The Aerospace Advantage

Episode 125 – Fighters on the Brink: ANG Flightline Perspective

Episode Summary:

In Episode 125 of the Aerospace Advantage, Fighters on the Brink: ANG Flightline Perspective, Doug Birkey discusses a looming capacity cliff with Maj Gen Paul Rogers, the Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard; Brig Gen Tim Donnellan, Commander of the Idaho Air National Guard; along with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.) and Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute.

The Air Force needs new fighters, and it needs them fast. When the Cold War ended, defense leaders cut the Air Force’s fighter inventory by half. Service officials were willing to assume this risk because they were expecting to procure a new generation of highly capable fighters in the form of the F-22 and F-35. The problem is that this plan fell apart. We never bought enough F-22s, and F-35 production hasn’t hit the levels required to reset the inventory. Remember those F-15s that were pulled from Kadena last year—because they were worn out—without a direct replacement? That was a powerful indicator about the scale of the current capacity challenge. The Air Force’s fighter enterprise is literally collapsing, and even though the service is planning on buying 72 jets this year, inventories are so strained that this number falls short. This is a total force problem impacting active duty, reserve, and the Air National Guard.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

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

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute 

Guest: Maj Gen Paul Rogers, Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard

Guest: Brig Gen Timothy Donnellan, Commander, Idaho Air National Guard

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #nationalguard #airpower

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Episode 124 – Spacepower Security Forum: Key Takeaways

See our Spacepower Security Forum coverage here!

Episode Summary:

In Episode 124 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spacepower Security Forum: Key Takeaways, Doug Birkey chats with Tim Ryan and Charles Galbreath of Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence about our second annual Spacepower Security Forum. This event provided one-stop shopping of key space topics by space leaders. From the Chief of Space Operations, Gen B. Chance Saltzman, talking about “Competitive Endurance” and Lt Gen Burt on the critical missile warning and tracking missions, to Maj Gen Miller discussing how to protect and defend space capabilities. If that wasn’t enough, we had the SDA Director, CTIO and key acquisition leaders as well. Tim, Charles, and Doug discuss what the speakers had to say and why it matters.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #spaceday #spaceforce

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Episode 123 – The Air Battle for Taiwan: Lessons Learned from Ukraine’s Drone Operations

Episode Summary:

In Episode 123 of the Aerospace Advantage, The Air Battle for Taiwan: Lessons Learned from Ukraine’s Drone Operations, John Baum chats with drone experts Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analysis and Mitchell Institute’s own Dr. Caitlin Lee. The war in Ukraine has turned the world’s attention to the game-changing potential of networked, autonomous drone technologies. But to what extent are the lessons learned from Ukraine relevant to the Indo-Pacific theater? It’s too early to say definitively because the conflict is still ongoing. But this question deserves careful analysis because DOD and the military services are all looking at drones to rapidly increase the capability and capacity of their forces in the Indo-Pacific. In this episode, we’ll discuss the range of drone technologies and concepts that have been employed by both Russia and Ukraine and share some thoughts on how these observations should shape our thinking about the capabilities, forces and postures necessary for drones to make a difference in a US-China conflict.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Dr. Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow for UAV Studies, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Samuel Bendett, Russia Studies Expert, The Center for Naval Analysis

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #drones #ukraine

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Episode 122 – Air and Space in the FY24 Defense Budget, China and Russia Update, and Fighters on the Brink: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In Episode 122 of the Aerospace Advantage, Air and Space in the FY24 Defense Budget, China and Russia Update, and Fighters on the Brink: The Rendezvous, Douglas Birkey chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Tim Ryan about some of the latest developments in the national security realm. Our conversation begins with a discussion about Congress’ reaction to the FY24 defense budget submission, with a special focus on air and space power. We then explore China and Russia’s increasing alignment, plus the latest developments in Ukraine. We round out the conversation discussing key trends with the Air Force’s fighter inventories, along with hot button topics that will garner significant attention on Capitol Hill this year, like engine options for the F-35 and future tanker plans. Join us for unique aerospace insights on the issues you’ve seen in the headlines.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) Joseph Guastella, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Col (Ret.) Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Col (Ret.) Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous #thehill

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Episode 121 – China’s Diplomatic Ascent: Key Observations

Episode Summary:

In Episode 121 of the Aerospace Advantage, China’s Diplomatic Ascent: Key Observations, John “Slick” Baum talks with China expert Daniel Rice about how the Asian superpower is gaining increased influence around the globe. Much of this ties to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),  a large-scale infrastructure and investment project first put forward by Xi Jinping in 2013. Since then, it has served as a center piece of Chinese foreign policy. This episode explores how China is using BRI to spread its influence abroad and how BRI has evolved over time. We also discuss China’s strategic partnership and support of Russia, including how China is leveraging BRI to further this engagement.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Dan Rice, China Expert, Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare, Marine Corps University

Links:

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #china 

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Episode 120 – Space Security Imperative: Issue Update

Episode Summary:

