GovDiscovery AI Podcast Ep. 71: “What's Next in Defense Logistics”

Host: Mike Shanley
Guest: General Thad Bibb (Ret.), VP Business Development for Defense, Radia
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the future of defense logistics, focusing on new approaches to strategic airlift and the evolving intersection of commercial innovation and military needs. Host Mike Shanley interviews General Thad Bibb, who discusses Radia’s transition from commercial wind turbine logistics to a dual-use defense provider, the critical importance of cargo volume versus weight, and actionable advice for startups aiming to enter the defense market. The conversation is rich with firsthand insight on government contracting, procurement challenges, and global coalition considerations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Radia and the Windrunner

• Radia’s Origins & Market Niche

  • Founded to solve transport challenges for oversized wind turbine blades (blades up to 105 meters), Radia has developed the “Windrunner”—the world’s largest airplane—capable of landing on 2,000-meter dirt strips at wind farms.
  • The company recently emerged from stealth mode after eight years of development.
  • [00:49] General Bibb:
    “About eight years ago, three of the biggest wind turbine manufacturers came to Radia and said, if we could figure out a way to get the largest blades onshore, we could basically increase our return on investment two to three times.”

• Transition to Defense Applications

  • Upon Bibb’s retirement from the Air Force, Radia’s leadership approached him about defense uses for the Windrunner.
  • Defense need: chronic strategic airlift shortages—Windrunner provides a novel solution with unmatched cargo volume.

2. Designing for Volume, Not Just Weight

• Traditional Military Focus
  • Military airlift historically optimized for weight ("ton miles"), often overlooking the limiting factor of cargo volume (“cubing out” before “massing out”).
  • The Windrunner offers 9x the volume of a 747-F, making it a game-changer for outsized equipment.
  • [03:16] General Bibb:
    “The Windrunner… allows you to do things like carry six helicopters with the blades on and the turbines on, where a C17 could carry one. It allows you to carry space vehicles... With Windrunner, we'll be able to do that in one day to each of those locations.”

3. Logistics in Modern Defense Readiness

• Persistent Airlift Shortfalls
  • The U.S. fleet: 220 C-17s and only 52 C-5s (with a mere 46% mission capability rate).
  • No replacement ready before 2030; Windrunner fills a pressing gap.
  • [04:30] General Bibb:
    “There's never enough strategic airlift for... Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Space Force, our coalition partners. I had to tell nations no all the time... We've got troops on the ground… that we need to support. So that requirement, that need has always been there.”

4. Radia’s Approach: “Neoprime” Model

• Proactive Development
  • Like Palantir and Anduril, Radia is building a product first, anticipating government and allied demand, rather than waiting for an established requirement.
  • [06:32] General Bibb:
    “We really view ourselves as a Neoprime... We see a need out there, we’re going to go out there, use private funding... and we’ll come up with a product that’s so good that the United States and our allies will have no choice but to say, ‘Yeah, this is a great idea, we need to do it.’”
  • Strong initial response from both commercial wind and defense markets; ongoing cooperative research with U.S. TRANSCOM.

5. Sales, Business Development, and Customer Engagement

• Entry Points for Startups

  • No one-size-fits-all: Approach can range from top brass (Chief of Defense) to operational field commanders or leveraging best contacts for introductions.
  • Key is listening to customer needs, not just pitching product features.
  • [09:52] General Bibb:
    “Really, we’ll take a meeting at any level... But the biggest thing I think is to go in and listen.”

• Tailoring to Global Buyers

  • U.S.: Likely as part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet;
  • Europe/NATO: Coalition or shared purchase models make sense for smaller nations;
  • Example: Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary shared by eight nations.
  • [11:52] General Bibb:
    “They see the coalition work that's been done before... how do we get together and build a coalition to do this?”

• Empathy for User Pain Points

  • E.g., Singapore Air Force needing to hand-fly helicopters due to lack of available airlift—highlighting demand for outsized/volumetric capacity.

