The Future of Drone Swarms and Counter-UAS | Kyle Hardy & Ashkan Bayatpour
Kyle Hardy, CEO of Hardy Dynamics, and Ashkan Bayatpour, U.S. Navy Reserve Officer, join the show to break down the future of drone warfare and the challenges of building software for autonomous swarms. We dig into the reality of counter-drone operations, why electronic warfare and lasers fall short, and why kinetic defenses are still the only reliable option. The conversation covers AI integration, vendor lock problems, DOD acquisition hurdles, and the rapidly evolving threat landscape in Ukraine and beyond. Hardy and Bayatpour also share their personal paths from Navy intel to defense startups, and what it takes to bridge the gap between commercial innovation and national security.Episode #42.---Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimonihttps://www.allencontrolsystems.com/#podcast #drones #dronewarfare #counteruas #defensetech #militaryinnovation #dod #navyintel #startups #artificialintelligence #droneai #uas #uaswarfare #militarytech #aerospace #dronecountermeasures #droneindustry #natsec #dronepolicy #militarydrones #defensestartups
--------
1:16:31
--------
1:16:31
Inside Ukraine's Drone War and the Defense Tech Bubble | Patrick Blumenthal
Defense tech insider Patrick Blumenthal breaks down the latest developments in Ukraine's drone warfare evolution and the Vector vs. RedCat lawsuit shaking up the industry. From Russia's new evasion modules and radar warning receivers on Shaheds to the reality of SMR hype in defense tech, Patrick delivers unfiltered analysis on what's actually working on the battlefield. We dive deep into the cat-and-mouse game of drone interceptors, the business models driving defense innovation, and why peace talks are likely to fail as fighting season continues.Pat on X: https://x.com/patrickjblum?lang=enEpisode #41.---Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimonihttps://www.allencontrolsystems.com/#podcast #defensetech #ukraine #drones #vector #redcat #lawsuit #shaheds #dronewarfare #interceptors #smr #nuclear #palantir #defenseinnovation #military #dod #govcon #startups #defenseinvesting #battlefieldtech #autonomy
--------
1:23:25
--------
1:23:25
Russia’s Next Move: Middle East, Arms, and Influence | Matt Tavares & Anna Borshchevskaya
Russia’s ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine.In this episode, we’re joined by two experts with deep regional and strategic insight: former Army intelligence officer Matt Tavares, and Anna Borshchevskaya, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and author of Putin’s War in Syria.We unpack how Russia uses frozen conflicts as long-term leverage, why much of the Global South rejects the Western narrative on Ukraine, and what’s next for Russian arms exports. The conversation also explores Putin’s worldview, the limits of Western sanctions, and the future of Syria post-Assad.If you care about how great powers actually operate outside of public view, this episode is for you.⸻Article: https://jstribune.com/borshchevskaya-tavares-russias-defense-ties-in-the-middle-east/Matt Tavares: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-tavares/Anna Borshchevskaya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaborshchevskaya/---Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimonihttps://www.allencontrolsystems.com/
--------
1:22:09
--------
1:22:09
Reinventing Radar: Building the Future of ISR from Space | Andrew Peterson
Andrew Peterson is the co-founder and CEO of Array Labs, a startup building 3D imaging radar satellites to compete with billion-dollar airborne ISR platforms at a fraction of the cost. In this episode, Andrew breaks down why government customers don’t just want imagery—they want hardware—and how selling into the defense ecosystem really works.We dig into the startup journey, the realities of firm fixed-price contracts vs. cost-plus, and what it takes to build scalable space systems that the Pentagon actually wants to buy. Andrew also shares candid lessons from founding the company, fundraising, and navigating the misunderstood world of defense innovation.Whether you’re deep in dual-use or just SAR-curious, this one’s packed with hard-won insights.Andrew Peterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-peterson-array-labs/Array Labs: https://www.arraylabs.io/Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimonihttps://www.allencontrolsystems.com/
--------
1:27:43
--------
1:27:43
Fundraising, Focus, and Failure: Hard Truths About Defense Startups | Kirsten Bartok Touw
Kirsten Bartok Touw is the co-founder and Managing Partner of New Vista Capital, a venture firm focused exclusively on aerospace, space, and defense. In this episode, Kirsten joins to talk about investing in dual-use tech, startup momentum, and how capital is becoming a competitive moat in defense. We discuss what founders get wrong about working with the DOD, the talent shift from Silicon Valley to DC and Austin, and why so few hardware companies reach TRL 9.From the future of hypersonics to the realities of raising defense venture capital, this is a sharp, wide-ranging conversation about building and backing serious defense tech.Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimonihttps://www.allencontrolsystems.com/
The preeminent podcast for all things drones, defense tech, defense policy, and modern warfare. Featured guests include industry leaders, policy experts, military warfighters, business titans, and many more. Hosted by Steve Simoni, co-founder and CEO of Allen Control Systems.
France