July 01, 2025

IQT Explains: Asymmetric Deterrence

30 minutes

Welcome to the IQT Podcast. In this episode of "IQT Explains," we explore asymmetric deterrence — a strategic approach in modern defense that emphasizes quantity, innovation, and resilience over traditional firepower, led by our host, Kevin Schaeffer.

Joining him are Kevin Wepasnick, a senior technology architect and drone systems enthusiast, and Sameer Punyani, a national security expert with extensive experience at the Department of Defense (DoD). Together, they examine the transition from costly, singular defense systems to networks of affordable, adaptable technologies. The discussion covers topics such as domestic manufacturing challenges, battery supply chains, and the intricacies of military doctrine and logistics.

This episode highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare and offers insights for technologists, policy analysts, and those interested in national security. Discover how startups, policy developments, and lessons from history and fiction are influencing the future of global security.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of Many: Asymmetric Deterrence Unpacked

- Manufacturing at Scale: America’s Critical Challenge

- Doctrine and Doctrine: Bridging Rhetoric and Reality

- Interoperability and Modularity: The Path to True Scale

- Startups as Catalysts: The Innovation Engine

- Winning Through Agility, Not Just Might

- The Cost Imbalance: An Urgent Warning

- The Art of the Possible: Our Call to Action

Featured in this episode:

Kevin Schaeffer

Senior Vice President, Advanced Systems