The Hogan Lovells National Security Podcast

Episode 8: Outbound Investment Screening

In this episode, we are joined by our colleagues Brian Curran and Anne Salladin, to discuss the anticipated “reverse CFIUS” regime from the Biden administration. We unpack the strategic rationale for creating an outbound investment screening regime that we expect will focus on key sensitive industries (e.g., semiconductors, AI, quantum-computing), and make some predictions on what the anticipated Executive Order will cover. Finally, we discuss the potential drawbacks of establishing such a “reverse CFIUS” process, including the challenges for U.S. industry as well as the U.S. government.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: ContactBrian Curran: ContactAnne Salladin: Contact

Episode 7: Chinese Balloons

Given the rapidly-changing nature of this topic, we decided to publish this episode before our regularly-scheduled release date of Thursday.
In this episode, we discuss the outcry in Washington about the Chinese surveillance balloon discovered floating over Montana and the cancellation of US Secretary of State Blinken’s trip to Bejing. We touch on the technical capabilities (and limitations) of balloons as surveillance platforms. We explore what these developments mean for increasingly strained US-China relations, particularly in the wake of the announcement of expanding US military access to bases in the Philippines and the AUKUS submarine deal with Australia.
As we recorded this episode, the US announced American military pilots shot down an object off the Alaskan coast. Since recording this episode, the US has now shot down two additional craft,  one over Canada and the other over Lake Huron.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact

Episode 6: Critical Minerals and the Supply Chain

In this episode, we are joined by our colleague Kelly Ann Shaw, former Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, as we delve into critical minerals and rare earths at the intersection of environmental policy, clean energy, electric vehicles, and military technologies. We explore national security concerns regarding the dependency of the U.S. manufacturing sector on foreign suppliers and processors, and vulnerabilities to supply chain disruptions. Finally, we drill down into U.S. Government efforts to stimulate domestic production and “friend shoring” initiatives with allied countries, as well as industry innovation in alternative product designs and recycling of components.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: ContactKelly Ann Shaw: Contact

Episode 5: Hypersonic Technology

In this episode, we set the stage for future episodes on hypersonic missile technology, describing the technical differences between a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and a hypersonic cruise missile, and the reasons that hypersonics are more challenging for missile defense systems. We explore the operational hypersonic weapons currently deployed by Russia and China and discuss the strategic implications that the United States, while it has many hypersonic programs still in development, does not actually have a deployed hypersonic weapon system. We discuss increased Congressional attention on hypersonic programs and the need to grow the industrial base to support hypersonic technology.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
 

Episode 4: Battlefield Lessons from the Ukraine

In this episode, we discuss the Ukraine conflict’s impact on U.S. and allied defense spending including replacement of US munitions stores to replenish High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems and Javelin anti-armor systems; Ukrainian success with commercial off the shelf drones; and Ukrainian use of open-source intelligence (social-media posts, smartphone photos, commercial drone videos, and commercial satellite imagery) to locate and target Russian forces.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
 

Episode 3: UAS / Drones in the National Airspace

In this episode, we are joined by our colleague Lisa Ellman, head of our Global UAS practice, to discuss advancing UAS integration into the national airspace safely and securely. We discuss the advocacy activities of HL client Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) as the non-profit organization urges action related to ongoing industry regulatory and policy challenges; the legal architecture of counter-UAS detection and mitigation, including the importance of extending and expanding the Preventing Emerging Threats Act (PETA); and potential upcoming Congressional and White House actions to promote US leadership in advanced aviation technology.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: ContactLisa Ellman: Contact

Episode 2: The Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy

In this episode, we react to the Biden administration’s 2022 National Security Strategy (NSS), and the Department of Defense National Defense Strategy (NDA), discuss what is (and is not) described in these documents regarding strategic competition with China and Russia, and unpack the administration’s focus on domestic industrial policy and investment.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact