In this episode, hosts DeWayne Allen and Rob Wesley break down Weapons and Payloads 101, shifting the focus from aircraft platforms to the systems that actually determine mission success. They walk through air-to-air, air-to-ground, and standoff weapons, explain how payload decisions drive aircraft design, and unpack why integration and lifecycle sustainment account for so much of the cost in aerospace and defense. From the 2026 National Defense Strategy to emerging signals like counter-UAS and interoperability, this episode connects mission requirements to engineering realities and business strategy across the industry.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 – Why the Mission Drives Everything

01:34 – Industry Newsreel: Strategy, Sustainability & Production Shifts

06:28 – What “Payload” Really Means in Aerospace

07:19 – Air-to-Air Weapons (AIM-120, AIM-9)

08:58 – Air-to-Ground Weapons (JDAM, Hellfire, JASSM)

11:36 – Standoff Weapons & Survivability

12:34 – Guns and Cannons in Modern Combat

13:29 – How Weapons Are Mounted (Hardpoints & Bays)

15:37 – The P&L: Why These Systems Cost So Much

18:35 – Market Signals: Counter-UAS, Interoperability, Exportability

20:52 – Key Takeaways: Systems Over Platforms

Connect with us:

DeWayne Allen on LinkedIn

Robert Wesley on LinkedIn

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Produced by NOVA