Accelerating Spacecraft Development with AI, Digital Twins, and Simulation

Accelerating Spacecraft Development with AI, Digital Twins, and Simulation

Digital engineering is reshaping how today’s aerospacesystems are conceived and delivered. During the 2026 Siemens Realize Live [https://events.sw.siemens.com/en-US/realizelive/americas/session-catalog-americas/] conference and exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast interviewed Dr. Tom Stoumbos,simulation and test leader at Northrop Grumman, about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital simulation and testing tools to design, manufacture, and produce new satellites and space technologies. Siemens announced several new solutions at the event thisyear, including its Intelligence Center X platform [https://news.siemens.com/en-us/siemens-intelligence-center-x/], among others. On this episode, we examine how AI-enabled simulation,digital twins, and integrated engineering environments help teams reduce analysis time while improving design accuracy. By connecting data and models across the lifecycle, engineers can accelerate design iteration, enable parallel development, and bridge simulation with real-world testing. The result is a more agile, data-driven approach to developing next-generation spacecraft capable of meeting increasingly complex mission demands. Sponsored by Omnetics [http://www.omnetics.com/] and New England Wire [http://www.newenglandwiretechnologies.com/]

Radiation-Tolerant Microcontrollers for Expanding LEO Satellite Network

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we speak with the CEO of Vorago Technologies about how radiation-tolerant and radiation-hardened semiconductor technologies are enabling the next generation of satellite constellations, autonomous defense systems, and resilient space infrastructure. The conversation explores how growing demand for AI-enabled edge computing, secure communications, and scalable space architectures is reshaping semiconductor requirements foraerospace and defense applications. Season 15, "Beyond Launch: Engineering Space andSatellite Technology Breakthroughs," of the podcast will featurefour episodes with a range of space engineering and manufacturing experts. If you have a suggested guest, email the podcast host, woodrow.bellamy@saemediagroup.com. Sponsored by Omnetics [http://www.omnetics.com/] and New England Wire [http://www.newenglandwiretechnologies.com/]

How Modular Computing Is Accelerating Modern Defense Technology

Modern defense platforms are evolving rapidly, with modularcomputing emerging as a key enabler of that transformation. On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Shaun Fischer, Director ofDevelopment and Open Systems Solutions at Leonardo DRS, discusses the company’s newly launched THOR —Tactical, High‑Performance Embedded Computing, OpenArchitecture, Rugged — embedded computing chassis and the new military applications it is designed to enable. THOR [https://www.leonardodrs.com/news/press-releases/leonardo-drs-introduces-thor-delivering-decisive-edge-computing-power-to-the-modern-battlefield/]supports a broad range of compute payloads, including Intel®, Arm®, and NVIDIA®‑based single‑board computers; high‑performance GPUs for AI and machine‑learninginference; and RF and digital signal‑processing modules for electronic warfare and secure communications. Fischer also explains how the chassis aligns with the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the open‑architecture initiative shaping the acquisition of next‑generation defense technologies. Sponsored by Smithers. [https://www.smithers.com/cmmc]

How AI Acceleration Strategies Are Changing Embedded Computing Architectures

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technologypodcast, we continue our Season 14 focus on military embedded computing and networking, featuring keynote remarks from the 2026 AUSA Global Force Symposiumand an interview with Jeff Baldwin, Director of Engineering at Sealevel. To open the episode, we share an excerpt from a keynoteaddress [https://www.ausa.org/news/obadal-army-building-modern-dominant-land-force] by Under Secretary of the Army Michael Obadal delivered at the 2026 AUSA Global Force Symposium in Huntsville. In this segment, he describes real‑worldadoption of AI‑enabled tools and outlines one of five principles guiding technology integration, referencing the use of AI‑assisted systems in targeting system development and evaluation. Sealevel designs and manufactures rugged embedded computing platforms and I/O solutions used in mission‑critical military and commercial applications, supporting aerospace and defense OEMs, systems integrators, and service organizations. The company recently published an article [https://www.sealevel.com/blog/how-the-2026-dod-ai-policy-shifts-defense-ai-toward-speed-scale-and-aifirst-operations/] analyzing the Department of War’s 2026 AI Acceleration Strategy and its impact on customer requirements for modular, scalable embedded computing architectures — particularly as AI workloads drive higher demands for processing performance,data movement, and system integration at the edge. During his interview, Baldwin discusses the impact of thisstrategy on companies that are designing and manufacturing AI-enabled embedded computing systems and networks.

Arm’s Agentic AI CPU: Engineering the Next Generation of AI Data Centers

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we bring you highlights from Arm CEO Rene Haas’ keynote at the live‑streamed Arm is Everywhere event [https://newsroom.arm.com/blog/introducing-arm-agi-cpu], wherehe outlines how agentic AI is reshaping the future of compute. The discussion centers on Arm’s landmark move into silicon with the launch of its Arm agentic AI central processing unit (CPU), purpose‑built for next‑generation AI data centers. We also connect those developments to growing U.S. militaryinterest in AI‑driven decision‑making, resilient computeinfrastructure, and energy‑efficient data centers that can operate at scale. It’s a timely look at how commercial AIhardware roadmaps are increasingly intersecting with defense and national security priorities. Recent Department of Defense announcements underscore acoordinated push toward agentic AI backed by hyperscale, cloud‑native infrastructure. From the rapid expansion of GenAI.mil with OpenAI [https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4401775/genaimils-rapid-expansion-continues-with-openai-partnership/] integration, to the U.S. Army’s conditionalagreements [https://www.army.mil/article/291360/army_reaches_conditional_agreement_with_private_industry_for_hyperscaled_data_centers] for privately financed hyperscale data centers, and the Department of the Air Force’s exploration of data‑centerleasing in Alaska [https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4412433/daf-exploring-lease-opportunities-for-data-centers-in-alaska/], the message is consistent: AI‑driven operations require massive, resilient, and energy‑aware compute at scale. Complementing that infrastructure build‑out, the Air Force’s Cloud Onemodernization awardto Oracle [https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/us-department-of-the-air-force-accelerates-cloud-modernization-with-oracle-2026-02-12/] highlights how secure, multi‑classification cloud platforms are being adapted specifically to support agentic AI workflows in defense environments. Against this backdrop, Arm’s launch of its agentic AI‑focused AGI CPU is particularly relevant to aerospace and defense leaders. For the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast audience, these developments illustrate how commercial silicon innovation and defense AI priorities are rapidly converging —reshaping the hardware foundations of future military operations. Sponsored by Smithers [https://www.smithers.com/cmmc]