In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast we speak to a Washington DC-based defence industry advisor about the upcoming US presidential transition and the challenges ahead for the US defence community, and in an interview with a Security Researcher at DomainTools we discuss evolving cyber threats and what countermeasures countries worldwide are developing.

Newsround [00:39]

Russia remains optimistic about the Kamov Ka-226T helicopter deal with India 

Tests are under way on the fuel system, after the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant handed over two completed fuselages to Technodinamika Holding.

Israel Aerospace Industries has completed deliveries of ‘several hundred’  ELM-2133 WindGuard active protection radars to DRS Land Systems.

Elbit Systems UK Ltd has been awarded a contract from the UK MoD to provide shore-based training for Royal Navy submariners at Faslane in Scotland.

The USN has received the HELIOS laser system and will test the capability at Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island over the next several months.

In focus

Senior Editor Naval Richard Thomas discusses the latest news from the online Surface Navy Symposium.

Air Editor Tim Martin reports on Israel is looking to buy a third F-35 squadron from the US, in the wake of a recent FMS deal between the US and the UAE for the sale of 40 F-35s.

The US DoD released its 'Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Strategy' on 7 January, to address risks posed by the exponential growth of small drones. Land Reporter Flavia Camargos Pereira gives an insight on the strategy. 

Interview: The future of US defence policies [23:50]

News Editor Ben Vogel speaks to Adam Konowe Vice President of Client Strategy at TMPWorldwide for and expert take on how the how the upcoming presidential transition  will influence the US defence posture and procurement in the coming years.

Interview: Countering cyber risks [40:28]

Multimedia Journalist Noemi Distefano is on the line with Matthew Pahl, Security Researcher at DomainTools to discuss the work the defence community is doing to tackle current cyberthreats. 

This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with sound mixing by Fred Prest.