCCESS IN THE GREAT POWER COMPETITION.
AND IN OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK, LOCKHEED MARTIN UNVEILS A NEW CRUISE MISSILE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN U.S. DEFENSES IN THE PACIFIC. WE GET THE 4-1-1 ON THE C-M-M-T.
BUT FIRST, SOME HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
IN WHAT CAN BEST BE CALLED A SURPRISING MOVE, DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH TOLD U.S. CYBER COMMAND LEADERSHIP TO PAUSE ALL PLANNING AGAINST RUSSIA, INCLUDING ANY OFFENSIVE DIGITAL ACTIONS. WHILE THE FULL DETAILS OF HEGSETH’S ORDER ARE STILL A BIT HAZY, IT’S ANOTHER SIGNAL OF A SHIFT IN THE WHITE HOUSE’S APPROACH TO RUSSIA, LIKELY AIMED AT NORMALIZING RELATIONS AFTER THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES HAD LARGELY ISOLATED THE KREMLIN FOLLOWING ITS 2022 INVASION OF UKRAINE. THE DURATION OF HEGSETH’S ORDER IS STILL UNCLEAR, WHAT IS KNOWN IS THAT CYBER COMMAND IS WORKING ON A “RISK ASSESSMENT” FOR HEGSETH, WHICH WILL OUTLINE HOW HIS ORDER IMPACTS ONGOING ACTIONS AND WHAT POTENTIAL THREATS FROM RUSSIA STILL EXIST.
ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD FOR BOEING AFTER THE AIR FORCE PUT A PAUSE ON DELIVERIES OF THE KC-46 TANKER. THAT’S AFTER CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED IN TWO PLANES THAT WERE SET TO BE HANDED OVER.
THE PAUSE, FIRST REPORTED BY THE WAR ZONE, WAS ORDERED IN LATE FEBRUARY FROM THE KC-46A PROGRAM OFFICE, WHICH NOTED THAT THE CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE “OUTBOARD FIXED-TRAILING-EDGE SUPPORT STRUCTURE” OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOEING, ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM OFFICE AND AIR MOBILITY COMMAND, IS WORKING TO QUICKLY FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE AS WELL AS FIND SHORT AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. THE AIR FORCE AND BOEING HAVE KNOWN SINCE 2018 THAT THE KC-46, WHICH IS BASED ON THE COMMERCIAL 767, COULD POTENTIALLY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE AILERON HINGES OVER TIME. HOWEVER, FINDING CRACKS ON BRAND-NEW PLANES WAS A SURPRISE, LEADING TO THE DECISION TO HALT THE DELIVERIES.
FINALLY, A NEW ORDER IN THE ARMY THAT’S SHAKING THINGS UP A BIT. NOW, SOLDIERS WILL BE WEARING THE INSIGNIA PATCH OF THEIR GARRISON COMMANDER OR THEIR HOME BASE INSTEAD OF THEIR UNIT PATCHES. TO MARK THE CHANGE, UNITS ACROSS THE ARMY ARE HOLDING “PATCHING CEREMONIES.”
[MG CURTIS TAYLOR, COMMANDING GENERAL 1ST AD, FORT BLISS]
“It’s in many ways, coming full circle. The garrisons that supported our soldiers in Europe for 40 years all wore the first Armored Division patch, and it’s great to see us returning to that historical tradition.”
[COL BRENDAN GALLAGHER, COMMANDER, FORT BLISS GARRISON]
“It’s exciting. It is very honorable occasion to be now part of this storied patch, this storied division with this tremendous history, going back through World War Two.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE CHANGE COMES FROM A DIRECTIVE GIVEN IN JANUARY, WHICH SHIFTS THE COMMAND STRUCTURE FOR THE GARRISON AND HEADQUARTERS STAFF THAT HANDLE THE DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTIONS OF ARMY BASES. PREVIOUSLY, THESE STAFF MEMBERS REPORTED TO ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND, BUT NOW THEY’LL ANSWER DIRECTLY TO THEIR BASE COMMANDER OR THE LEADER OF THE BIGGEST UNIT ON BASE FOR TACTICAL DECISIONS.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE VIBE OF THIS YEAR’S AFA WARFARE SYMPOSIUM REFLECTED THIS CURRENT MOMENT IN TIME. IN A MARKED SHIFT FROM 13 MONTHS AGO, THE LEVEL OF REDUCED PARTICIPATION FROM POLICY MAKERS AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS AIR AND SPACE FORCE LEADERSHIP, WAS NOTICEABLY DOWN. CURRENT EVENTS HAVE LEFT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH FEELING UNEASY AND UNSURE OF WHAT’S AHEAD.
