The Drone Ultimatum

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Jet Engines & Reinventing Oil Systems for Next-Gen Weaponry | Rob Sladen Oct 25, 2025

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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 such steep barriers breaking into military programs.

Rob also dives into dual-use technology, cost-plus contracting, and why the Army’s approach to acquisition timelines desperately needs reform. It’s a sharp, insider look at building in defense, raising capital, and rethinking how the next generation of aerospace systems will actually get built.

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The GovCon Game: Relationships and Red Tape | John Ferry Oct 18, 2025

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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 game through capital, branding, and strategy. They also unpack the coming wave of private equity in defense tech, the illusion of “dual use,” and how the primes still shape who gets a seat at the table.This is the insider’s look at the real mechanics of government contracting, culture, and survival in defense tech.Episode 51.

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Inside AV Inc: Drones, Directed Energy, and Defense Innovation | Church Hutton Oct 13, 2025

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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 in internal R&D are outpacing much of the defense industry. Steve and Church also dig into lessons from Ukraine, U.S. homeland defense policy challenges, and what’s next for programs like Golden Dome and directed-energy systems.

This episode unpacks how the defense industrial base is changing and what the next generation of defense companies are getting right.

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Autonomous Fighter Drones and the Next Era of Air Superiority | Jeff Wright, SplashOne Robotics Oct 11, 2025

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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 end-to-end, and why bullets—not missiles—may define the next era of air defense.

Wright also shares what he learned leading drone initiatives across INDOPACOM, why he built his first prototypes in his garage, and what it takes to found a defense startup straight out of uniform.

This episode goes deep on the future of air combat, the realities of defense innovation, and the mindset required to build the next generation of fighter drones.

Episode #49.

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Solid Rocket Motors and America’s Hypersonic “Sputnik Moment” | Max Vozoff Oct 04, 2025

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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.

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.

We dive into X-Bow’s “rocket factory in a box,” distributed production concepts, and their growing role as a second source supplier for hypersonic weapons. Vozoff also shares lessons from startup scaling, his perspective on contracting bottlenecks in defense, and what it will take for America to regain an edge in critical propulsion technology.

This is a rare insider’s look at the transformation of one of the defense sector’s most overlooked but essential industries.

X-Bow Systems: https://www.xbowsystems.com/

Episode #48.

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FAA, DJI, and the Next Era of U.S. Drone Innovation | Todd Graetz, CEO, Aerolane Sep 26, 2025

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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 drones won’t solve the underlying problems. Graetz also reflects on recruiting rare engineering talent, lessons learned from entrepreneurship inside a Fortune 500, and the future of autonomous cargo transport. This is a deep insider’s look at drones, aviation, and what it takes to change how goods move through the sky.

Todd Graetz: LinkedIn

Episode #47.

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Advanced Radar Detection, Modular Sensing, and Dual-Use Innovation | Jon Dandrow, CEO, Radenso Sep 19, 2025

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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 why full-stack engineering capability matters.

He also opens up about funding strategies, lessons learned from past startups, and the realities of operating at the intersection of consumer electronics and defense tech.

Episode #46

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Modular Jamming, AI Detection, and the Rise of DroneShield | Matt McCrann Sep 12, 2025

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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 working with the DoD, DHS, and allies, the role of startups in defense, and where unmanned ground and maritime systems are headed. A candid, insider look at one of the leading companies shaping the counter-UAS space.

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From Industrial Robots to Defense Infrastructure | Troy Demmer, Gecko Robotics Sep 05, 2025

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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 modular robots collect structured data across steel, concrete, and rotating equipment. Troy also shares his startup lessons from building in Pittsburgh, fundraising from Sam Altman and Founders Fund, and his view on what defense tech gets wrong. One of the sharpest, most underrated founders in the game.Episode #44.---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 #startups #militaryinnovation #robotics #dualuse #geckorobotics #navy #infra #criticalinfrastructure #manufacturing #dod #sustainment #militaryreadiness #foundersfund #hardwarestartups #yc #ai #industrialtech #austintx #venturecapital

The Reality of Selling to the Pentagon | Mike Canty Aug 29, 2025

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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 selling to the U.S. military. From Ukraine’s frontlines to U.S. Army test brigades, this conversation digs into drones, jamming, venture funding, and how defense startups survive in a world still dominated by the primes. If you want to understand the real mechanics behind defense innovation, this is a must-listen.Episode #43.---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 #militaryinnovation #startups #dod #army #airforce #navy #defenseindustry #counteruas #drones #ai #weaponsystems #iot #tacticaltech #militarytechnology #nationalsecurity #venturecapital #govcon #warfighter #miltech

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