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PODCAST

The Drone Ultimatum

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.

technology

All Episodes

00:27:34

How to Redefine Battlefield Logistics with 3D...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/31

Dan Magy, co-founder and CEO of Firestorm, returns to the show for a live episode recorded at Battlefield 2027. Firestorm is building deployable, modular 3D printing systems that can manufacture drones, parts, and tools directly at the edge of operations — a game-changing capability for contested logistics.We discuss how Firestorm’s portable manufacturing units are reshaping military production, the lessons learned from early Army field tests, and how 3D printing is enabling faster repair and

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01:26:26

Jet Engines & Reinventing Oil Systems for Next-Gen...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/25

Rob Sladen is the Chairman and CEO of Zulu Pods, a company pioneering next-generation lubrication and fluid delivery systems for aerospace and defense. Before founding Zulu Pods, Sladen spent 13 years at Pratt & Whitney designing jet engines — experience that now fuels his startup’s role as the “picks and shovels” behind future weapon systems.In this episode, we talk about how Zulu Pods’ “Tide Pod for jet engines” was invented, the state of DoD procurement, and why small defense startups face

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01:30:12

The GovCon Game: Relationships and Red Tape | John Ferry

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/18

John Ferry returns to the show for one of the most blunt conversations yet about the defense startup ecosystem. From the realities of selling to government and surviving the “valley of death” to the cultural dysfunction inside acquisition, Ferry lays out why so many startups die before getting their product fielded and what it actually takes to win.Steve and John discuss how relationships drive every contract, why SBIRs rarely translate to real programs, and how companies like Anduril changed the

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01:10:06

Inside AV Inc: Drones, Directed Energy, and Defense...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/13

Church Hutton, Chief Growth Officer at AV Inc. (formerly AeroVironment), joins the show for a deep dive into the future of autonomous systems, directed energy, and defense innovation. A retired Army officer and longtime Hill staffer, Church brings an insider’s view of how national security priorities, procurement, and industrial competition with China are evolving.He shares how AV is doubling down on robotics, drones, and lasers following its merger with BlueHalo, and why the company’s investments

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01:25:52

Autonomous Fighter Drones and the Next Era of Air...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/11

Jeff Wright, founder and CEO of SplashOne Robotics, joins the show to discuss how his company is developing small, purpose-built fighter drones to redefine air superiority. A former Marine and Air Force Special Tactics Officer, Wright brings a warfighter’s perspective to modern defense tech — from the limits of current counter-drone systems to the coming shift toward autonomous, air-to-air combat.We cover the “drone bubble” shaping defense startups, how SplashOne is tackling the kill chain

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01:18:45

Solid Rocket Motors and America’s Hypersonic “Sputnik...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/10/04

<p>Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer at X-Bow Systems, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges and opportunities in America’s solid rocket motor industry.<br><br>With decades of experience, including early work at SpaceX, Vozoff explains why the U.S. is facing a “Sputnik moment” in hypersonics and energetics — and how X-Bow is building new manufacturing methods to meet the demand.</p><p>We dive into X-Bow’s “rocket factory in a box,” distributed production

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01:30:02

FAA, DJI, and the Next Era of U.S. Drone Innovation |...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/09/26

Todd Graetz, co-founder and CEO of Aerolane, joins the show to share how his aviation startup is reimagining air cargo with autonomous glider-based aircraft. From his early work launching one of the first large-scale drone programs at BNSF Railway to building Aerolane's innovative “air cart” system, Graetz has been at the forefront of UAV and aerospace innovation for over a decade.We discuss the challenges of scaling U.S. drone manufacturing, the realities of FAA regulation, and why bans on Chinese

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01:26:04

Advanced Radar Detection, Modular Sensing, and...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/09/19

Jon Dandrow, CEO of Radenso and Strikeman, joins the show to talk about building advanced radar detection systems, modular sensing hardware, and consumer-to-defense innovation.From hacking traffic cameras in his college years to leading dual-use technology companies, Dandrow shares the unconventional path that brought him into the defense world. We dive into how modular, FPGA-powered platforms are reshaping signals intelligence and CUAS, the challenges of manufacturing in the U.S. versus China, and

