How Virtual Twins are Reshaping Aerospace Design and Manufacturing
As aerospace companies race to deliver cutting-edgetechnologies faster and more efficiently, digital innovation is taking center stage. For decades, manufacturers have relied on digital twins for design and simulation. Today, the industry is entering a new era with virtual twins. According to Dassault Systèmes, a virtual twin is "an immersive scientific digital model that mirrors a real-world product, system, or process in meticulous detail." Virtual twins allow engineers to predict performance, eliminate errors, and optimize designs before production even begins. This breakthrough is helping aerospace and defense manufacturers reduce development cycles, improve quality, and accelerate time-to-market for next-generation technologies.On the latest episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we sit down with two experts from DassaultSystèmes:Mariah Otte, Aerospace and Defense Solution ArchitectJason Roberson, Aerospace and Defense Industry Value ExpertTogether, they explain how virtual twins are transformingaerospace design and manufacturing, and what this means for the future of innovation in the sector. From simulation-driven engineering to predictive performance modeling, this conversation dives deep into the tools and strategies shaping tomorrow’s aerospace solutions.
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A New Additive Manufacturing Accelerator for the US Navy in Guam
This episode examines the technical and strategic foundations behind Guam’s new advanced manufacturing hub, developed through ASTRO America in coordination with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Program. Neal Orringer of ASTRO America and Alex Benham of the Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) provide an engineering-level discussion of the facility’s additive manufacturing capabilities, supply-chain objectives, and workforce development plans. The conversation outlines how the hub will support distributed sustainment, accelerate part production near the point of need, and bolster naval readiness across the Indo-Pacific.
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The Hidden Heroes of Hydrogen Flight: Sealing and Materials
While hydrogen-powered flight promises zero emissions and high efficiency, it also brings some of the toughest engineering challenges: cryogenic storage, high-pressure systems, and the constant risk of leakage. At the heart of solving these challenges are sealing solutions and advanced materials — the hidden heroes that make safe, reliable hydrogen flight possible.On this sponsored interview episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Margauz Ningre-Corier, Aerospace Sales and Market Development Manager at Omniseal Solutions is the guest expert who will dive into how these technologies are being developed, what hurdles remain, and where the future of hydrogen-powered air mobility is headed.
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How Forterra is Enabling Modular Military Vehicle Autonomy
During the 2025 Association of the United States Army(AUSA) annual meeting and exhibition, Forterra announced several major defense industry vehicle partnerships and introduced four new integrated modules designed to enable autonomy for military vehicles, communications and more. Headquartered in Clarksburg, Maryland, Forterra develops autonomous mission systems for specific defense applications, including robotics and self-driving vehicles. The company has a new partnership with BAE Systems that will rapidly prototype an autonomous Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). Separately, Forterra has also collaborated with Oshkosh Defense and Raytheon to develop the "DeepFires" autonomous vehicle launcher technology. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Patrick Acox, Forterra Vice President of Defense Growth, is the guest to explain how their company provides autonomy enabling modules for a wide variety of military applications.
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Autonomous Drones Harness Wind for ISR and Counter UAS
Windlift, a North Carolina-based startup, recentlyannounced successful results from initial testing of a new autonomous tethered drone system that leverages winds aloft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS). Windlift's new "GUARD" system is a mobile platform that includes a launcher and a tethered drone equipped with a navigation system that autonomously leverages wind to maintain altitude and stability. "GUARD is set to deliver performance far beyond what's possible today. Where most tethered drones struggle or fail in high winds, GUARD excels. As the wind increases, the GUARD platform, originally designed to harness the wind through complex flight patterns for airborne power generation, thrives," said Rob Creighton, Windlift Founder & CEO. "This breakthrough has been in the making for years, with technical oversight from the Naval Research Laboratory every step of the way. Initial testing marks a pivotal moment."Creighton is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace& Defense Technology podcast to explain how Windlift's autonomous tethered drone system leverages wind to power a wide variety of defense applications.
The Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast provides independent coverage of information that impacts the business, innovation, and trends occurring across all segments of aerospace and defense, with an emphasis on technology. Across a continuing series of seasons, the A&DT Podcast provides insights into the most pertinent topics occurring in today's aerospace system engineering field.
The podcast also features interviews with experts on topics featured at SAE Media Group Defense's U.S. and Europe-based live conferences and exhibitions.
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