The Aerospace Advantage

Episode 218 - Air Force Readiness Crisis: It’s Time for a Reset

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Maj Gen (Ret) Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem, Col (Ret) Barry “Papa” Murphy, Col (Ret) Robert “Otis” Winkler, and Col (Ret) JV Venable about the Air Force’s current readiness crisis. The severity of the global threat environment demands a fix. This isn't just an Air Force problem. Without effective and reliable airpower, no modern combat operation can succeed. Our guests define the scale and scope of the challenge, leading to a robust discussion of solutions.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Editor: Patrick Gensel

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Col John "JV" Venable, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Col Robert “Otis” Winkler, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Col Barry “Papa” Murphy, USAF (Ret.)

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Episode 217 — It’s All About Munitions: New Perspectives

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Anduril’s Steve Milano—from their Strike and Air Dominance Sector—and our very own Maj Gen (Ret) Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem about what it means to deliver enhanced munitions capabilities at scale.

Anyone who has watched security developments around the globe knows that we’ve got serious issues that risk us being out produced on the war materiel front, especially when it comes to munitions. How the U.S. industrial base can expand its production capacity, while also working to deliver new capabilities that allow air crew the ability to secure a broad range of combat effects? We can’t be complacent building a few hundred munitions a month when the air tasking order will call for tens of thousands over the same period. We all know our stockpiles are at record low levels…so we need to get real about rebuilding and sustaining to meet the new demand signal.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Steve Milano, Anduril

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode 216 — “There I was!”: Stories from the Cockpit and Space with the Mitchell Institute

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell team about some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform.

You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. JDAM recounts an ill-conceived field trip to Croatia, Sledge tempts single-engine fate, JV recalls a Christmas story from the desert, Slider tells a “there I was in the control van,” and Boots receives a nuclear missile launch notification. Finally, the team learns a surprising secret about one of our members! (Harumph) These are some fun stories you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig Gen Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies, Mitchell Institute

Guest: Jennifer Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: John Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: John Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

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Episode 215 — Global Spacepower: Allied Perspective

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney and members of the Mitchell Institute team discuss allied spacepower with French Space Command Commander Major General Philippe Adam.

We talk about it all the time: the U.S. will always operate with allies and partners. With space now standing as an ever-crucial domain and with our adversaries seeking to contest it—the notion of allies and partners working together on orbit is fast becoming a new, essential baseline for successful military operations. With France having expanded its Air Force to an Air and Space Force the same year the U.S. created Space Force, our two nations have embarked on a similar parallel journey. Join us as we learn more about French spacepower and what it means for U.S. operations on orbit.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: M.G. Philippe Adam, Commander, French Space Command

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

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Episode 214 — Launch: The Fundamental Prerequisite for Space Superiority

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney explores space launch operations, infrastructure, and technologies with Brad Appel, the Chief Technology Officer of Ursa Major, and Mitchell Institute’s Charles Galbreath.

Today, all U.S. military operations rely on space capabilities and effects delivered from the on-orbit architecture. Assured access to space and robust launch infrastructure are foundational for mission success—especially given growing demand and the realities of a burgeoning threat environment. Launch operations remain a technically challenging mission and must not be taken for granted. Factors like confidence, capacity, cadence, and cost are hugely important for future launch solutions.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Brad Appel, Chief Technology Officer, Ursa Major

Papers and images listed on our site, here!

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Episode 213 — Trump Defense Plans, DOGE Implications, and Chinese Aerospace Developments: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about President Elect Trump’s defense vision and what the DOGE might mean for national security. We also discuss the latest developments in Chinese air and space power, while considering Elon Musk’s comments questioning the need for manned combat aviation. We wrap with a review of the Mitchell Institute’s Airpower Futures Forum.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode 212 — B-2: Still Got What It Takes

Episode Summary:

In this Aerospace Advantage episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney discusses one of the coolest aircraft to ever fly, the B-2, with Northop Grumman’s Doug Young, the leader in charge of modernizing the B-2, while also overseeing the B-21.

Hands down, the B-2 is one of the most capable aircraft ever invented. It’s hard to believe that it first flew over thirty years ago—in 1989. The aircraft that is on the ramp today is a far cry from the one Northrop Grumman built three decades ago. They’ve teamed with the Air Force to continually modernize the aircraft to ensure it remains relevant and viable in the modern operational world. We explore this modernization process by discussing the various hardware and software improvements that allow the aircraft to remain a cutting-edge airpower asset. An open mission software approach is a key element of this initiative.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Young, Sector Vice President and General Manager, Strike, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems

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Episode 211 — Building the Precision Strike Arsenal We Need: The Mass Challenge

Episode Summary:

In this Aerospace Advantage episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats about how we gain the combination of advanced capabilities and necessary mass for tomorrow’s munition’s inventory with Jeff Peters and Dr. Kathy Bihari of BAE, plus Mitchell Institute’s JV Venable.

There’s no question about it: America requires a large inventory of precision strike munitions to successfully deter opponents, and, if necessary, execute a sustained, high intensity conflict against a peer adversary. The ability to rapidly hit thousands of enemy targets with precision munitions in hundreds of hours is essential to secure victory in the modern era. A variety of factors, especially limited budgets, have long curtailed Department of Defense efforts to secure ample munitions stocks. This is particularly problematic for the Air Force given its responsibilities for projecting the preponderance of striking power over long ranges and behind enemy lines. It’s also important to recognize that all munitions are not created equal. There are various classes and quantities of targets that shape different munitions requirements and costs. This episode will focus on how the Department of Defense and the Air Force work to field a munitions portfolio that provides the necessary mass and achieve the low cost-per-kill and high kills-per-sortie via penetrating aircraft required to defeat peer aggression. Join us to learn from those innovating tomorrow’s solutions.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Jeff Peters, Deputy Vice President & General Manager, Precision Strike & Sensing Solutions, BAE Systems

Guest: Dr. Kathy Bihari, Technical Director for Precision Guidance & Sensing Solutions, BAE Systems

Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode 210 — Compass Call: Understanding the Technical State of the Art

Episode Summary:

In this Aerospace Advantage episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney continues the electronic attack conversation with Dave Harrold and Duane Beaulieu of BAE, plus Mitchell Institute’s Mike Dahm. Electronic Attack is an essential twenty-first century mission capability.

The ability to disrupt enemy command, control, communications, radars, and navigation systems allows U.S. forces to maintain a decision advantage, while denying one to the adversary. It all comes down to maintaining a leading electromagnetic-based battlespace capability. The Compass Call system, currently hosted on the EC-130H, executes this mission. It will soon migrate to the EA-37B.  We explore this transition by discussing where the mission has been and where it’s going from a technical perspective. We also explain what it means to secure an electronic attack advantage in the modern era and why this is imperative. Learn more about this crucial mission from the experts developing the essential technology.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Dave Harrold, Vice President & General Manager, Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions, BAE Systems

Guest: Duane Beaulieu, Tech Director, BAE Systems

Testimony transcript

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Episode 209 — Election Implications for Defense: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the what the 2024 election results will mean for spacepower and airpower.

Elections always matter, especially given the national security issues currently in play. The world is an incredibly dangerous place: Russia continues its war in Ukraine, China is pressing hard in the Pacific, Iran continues to destabilize the Middle East and shares nuclear ambitions with North Korea, plus terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis pose serious challenges. On top of this, the Air Force is undergoing a historic level of modernization—ranging from two legs of the triad to the B-21, F-35, CCA, KC-46, T-7, and more. Major questions loom for programs like NGAD and NGAS, and things not simple in the Space Force either, as leaders in that service seek to build a new set of capabilities given that the domain is now contested. Mission migration from the air to space also continues, especially or things like ISR. The vector set by Donald Trump and members of Congress in the coming years will shape options available to leaders for decades into the future.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff  "Rowli" Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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