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01:17:12

Modular Jamming, AI Detection, and the Rise of...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/09/12

Matt McCrann, U.S. Navy veteran and CEO of DroneShield US, joins the show to talk about the evolving fight against drone threats. From handheld jammers like the DroneGun MkIV to advanced sensor fusion and AI-powered RF detection, DroneShield is building modular tools for defense and homeland security. We dig into the cat-and-mouse game with adversary drones, lessons from Ukraine, and how modular hardware and software-defined jamming keep pace with new threats. McCrann also shares insights on

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01:21:06

From Industrial Robots to Defense Infrastructure |...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/09/05

Troy Demmer is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Gecko Robotics, the industrial tech company behind wall-climbing inspection robots and the full-stack software platform reshaping how we manage critical infrastructure. In this episode, Troy breaks down Gecko’s origin story, their second act in defense, and why hardware is just the wedge.We talk about the staggering cost of industrial maintenance, the Navy’s sustainment crisis, the failure of legacy digital twin initiatives, and how Gecko’s

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01:29:59

The Reality of Selling to the Pentagon | Mike Canty

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/08/29

Mike Canty, co-founder and CEO of Armaments Research Company, joins the show to discuss the future of defense tech and the realities of building hardware startups for the Pentagon. A former Army major, Mike now leads ARC in developing AI-enabled weapon sensors that turn rifles into data-driven decision systems. We get into his founder journey from bootstrapping hardware to selling a previous startup to DoorDash, the challenges of raising money in defense before it was “cool,” and the realities of

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01:16:31

The Future of Drone Swarms and Counter-UAS | Kyle...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/08/22

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

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01:23:25

Inside Ukraine's Drone War and the Defense Tech...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/08/15

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

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01:22:09

Russia’s Next Move: Middle East, Arms, and Influence...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/08/01

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

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01:27:43

Reinventing Radar: Building the Future of ISR from...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/07/25

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

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01:22:12

Fundraising, Focus, and Failure: Hard Truths About...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/07/18

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

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01:10:23

Building Unmanned Warships for the Navy | Austin...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/07/11

Austin Gray, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Blue Water Autonomy, joins the podcast to break down the future of autonomous naval warfare.From unmanned ships that carry large payloads to the technical and political challenges of defense procurement, Austin offers an insider’s view of building in one of the most complex arenas in defense tech.He shares stories from his Navy intelligence days, dives into the design decisions behind Blue Water’s vessels, and explains how autonomy changes the

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01:08:13

Autonomous Boats and the Future of Naval Warfare |...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/07/07

Paul Lwin is the co-founder and CEO of HavocAI, a defense startup building collaborative autonomous surface vessels. In this episode, Paul breaks down the company’s tech stack, their strategic approach to naval warfare, and how Havoc’s 14-foot robotic boats might reshape the future of the Pacific fight.We dive into dual-use applications, investor narratives, defense procurement challenges, and the software-first strategy behind Havoc’s growth from five people to seventy in under a year. Paul also

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01:05:49

The Future of the Army: Autonomy, AI, and Combat...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/06/27

General James Rainey leads the U.S. Army’s effort to prepare for the next war. As the Commanding General of Army Futures Command, he’s focused on adapting to a battlefield shaped by drones, autonomy, and AI. In this conversation, he breaks down how drone warfare in Ukraine is reshaping military thinking, why adaptability—not prediction—is the key to readiness, and how the Army is transforming its doctrine, org charts, and tech stack.We also cover advanced weapons systems, IVAS, industrial base

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01:34:43

Can the U.S. Still Build Things? Fixing the...

The Drone Ultimatum ·

2025/06/20

Miles Arnone, CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing, joins the podcast to explain why American manufacturing fell behind—and how to bring it back. We dive into defense supply chains, national security vulnerabilities, rare earth magnets, and why the U.S. can’t rely on overseas factories forever. Miles shares Re:Build’s long-term plan to re-industrialize the country by acquiring and integrating specialized manufacturing businesses. We also get into 3D printing myths, scalable drone production, and why

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54 results

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