FOR GENERALS DAVID ALLVIN AND CHANCE SALTZMAN, TWO MEN WHO, AT LEAST PUBLICALLY, ARE SURE OF THE MISSION AHEAD, AND THE DIRECTION THEY WANT THEIR AIRMEN AND GUARDIANS POINTED IN, KICKED-OFF THIS YEAR’S EVENT WITH MESSAGES ABOUT STAYING THE COURSE AND DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES.
AND THAT’S THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK’S DEBRIEF.
A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL DAVID ALLVIN, SPOKE TO A JAM PACKED HOUSE AT THE AFA’S ANNUAL WARFARE SYMPOSIUM IN AUROA, COLORADO. FAST FORWARD 13 MONTHS AND ONE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LATER, AND THE ROOM WAS HALF-FULL. AN OBVIOUS SIGNAL THAT AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP IS DIALED IN ON WHAT’S COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
CROWD-SIZE ASIDE, GENERAL ALLVIN, IS VERY AWARE THERE IS A NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, AND HE ACKNOWLEDGES, SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE AIR FORCE WILL BE FALLING ON THE DESK OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. FOR HIS PART ALLVIN WANTS TO MAKE TRUMP’S DECISION IS AN INFORMED ONE.
[GEN. DAVID ALLVIN, CHIEF OF STAFF, USAF]
“I think we need more options for the President, and that’s what air power provides more options for the President, everything from rapid response all the way to decisive victory. That is. What air power anytime, anywhere means it’s not just an aspiration. It’s a promise that we have to hold.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ALLVIN BELIEVES THE NATION’S SECURITY DEPENDS ON RESHAPING THE AIR FORCE TO ADDRESS EMERGING THREATS, ALTHOUGH THE PATH TO ACHIEVING THIS IS STILL TAKING SHAPE. AT THE SAME TIME, WITH TROY MEINK NOMINATED AS THE NEW SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AND AWAITING SENATE CONFIRMATION, EFFORTS TO ADAPT TO CURRENT THREATS ARE ON HOLD. DESPITE THAT, ALLVIN EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF REVIEWING PAST ACTIONS AND FUTURE PLANS TO ALIGN WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE’S PRIORITIES AND HOPES THAT PROPOSED CHANGES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IMPROVING LETHALITY AND CAPABILITIES, WILL BE EMBRACED.
[GEN. DAVID ALLVIN, CHIEF OF STAFF, USAF]
“So I’m confident, and I actually look forward to when we get a confirmed Secretary and Under Secretary, because I have a hunch that when they see some of these things we’re doing, we’re going to be told to go faster.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE OTHER HALF OF THE BILL ON DAY ONE OF THE SYMPOSIUM FEATURED, U.S. SPACE FORCE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS GENERAL CHANCE SALTZMAN, WHO OUTLINED THE SPACE FORCE’S PRIORITIES FOR ENSURING SPACE SUPERIORITY. HE STRESSED THAT THE JOB IS TO CONTROL THE SPACE DOMAIN WHILE DENYING IT TO ADVERSARIES.
[GEN. CHANCE SALTZMAN, CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS, USSF]
“Doing so under stressing conditions of crisis and conflict, requires a purpose built organization tailor made with the institutions, the equipment, the tactics, the training, the warrior ethos required to use military force to control the space domain. In other words, it requires a Space Force.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
SALTZMAN ALSO REMINDED ATTENDEES THE U.S. ECONOMY, INFRASTRUCTURE, BANKING, AND COMMUNICATION ALL RELY ON SPACE, AND HE BELIEVES THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES MUST BE CONFIDENT THEY CAN OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY IN AN INCREASINGLY CROWDED AND ADVERSARIAL SPACE ENVIRONMENT. STATING THE SPACE FORCE SHOULD BE SEEN AS A WARFIGHTING DOMAIN, NOT JUST A SUPPORT FUNCTION.
[GEN. CHANCE SALTZMAN, CHIEF OF SPACE OPERATIONS, USSF]
“We must think of space as a war fighting domain, rather than just a collection of support activities that the Space Force must organize, train, equip and conduct war fighting operations as an integral part of the joint and combined force, and for this reason, guardians are the war fighters with the unique education, training and experience required to achieve space superiority.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
GENERAL SALTZMAN ALSO USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE TWO NEW INITIATIVES. FIRST, A NEW OFFICER TRAINING COURSE, IT WILL BE A 12-MONTH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GIVE NEW OFFICERS A SOLID FOUNDATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPACEPOWER. HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF SPACE FUTURES COMMAND, WHICH WILL MAINTAIN THE U.S.’S TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE BY ENVISIONING AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE FORCE NEEDED TO WIN WARS IN SPACE.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, FOR OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK, WHERE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT LOCKHEED MARTIN’S NEW LOW COST CRUISE MISSILE CALLED THE COMET. AND WITH ME NOW IS MIKE ROTHSTEIN WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS BAD BOY. THIS CAME OUT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS RAPID DRAGON. THAT’S THE PROGRAM OF PALLETIZED CRUISE MISSILES AT THE BACK OF A CARGO PLANE. HOW DID COMET COME ABOUT WITH RAPID DRAGON AROUND THAT SAME TIME?
[MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN, VP STRATEGY & REQUIREMENTS, AIR WEAPONS & SENSORS LOCKHEED MARTIN]
“Yeah, that’s a great question. So we understand that the US Air Force, our US Department of Defense, has a need to not only have the exquisite weapons that we make that are so well known and do a great job, but also to be able to come in at a place that’s more affordable, that’s easier to develop and produce and go after a lot of targets if we get into a serious fighting war. And so the combination of comet, which is really designed to be lower cost, more easily producible, more easily scaled in production, as well as be modular and updated along the way, you put that together with rapid Dragon, where you’re now delivering out of a cargo aircraft. And those two things become a really powerful deterrent.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
YOU BET. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMET DOES FOR THEIR FOR THE US DOD, IS LOWER THEIR PRICE POINT TO GET ONE OF THESE, RIGHT? HOW? HOW WAS LOCKHEED MARTIN ABLE TO DO THAT TO PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT’S WITH THAT LOWER PRICE POINT?
[MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN, VP STRATEGY & REQUIREMENTS, AIR WEAPONS & SENSORS LOCKHEED MARTIN]
“Well, you know, keep in mind it’s they’re different missiles, right? It’s not going to do everything that a jasmine or a Loram does. It’s designed to be right. So it’s not going to have some of the exquisite sensors that we have in this. It’s not going to have as big a warhead and some of the survivability techniques that we use. So we’ve made this very, very simple, right? So you’re taking basic engine, basic warhead, a basic additive manufacturing which can reduce some of your production costs. And you’re getting really down to the basics, and you’re focusing on, how do I start from manufacturing? Is the going in premise and get a weapon that is good, but good enough, as opposed to exquisite, as opposed to, how do I solve the hardest operational problems there are.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
YOU BET, YOU BET. AND WHAT KIND OF TARGET SETS ARE WE IMAGINING FOR THE COMET?
[MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN, VP STRATEGY & REQUIREMENTS, AIR WEAPONS & SENSORS LOCKHEED MARTIN]
“I think it will be a range of target sets. You know, we certainly understand that in tomorrow’s war, the idea that targets are going to stay still and allowed to be shot is probably not going to happen. So we’re really focused on as a baseline capability is the ability to hit a moving target, or movable target, and from that, I think it can expand. It may be sea based, it may be land based, right? And it’s not going to have a huge warhead, so it’s not going to go after your biggest, hardest targets, but it’ll be able to hit a variety of things through there, absolutely.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN, VP STRATEGY & REQUIREMENTS, AIR WEAPONS & SENSORS LOCKHEED MARTIN]
“You bet my pleasure. Thanks.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
FOLKS FOR COM CHECK THIS WEEK WE HAVE AN UPDATE WITH THE VP OF STRATEGY, WITH SHIELD. AI HEATH. NAOMI, DID I SAY THAT? RIGHT? HEATH, YOU DID, ALL RIGHT. PERFECT HEATH. WE’RE TALKING TODAY ABOUT THE VBAT DRONE. THIS IS AN UPDATE FOR OUR AUDIENCE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT THERE’S SOME UPDATES TO THE VBAT. KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH WHAT’S WHAT’S CHANGED, WHAT’S NEW?
[HEATH NIEMI, VP OF GROWTH, SHIELD AI]
“Sure, the new, revised VBAT is a different sort of propulsion system. You can now fly using JP five heavy fuel, which is a big requirement, especially for the maritime forces. We also have a new landing gear set up for unassisted launch and recovery. We have Additionally, we have more fuel in this particular V bat. So we’re getting 12 plus hours of endurance, getting which is, which is really critical for ISR missions, especially for strategic targeting. And that’s one of the niches that the V bat is, is filling the gaps, especially overseas.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT DIFFERENT FUEL, THAT’S ALSO A SAFETY COMPONENT AS WELL ON SOME OF THESE SHIPS, RIGHT?
[HEATH NIEMI, VP OF GROWTH, SHIELD AI]
“Correct. That is a navy requirement for JP five on board the ships.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AND OBVIOUSLY, OTHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE V BATS. THEY’RE FLYING IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. JAPAN JUST BOUGHT SOME. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE V BATS ABILITY TO FLY IN CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS THAT IT’S STILL BEING USED IN UKRAINE.
[HEATH NIEMI, VP OF GROWTH, SHIELD AI]
“Sure. It’s filling a gap right now in Ukraine for the contested environment, for ISR targeting and battle damage assessment, which is crucial. Other countries are noticing this fact, because this is kind of the wave of the future. Additionally, there’s other countries are very, very trusting in the V bats technology to launch and recover unassisted, to to meet their nation’s different strategic goals.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
AND LAST QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU THE HIVE MIND, THE BRAINS OF THE OPERATION. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE V BAT AND PUT IN OTHER OTHER DEVICES.
