Weapons Cybersecurity: The Challenges Facing Aerospace and Defense

As advanced weapons platforms become increasingly software-driven, cybersecurity has emerged as a frontline concern for Aerospace & Defense. In this episode of Exploited: The Cyber Truth, host Paul Ducklin and RunSafe Security CEO Joseph M. Saunders welcome Dave Salwen, VP of Embedded Systems at RunSafe Security, for a deep dive into the cultural and technical shifts required to defend tomorrow’s arsenal.

Dave explains why applying enterprise IT security models to mission-critical weapon systems is dangerously inadequate, how long patch cycles and software reuse create systemic vulnerabilities, and why proactive defense against unknown threats is essential. The conversation explores:

• How adversaries exploit software flaws in unpatched, mission-critical systems
• Why cultural change inside the DoD and its ecosystem is as vital as its technical defenses
• The role of Secure by Design in weapons development lifecycles
• The risks of open-source and supply chain dependencies in defense programs
• Why resilience and runtime defenses are critical to mission survivability

For defense leaders, program managers, and technologists, this episode highlights how adopting a new mindset around weapons cybersecurity is key to safeguarding national security.