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

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.

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

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, [email protected].

Sponsored by

Omnetics and New England Wire

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.

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