[HEATH NIEMI, VP OF GROWTH, SHIELD AI]
“Correct, correct. Shield. AI is an AI company in hive mind. We are providing hive mind to other airframes and other providers as well.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
HEATH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
[HEATH NIEMI, VP OF GROWTH, SHIELD AI]
“Absolutely thank you.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, THAT’S GOING TO JUST ABOUT DO IT FOR US ON THIS WEEK OF WEAPONS AND WARFARE AS ALWAYS, PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GROWING THE CHANNEL AND SPREADING THE MESSAGE. THIS WEEK’S WRAP IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. INSTEAD OF GIVING YOU MY THOUGHTS ON ONE TOPIC IN PARTICULAR, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN SUPER PRODUCER, BRETT BAKER AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT OUR REACTION TO THE SHOW THIS YEAR BECAUSE BRETT, THIS SHOW IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES WE WENT TO LAST YEAR.
[BRETT BAKER]
“That’s yeah, absolutely the case, fewer people, less participation, the contractors, probably not as enthusiastic as they have been in some of the past shows we’ve been to, sure and just kind of the mood. There’s an uneasiness or an uncertainty. I wouldn’t call it, you know, fear or anything like that, but just No, just nobody knows which way it’s really going to go.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
YEAH, THERE’S, THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR DEFENSE EXPO THAT WE’VE BEEN TO SINCE, OBVIOUSLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED BACK INTO OFFICE. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PETE HEXAF HAD MADE A BUNCH OF SWEEPING CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND ALSO PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD KIND OF CHANGED THE AMERICAN TUNE, IF YOU WILL, ON BACKING FOR UKRAINE. A LOT OF THE OFFICERS HERE, A LOT OF THE GENERALS THAT WE HEARD FROM THIS WEEK, THEIR CAREERS STARTED BACK BEFORE THE BUDAPEST MEMORANDUM, WHICH WAS UKRAINE’S PEACE AGREEMENT TO GIVE UP NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE US, THE UK AND RUSSIA, GUARANTEEING ITS PEACE. A LOT OF THESE OFFICERS, THEY WERE AROUND WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT MEMORANDUM WAS SIGNED. AND FAST FORWARD TO NOW, AND THE AMERICAN CHANGE IN POSTURE TOWARDS A AN ALLY. YOU KNOW THAT THAT’S LEAVING SOME, LIKE YOU SAID, SOME UNEASE AND SOME TREPIDATION WITHIN BOTH THE VENDORS AND AND THE MILITARY TO BE HONEST.
[BRETT BAKER]
“Yeah, it’s interesting. I think everybody wants to talk, but I think they may not be too sure about what they want to say, because I think nobody wants to step over any boundaries, real or imagined. So I think everyone’s, you know, just kind of taking a wait and see approach and playing it close to the vest.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
RIGHT. WE JUST CAME OUT OF A PANEL DISCUSSION CALLED NATO IN ACTION, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THE MODERATOR SAID IS, WE’RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEFENSE SPENDING. WE’RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW ANYTHING OVERTLY POLITICAL? BECAUSE WE’RE NOT HERE TO MAKE HEADLINES THIS MORNING, WHICH TO ME, IS KIND OF THE THAT’S KIND OF THE PHRASE OF OF THE WEEK. PEOPLE ARE HERE TO MAKE DEALS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO MAKE HEADLINES. THERE’S A LOT OF AT THESE SHOWS. THERE’S ROUND TABLES WHERE A LOT OF THE UPPER TIER OFFICERS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO MEDIA, AND THERE WAS ROUND TABLES SCHEDULED TO TALK ABOUT INDO PAYCOM, TO TALK ABOUT COLLABORATIVE COMBAT AIRCRAFT, TO TALK ABOUT UKRAINE, TO TALK ABOUT NATO. AND THOSE WERE ALL CANCELED, THAT ACCESS TO MEDIA…
[BRETT BAKER]
“Canceled or cameras were not invited in, which was not the case last year. Last year, we pretty much went to everything that we wanted to. And yeah, definitely a different tone coming out of those folks this week. And you can understand why.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
ABSOLUTELY. BRETT REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND JOINING ME ON THE TRIP. FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME, BRETT COMES WITH ME ON THESE THINGS AS A TEAM. WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TACKLE EVERYTHING WE CAN. WE HAVE CHRIS BEHIND THE CAMERA WITH US. SO THANK YOU, CHRIS, AND FOR ALL YOU FOLKS AT HOME ONCE AGAIN, THANKS FOR WATCHING. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT TUNED TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.