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 & President of Allen Control Systems
Recent Episodes
Oct. 25, 2025
Jet Engines & Reinventing Oil Systems for Next-Gen Weaponry | Rob Sladen
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 desig...
Oct. 17, 2025
The GovCon Game: Relationships and Red Tape | John Ferry
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 insid...
Oct. 13, 2025
Inside AV Inc: Drones, Directed Energy, and Defense Innovation | Church Hutton
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 ...
Oct. 11, 2025
Autonomous Fighter Drones and the Next Era of Air Superiority | Jeff Wright, SplashOne Robotics
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 Office...
Oct. 3, 2025
Solid Rocket Motors and America’s Hypersonic “Sputnik Moment” | Max Vozoff
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 a...
Sept. 26, 2025
FAA, DJI, and the Next Era of U.S. Drone Innovation | Todd Graetz, CEO, Aerolane
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 pr...
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