How High-Performance Polymers Are Advancing Aerospace Manufacturing

As aerospace manufacturers prepare for growing aircraft production demands and the rapid expansion of satellite constellations, advanced materials and additive manufacturing are becoming increasingly important to production efficiency, component performance, and supply-chain resilience. At the same time, challenges involving material qualification, manufacturing scalability, and production costs continue to limit the adoption of next-generation polymers and composites.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Mike Zimmerman, founder and CEO of Z-Polymers, discusses the company's development of high-performance polymer materials and their potential applications in aerospace and defense manufacturing. The conversation examines how advanced materials and new manufacturing processes could reduce production lead times, support domestic manufacturing capacity, and provide alternatives to traditional aerospace materials.Zimmerman also discusses the challenges of scaling additive manufacturing for commercial and military aircraft, the importance of material performance and reliability, and how the growing demand for satellites and spacecraft components could accelerate advanced materials adoption heading into 2027.Sponsored by COMSOL

As uncrewed aerial threats continue to evolve, militaryforces face growing demand for affordable, scalable counter-UAS technologies capable of detecting and identifying drones in complex operational environments.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technologypodcast, MyDefence Bill Ostrowski discusses the company's latest developments in AI-powered drone detection, including its new Wingman Edge wearable system, which uses onboard artificial intelligence to identify emerging radio-frequencythreats. The conversation also explores MyDefence's expansion of U.S. manufacturing operations, the engineering challenges of scaling counter-drone production to meet military demand, and the future of low-cost counter-UAS technology for deployed forces.Sponsored by COMSOL

As the U.S. Army reshapes how it develops, acquires, and fields autonomous systems, military leaders are increasingly emphasizing that autonomy is not a one-size-fits-all capability. New organizational changes, including the establishment of the Army's Futures and Autonomous Systems Command (FASCOM), reflect a broader effort to accelerate robotics adoption while aligning technology development with mission-specific requirements.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology Podcast, we feature remarks from an AUSA 2026 panel discussion on integrated autonomy in warfighting. Dr. Alexander Miller, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Army, and BG Anthony Gibbs, Capability Program Executive for Mission Autonomy, U.S. Army, discuss how the Army is approaching autonomous systems development, acquisition strategies, force structure changes, and the evolving role of robotics across future militaryoperations.Sponsored by: Allient

As autonomy becomes a defining requirement across military drones, robotic systems, and other unmanned platforms, developers face a growing challenge: finding enough onboard computing power to run advanced AI without driving up size, weight, power consumption, and cost.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we speak with Saleel Awsare, President and CEO of Lantronix, about the company's new Spotter embedded computing platform, unveiled during AUSA 2026 in Washington, D.C.The discussion explores how Spotter was designed to close what Lantronix describes as the "compute gap" between low-end embedded boards that cannot support meaningful AI workloads and larger GPU-based solutions that may be too expensive or power-hungry for small, scalable autonomous systems. Powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6490, Spotter integrates AI processing, vision capabilities, flight-grade sensing, and vehicle control into a compact board intended for aerial, ground, and maritime autonomous platforms.Listen to the full conversation to learn how advances in edge AI computing are helping make autonomy more accessible for drone and robotics developers across defense and commercial markets.Season 17 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast is sponsored by Allient.

Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East haveunderscored a growing reality for defense planners: low-cost unmanned systems are reshaping modern warfare and placing unprecedented demands on manufacturing capacity, supply chains, and acquisition strategies. At the same time, thechallenge of defeating inexpensive drones with significantly more expensive defensive systems continues to drive interest in scalable, cost-effectivecounter-UAS systems.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Brett Velicovich, co-founder and president of Powerus, explains the company's efforts to expand domestic drone and counter-drone production while maintaining affordability and operational effectiveness. The conversation follows Powerus' recent $82 million U.S. government order for C-UAS systems. Velicovich discusses lessons learned from today's drone-centric conflicts, the importance of U.S.-based manufacturing, challenges associated with scaling autonomous-systemproduction, and how the defense industry can improve the cost exchange ratio between offensive drones and defensive interceptors. The discussion also explores workforce development, supply-chain resilience, and the future ofhigh-volume autonomous-system production. Sponsored by: Allient