In Episode 120 of the Aerospace Advantage, Space Security Imperative: Issue Update, John “Slick” Baum talks to Tim Ryan, Henry Heren, and Charles Galbreath of the Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) about the latest spacepower topics you’ve seen in the headlines. There’s a lot to track: adversary threats in orbit, spacepower lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, the potential for a Space National Guard, commercial industry’s role in spacepower, and General Saltzman’s lines of effort for the Space Force. Each of these issues promises to be exceedingly impactful. So, if you want to get up to speed on what matters in all things military spacepower, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Henry "Blue" Heren, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute

Links:

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #spacepower

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Episode 119 – Air Combat Survivability Imperative: Through a POW’s Experience

Episode Summary:

In Episode 119 of the Aerospace Advantage, Air Combat Survivability Imperative: Through a POW’s Experience, John “Slick” Baum, Maj Gen Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), and Heather “Lucky” Penney interview Lt Col Gene Smith, USAF (Ret.) about what it was like to get shot down in his F-105 over downtown Hanoi on October 25, 1967. This was just one of the 1,737 USAF aircraft lost to hostile action over Vietnam. That number equates to roughly 80% of the Air Force’s fighter inventory today. Members of the Mitchell team also discuss steps the Air Force should consider as it prepares for an increasingly hostile future threat environment and speak to a museum leader who is helping educate future generations about this history. As Smith’s story reminds us, effective airpower demands that aircrew fly into harm’s way, execute their missions, and return to base—and then do it all over again to sustain broader air campaign objectives. If attrition grows too high, then sorties cannot be sustained. These sorts of casualty rates are hard to imagine today given that we’ve become used to combat operations in relatively low threat conditions. Tomorrow’s conflicts promise to be far more lethal.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen (Ret.) Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Lt Col (Ret.) Richard "Gene" Smith

Guest: Rob Collings, President, The American Heritage Museum

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #vietnam #pow #survivor

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Episode 118 – China Update, FY24 Defense Budget, and Russia’s Intentions: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In Episode 118 of the Aerospace Advantage, China Update, FY24 Defense Budget, and Russia’s Intentions: The Rendezvous, Douglas Birkey chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Daniel Rice about some of the latest developments in the national security realm. Our conversation begins with a discussion regarding the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We then explore China and Russia’s increasing alignment, plus Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in New START. We round out the conversation discussing FY24 defense budget expectations and consider the long-term implications for homeland defense given the Chinese surveillance balloon. Join us for unique aerospace insights on the issues you’ve seen in the headlines.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) Joseph Guastella, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Col (Ret.) Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Col (Ret.) Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs

Guest: Dan Rice, China Expert, Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare, Marine Corps University

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous #china #russia

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Episode 117 – Effective Airpower: It Takes Informed Perspectives

Episode Summary:

In episode 117 of the Aerospace Advantage, Effective Airpower: It Takes Informed Perspectives, John “Slick” Baum talks to Col Mathew Berry, commandant of the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and Col Sarah Bakhtiari, Dean of Education at ACSC about how they are working to train the next generation of airmen. For the past two decades, the United States national security community was predominantly focused on counter insurgency combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. With the sunset of those missions and the rise of peer adversaries like China and Russia, paired with the continued threat posed by mid-tier actors like Iran and North Korea, it is critical to ensure airmen understand these new threat paradigms and how best to apply airpower in support of national security objectives. Much of this education takes place at Air University (AU)—the service’s preeminent professional military education institution. This episode will explore how leaders at ACSC, a key component of AU, are facilitating this transition to help cultivate air-minded airmen equipped to meet the challenges that increasingly define the national security environment in which they must operate.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Mathew Berry, Commandant, Air Command and Staff College

Guest: Col Sarah Bakhtiari, Dean of Education, Air Command and Staff College

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #acsc #airmen

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Episode 116 – That Others May Live: CSAR in Future Conflicts

Episode Summary:

In episode 116 of the Aerospace Advantage, That Others May Live: CSAR in Future Conflicts, John “Slick” Baum talks to Col Russ “Bones” Cook, 23rd Wing Commander of Air Force Rescue at Moody AFB; Lt Col Patrick “TISL” Parrish, National Defense Fellow at the Congressional Research Service and long-time A-10 pilot; and Michael “Mongo” Kingry, Air Force Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, about the challenges facing the USAF’s Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission as it looks to adapt to changing global threats. Bottom line—this is a fantastic opportunity to hear an operator-level perspective from those who are directly engaged with this crucial mission. With the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) focusing on China as the pacing threat and Russia as the acute threat, the CSAR environment transitions from counterinsurgency to highly contested peer conflicts. The team considers what CSAR operations in the Western Pacific theatre will look like, the unique challenges that distance and geography will present, and the importance of preparing and advocating for a rescue force that will be able to recover Americans, allies, and partners in future conflicts.

Credits:

Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Michael "Mongo" Kingry, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Col Russ “Bones” Cook, 23rd Wing Commander of Air Force Rescue at Moody AFB

Guest: Lt Col Patrick “TISL” Parrish, National Defense Fellow at the Congressional Research Service

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #csar #usaf #rescue

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