6. Government Acquisition and New Technology Integration

• Acquisition System Limitations

  • The U.S. military’s requirements and procurement processes are slow and prone to “Christmas tree” demands—rendering progress sluggish.
  • [14:02] General Bibb:
    “I just think our acquisition system, there’s a lot of challenges that it takes so long...”
  • Advantage of Windrunner: Uses proven tech, reducing risk and accelerating deployment.

• Advice to Industry

  • Thought partnership, evidence-based preparation, and “outside the box” thinking valued by government buyers.
  • Modular, targeted solutions fill immediate gaps while long-term projects develop.

7. Startup Culture vs. Government Bureaucracy

• Culture Shock & Agility
  • Bibb’s shift from the Air Force to startup culture: Learning from agile, innovative teams, recruiting bold advisors, and quickly pivoting to new opportunities.
  • [18:11] General Bibb:
    “My biggest lessons learned are going from 33 years in the Air Force... to a very agile company that’s more of a startup mindset and being able to pivot on a dime, to be able to hire the best people…”

8. Investment, the “Neoprime” Risk, and Building Teams

• Upsides and Risks of the Neoprime Model
  • Requires a strong, mission-believing investor base;
  • Takes big upfront bets before contracts with buyers are signed.
  • Importance of finding authentic advisors and team members who share the mission and add operational value—“no hood ornaments.”
  • [22:40] General Bibb:
    “It’s so different when you company like Radia comes in, the energy level that sets across from us at the table compared to... other companies.”

9. BD Intelligence: What Signals Matter

• Business Plan, Order Book, & Market Fit
  • Constantly update business plan, focus on actual demand signals, fill order book as proof for investors and strategic partners.
  • Metrics like number of helicopters/apaches carried vs. competitors are powerful multipliers.

10. Call to Action and Final Thoughts

• Need for Speed & Innovation
  • Defense ministries must move faster, “think outside the box,” and fill critical 2030-2045 gaps with hybrid and rapid solutions—not just wait for long-term replacements.
  • Real-world threats (Ukraine conflict, drone incursions) are driving urgency in allies, especially in Europe.
  • [27:48] General Bibb:
    “We’ve got to move faster than we've moved... we have to be willing to take, take a little risk. I think we have to think outside the box... Sometimes as I brief people at the middle levels, they're like, 'No, let’s... go back to the requirements process and let’s try to shoot for something in 2045.'"

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Technical Breakthroughs:

  “The volume is really the game changer.”
  – Gen. Bibb [03:56]

• On Listening to Customers:

  “Go in and listen... how do I better tell your story? Can you give us specifics?”
  – Gen. Bibb [10:40]

• On Defense Market Acquisition:

  “We need the Neoprimes, but we need the primes too. It’s both.”
  – Gen. Bibb [14:07]

• On Team Building:

  “Maybe not just going for the greatest name or the hood ornament... but somebody that's really a good fit for you and where you're going.”
  – Gen. Bibb [23:44]

• On Motivating Urgency:

  “In NATO countries, seeing what's happening in Ukraine... has helped motivate that need for speed.”
  – Gen. Bibb [28:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:49] — Radia's origin story & wind energy logistics challenge
• [03:16] — Designing for volume: Windrunner’s advantages
• [04:30] — Modern strategic airlift gaps & capability shortfalls
• [06:32] — The “Neoprime” approach and proactive innovation
• [09:52] — Business development: Approaching buyers & listening
• [13:47] — Perspective shift: From government acquisition to industry
• [18:11] — Adapting to startup culture & leveraging high-level advisors
• [22:40] — Advisor selection: Value beyond prestige
• [27:48] — Call to action: Speed, risk-taking, and outside-the-box thinking
• [29:35] — How to contact Radia and learn more

Summary Takeaways

• Radia’s Windrunner addresses a chronic gap in military and commercial outsized air cargo, designed for volume over just weight.
• Modern defense logistics requires faster, more entrepreneurial responses—"Neoprimes" like Radia are stepping in where traditional processes lag.
• Listening deeply to user needs and building authentic relationships—rather than simply touting features or credentials—drives success in both domestic and allied defense markets.
• The evolving threat landscape and recent global events are increasing the urgency for innovation and rapid fielding of dual-use capabilities.