National Defense Magazine

In the December podcast, we look at the future of military virtual reality training tools, the Army’s efforts to strengthen its tactical command posts, and the joint program executive office’s plan for a new chemical-biological protection suit.  

In the November 2017 podcast, we look at the U.S. military's efforts to bolster its global strike capabilities, a competition to replace the Air Force's missile field security helicopters, and plans to upgrade the Reaper unmanned aircraft fleet.

In the October 2017 podcast, we look at how a new Russian tank could offer a challenge the U.S. Army's Abrams, how troops are taking advantage of smartphone technology and how artificial intelligence can help defeat roadside bombs.

In the September podcast, we look at the Air Force's effort to procure a new commercial off-the-shelf light attack aircraft, the potentially widespread applications for airborne lasers in the military, and how a forthcoming satellite constellation could bring an upgraded communications capability to ground forces …

In the August 2017 podcast, we look at the Defense Department’s effort to modernize its nuclear triad of bombers, submarines and ground-based missiles.

In the July podcast, we look at how the U.S. military is seeking more funding to develop offensive hypersonic weapons and the means to counter them, the Defense Department's new campaign to integrate artificial intelligence technologies across intelligence systems and the Navy's progress on developing the railgun advanced weapon system.

In the June 2017 podcast, we look at the production costs of the F-35 joint strike fighter for international customers, how the Army could replace aging Bradley fighters with a next-generation combat vehicle and Special Operations Command's progress on developing a full body armor "Iron Man" suit to protect commandos. This podcast is sponsored by Amazon's GovCloud.

In the May 2017 podcast, we look at how Air Force Special Operations Command is preparing to test an airborne directed energy weapon, whether the Army's next-generation combat vehicle will be robotic and the Coast Guard's budgetary "no man's land."

In the April 2017 podcast, we look at new designs for the Army's future vertical lift aircraft program, Boeing's efforts to resurrect older F/A/-18 Hornets and Super Hornets for the Navy and Marine Corps, and why service officials are saying they need the joint light tactical vehicle sooner and in bigger quantities.

In the March 2017 podcast, we look at the shifting political winds that could lead to more F/A-18 Super Hornets and less F-35 joint strike fighters for the Navy, how shipbuilders are looking to answer the service's call for a larger fleet, and how driverless trucks are poised to join military operations.

In the February 2017 podcast, we look at how the role of special operations forces may change under a new administration, an innovative Defense Department cybersecurity program and how the Pentagon is using contests to counter enemy drones. This podcast is sponsored by Amazon's GovCloud.

In the January 2017 podcast, we look at the challenges facing a critical Navy communications satellite program, how the service is looking to equip its next littoral combat ships with unmanned systems and the future of the Defense Department's new innovation unit.

In the December podcast, we look at how the U.S. Army is working to push the limits of virtual gaming and augmented reality technologies to improve training simulations, progress in the military ground robot market and why the Defense Department is actually paying people to hack its information technology systems.

In the November podcast, we look at four areas where the U.S. military will have to fight under challenging conditions in the future: anti access/area denial; urban environments; space; and climate change.

In this podcast, we look at the development of the Warrior Web robotic exosuit program, that could reduce war fighter fatigue and prevent injuries, new improvements to night vision technology that help to reduce the size, weight and power consumption of goggles, and how the U.S. Navy is seeking to make unmanned underwater vehicles interoperable with other unmanned platforms.