The Aerospace Advantage

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

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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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Episode 115 – Aerospace Chief Conversation: RCAF Commander Lt Gen Kenny

Episode Summary:

In episode 115 of the Aerospace Advantage, Aerospace Chief Conversation: RCAF Commander Lt Gen Kenny, John “Slick” Baum and Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.) chat with the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The RCAF is one of the U.S. Air Force’s and Space Force’s closest partners. We’ve repeatedly gone to war together—going all the way back to the dawn of air combat in WWI. And given that we share the same continent, Canada and the U.S. are fundamentally aligned when it comes to the northern tier defense mission, something that is more relevant than ever given adversary activity we are seeing in the Arctic. Canada, as a key NORAD partner, holds a very special place in the U.S. homeland defense mission. This cooperation also extends on orbit, with the RCAF and Space Force closely aligned, especially with a new memorandum of understanding. Learn more about the RCAF as they undergo a major transformation with their capabilities in air and space. This conversation includes specific focus on Canada’s acquisition of the F-35, remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), a new training aircraft, a new aerial tanker, and spacepower initiatives.

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 Eric Kenny, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rcaf #canada #airforce #partners

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Episode 114 – Debt Ceiling Debate, Airpower for Ukraine, and DOD’s new AI Policy: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In Episode 114 of the Aerospace Advantage, Debt Ceiling Debate, Airpower for Ukraine, and DOD’s New AI Policy: The Rendezvous, John Baum chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Caitlin Lee about some of the latest developments in the national security realm. Our conversation begins with a discussion regarding the Congressional debt ceiling debate and the potential impact various outcomes could have upon defense. We then examine Turkey’s desire to secure F-16s and how this connects into broader NATO membership plans for Sweden and Finland. The conversation also covers if and how airpower assistance can be provided to Ukraine and DOD’s new policy on AI. We wrap with a look at lower-profile, but consequential, security challenges around the globe.

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 for Aerospace Studies

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

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

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

Submit Your Questions:

mitchell@afa.org

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #speaker #congress #rendezvous #debt

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Episode 113 - Insider Perspective: Innovating and Building Next Gen CCA

Episode Summary:

In episode 113 of the Aerospace Advantage, Insider Perspective: Innovating and Building Next Gen CCA, John “Slick” Baum chats with Robert “Otis” Winkler from KRATOS Defense about what it’s like to design, develop, and field a next generation UAV, what the Air Force now calls Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Uninhabited aircraft have been a fixture in the U.S. airpower arsenal for over two decades. However, evolving operational demand, paired with new technologies, is rapidly changing the scale and scope of these aircraft. We heard from government leaders on this topic last week. This episode looks at the other half of the equation by exploring this topic through an industry lens.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Robert "Otis" Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, KRATOS Defense

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #uav #cca #drone #kratos

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Episode 112 - Deploying the Swarm: Autonomous Drone Operations in Denied Environments

Episode Summary:

In episode 112 of the Aerospace Advantage, Deploying the Swarm: Autonomous Drone Operations in Denied Environments, John Baum chats about the challenges of operating drone swarms during a great power conflict with Dr. Doug Meador, the Autonomous Collaborative Vehicles Portfolio manager within AFRL's Aerospace Systems Directorate; Lt Colonel Ryan “SCUDS” Slaughter, the lead for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms in the Headquarters AF Strategy, Integration and Requirements directorate; plus Caitlin Lee and Mark Gunzinger from the Mitchell Institute team. In popular depictions, drones swarms always seem to show up at exactly the right moment, in seemingly infinite numbers, to attack their targets. But in real life combat, deploying drone swarms will require new, thoughtful and creative approaches to operations, logistics, and maintenance.  As the Air Force gets ready to field a new generation of autonomous drones – known as collaborative combat aircraft–CCAs–it will have to address these very practical considerations.  On today’s podcast, we bring together operators, scientists and policy experts to identify the challenges of deploying a drone swarm in a combat environment and their implications for CCA design.

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. Doug Meador, Autonomous Collaborative Vehicles Portfolio manager, AFRL Aerospace Systems Directorate

Guest: Lt Colonel Ryan “SCUDS” Slaughter, Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Lead, Headquarters AF Strategy, Integration and Requirements Directorate

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

Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #uav #cca #drone

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Episode 111 - Congressional Drama and Defense, New F-35 Contract, Space Update, and Ukraine: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In Episode 111 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Drama and Defense, New F-35 Contract, Space Update, and Ukraine: The Rendezvous, John Baum chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Tim Ryan. The churn we all saw in the House of Representative as members struggled to elect the Speaker of the House has implications for defense—our conversation breaks down key perspectives. We also discuss the latest F-35 contract and how new pricing will impact the future of the program. Our team also assesses challenges and opportunities for the Space Force as we look to 2023. The conversation wraps with an update regarding factors to consider as fighting continues in Ukraine. This is an important set of conversations as we consider the vector top defense issues will take as 2023 unfolds.

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 for Aerospace Studies

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

Submit Your Questions:

mitchell@afa.org

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #speaker #congress #rendezvous #ukraine

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Episode 110 - Russian Airpower in Ukraine: Lessons for the West,

Episode Summary:

In Episode 110 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Russian Airpower in Ukraine: Lessons for the West, John “Slick” Baum chats with Dr. Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies along with Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Col Michael “Mongo” Kingry of our Mitchell Institute team about key takeaways from the Ukraine-Russia war. Media reports have largely focused on the ground war, but the opening stages of the conflict saw a fierce air battle. And it’s still unfolding. We need to discuss this, because it has challenged a lot of the assumptions about the Russian air force and what a modern air campaign looks like against advanced systems and a determined enemy. Unfortunately, many pundits are drawing the exact wrong conclusion from this fight.  This episode explores the strategies and tactics the combatants are employing, the hardware they are bringing to the fight, and what it means for the wider war.  We’ll also look at what lessons can be learned by NATO and the United States as war rages in Eastern Europe and adversaries around the globe evaluate the Western response.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Producer: Patrick Gensel

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Dr. Justin Bronk, Airpower Research Fellow, Military Sciences at Royal United Services Institute

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

Guest: Lt Col Michael Kingry, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute

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