What happens when military units can build, repair, and modify critical systems without waiting on a supply chain?On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we speak with Chad McCoy, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Firestorm Labs, a Special Operations Forces veteran and retired Chief Master Sergeant from theU.S. Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron. Drawing on years of operational experience and work in defense innovation, McCoy discusses one of the military's most pressing challenges: sustaining capability in contested environments wheretraditional logistics networks may be delayed, disrupted, or denied.At the center of the conversation is Firestorm's xCell, a containerized manufacturing platform that brings industrial-grade production capabilities directly to deployed forces. Designed to operate at the point of need, the systemenables teams to produce, repair, and adapt unmanned aircraft systems in the field, reducing dependence on lengthy supply chains and improving operational flexibility.Sponsored by: Allient

Over five decades, Tech Briefs has helped tell countless stories of NASA technology transfer, highlighting how discoveries made for space exploration find new life in products and applications here on Earth. This special episode focuses on a remarkable example of tech transfer: a treadmill technology that began as a solution forexercising in reduced-gravity environments and has since helped people recover from injury, improve athletic performance, and maintain mobility as they age.SAE Media Group’s Editorial Director Chitra Sethi speaks with Tom Allen and Sean Whalen, founders of Boost Treadmills. Boost Treadmills was founded in 2017 and prior to starting Boost, they each played key roles in the creation of AlterG®.As Tech Briefs celebrates its 50th anniversary, we're reflecting on five decades of stories just like this one in its special 50th anniversary issue. It's both a look back at how far we've come and a look ahead at the technologies that will define the next generation of innovation.Read the Tech Briefs 50th Anniversary Special Edition.Sponsored by Rohde & Schwarz

As military ground vehicle manufacturers add autonomous navigation, advanced sensing, counter-UAS capability, and survivability features to next-generation platforms, the production environment behind those systems isbecoming as critical as the vehicle architecture. Digital engineering, model-based workflows, mixed reality, automation, and advanced materials are helping defense suppliers accelerate production, improve installation quality,reduce weight, and move complex designs from prototype to fielded system.On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Season 16’s focus on military ground vehicle systemscontinues with a look at the manufacturing and design technologies enabling more efficient vehicle production. ClickBond, a Nevada-based manufacturer of adhesive-bonded fastening systems, provides structural hardware, adhesives, tooling, and installation methods for aerospace, defense, industrial, and vehicle applications. The interview explains how Click Bond is using digital tools tomodernize manufacturing and installation, and work around digital twins, AI, robotics, and human-augmented production. These capabilities reflect a broader defense-industry shift toward digitally connected design and manufacturingenvironments. The guest on this episode is Bill Perez, Senior Product and Application Strategy Manager at Click Bond.

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Robert Jacobson, CEO of Lite Coms, discusses howtactical SATCOM systems are evolving to support resilient, multi-orbit connectivity for expeditionary, fixed, and mobile military operations.Lite Coms designs and delivers tactical SATCOM terminals for mission-critical communications, including fly-away auto-acquire systems, rugged flat-panel terminals, and modemassemblies built for LEO, MEO, and GEO network environments.The conversation explores multi-orbit network integration, modular terminal engineering, accelerated development cycles, advanced manufacturing, and emerging approaches to command-and-control communications.

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Bryan Bockmon, CEO of AimLock, discusses how autonomous targeting and AI-enabled fire control are being applied to one of the fastest-evolving battlefield threats: small unmanned aerial systems. The conversation examines AimLock’s latest collaboration with FN America and howthe companies are integrating sensor fusion, autonomy, and precision engagement capabilities into vehicle-mounted weapon systems designed for counter-UAS missions.RELATED:C-UAS Magazine Call for PapersDuring SOF Week 2026, AimLock and FN America unveiled the Dunetechnology demonstrator, which brings AimLock’s autonomy suite for networked, layered counter-UAS defense into FN America’s FN DEFENDER® Medium remote weapon station. The integrated system is designed to give militaryvehicles a scalable, mounted countermeasure against low-cost attack drones and other aerial threats.The episode also explores why defense organizations areprioritizing modular, open-architecture solutions that can improve force protection without requiring full platform replacements. Bockmon shares insights on emerging trends in autonomy, precision engagement, and layered counter-drone defense as military forces adapt to a rapidly changing threatenvironment.