The Aerospace Advantage

Episode 205 — China’s Military Buildup: Perception vs Reality

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with China expert Mike Dahm about an important aspect of China’s military modernization: how we perceive such developments.

Given the restricted nature of China’s security complex, plus different cultural and political factors between our nations, those in the West must often rely on conjecture and partial information to arrive at various conclusions regarding the scale, scope, and vector of this buildup. This oftentimes sees individuals arrive at false conclusions, while failing to observe crucial nuances that should inform how the U.S. and its allies are building their corresponding military capabilities. We explore this challenge, while also providing an overview update regarding key Chinese military developments.

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

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #China

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Episode 204 — NGAD Perspectives, Chinese ICBM Test, and Spacepower Developments: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

The Air and Space Forces Association just wrapped up their Air, Space, and Cyber Conference and Mitchell Institute was incredibly engaged. It’s a major annual milestone in the air and space power dialogue. We explore what leaders said and why it matters. This includes a major discussion on the future of air superiority, collaborative combat aircraft, and the next-generation air dominance program. We also talk about the Secretary of the Air Force’s blunt statement regarding the Space Force’s requirement for additive resources given the scale of the mission demands facing them.  Additionally, the group assesses the implications of China’s recent ICBM test and why Lockheed Martin’s delivery of the 1,000th F-35 is a major milestone. We round it out with an assessment of the latest defense developments in Washington DC, including the impact of the newly passed Continuing Resolution and where the defense bills currently stand.

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: 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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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #space #rendezvous #capitolhill

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Episode 203 - Expeditionary Airpower: It Takes the 621st Contingency Response Wing

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney of the Mitchell Institute team chats with Colonel Jason Herring, commander of the 621st Contingency Response Wing about sustaining airpower at the edge.

Whether responding to a humanitarian disaster or facilitating distributed air operations via the ACE construct, success comes down to the airmen facilitating expeditionary operations. This demands special training, a can-do attitude, and the ability to navigate the unexpected when handling functions like quick-turn maintenance, airfield management, passenger and cargo movement, on-site command and control, force protection, and whatever else is required to sustain air operations in austere locations. Airpower is a fundamentally agile, dynamic force. That requires a highly skilled, team-oriented set of capabilities.  Join us to learn more about contingency response airmen are at the heart of the effort.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Jason Herring, Commander, 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW)

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #CRW #leadership

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Episode 202 - Ensuring the Asymmetric Advantage: Jet Propulsion

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney of the Mitchell Institute team chats with Dr Michael Gregg, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Chris Flynn Vice President of Military Development Programs at Pratt & Whitney.

For decades, the America has enjoyed a near-unrivaled position when it comes to developing and fielding high performance, incredibly reliable military jet engines. No matter how capable an airframe or the associated mission systems, these attributes are of little benefit absent the performance advantages afforded by a capable jet engine. The U.S. Air Force is at a key inflection point when it comes to stewarding this technology. Much of the service’s aircraft inventory is flying with engines designed in the Cold War. Newer types designed in the 1990s and 2000s are now multiple decades old. Sustaining existing designs is different from developing, fielding, and producing new technology.  The Air Force knows this and that is why it has invested in multiple programs to pursue new engines that deliver enhanced performance, reliability, and efficiency attributes necessary to meet current and future mission requirements. We discuss jet engine innovation from the perspective of AFRL and industry—reflecting the partnership that delivers this technology.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Editor: Patrick Gensel

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

Guest: Dr. Michael Gregg, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

Guest: Chris Flynn, Vice President of Military Development Programs, Pratt & Whitney

Episode 201 - Shoot to Kill: The Day America Launched an ASAT

In episode 201 of the Aerospace Advantage, Shoot to Kill: The Day America Launched an ASAT, members of the Mitchell Institute team chat with Maj Gen Doug Pearson, USAF (Ret.), the pilot who took “the shot” and directed the F-15 Anti-Satellite Combined Test Force, and Col Jack Anthony, USAF (Ret.), the Operations Officer at Cheyenne Mountain about this incredibly historic mission.

At the height of the Cold War, the United States Air Force demonstrated the ability to shoot down a satellite in Low Earth Orbit from an F-15 fighter aircraft. While this did not result in a fielded capability, the lessons related to technology, planning, coordination, and operational execution offer valuable insight into future cross-domain operations. Plus, the context of the Cold War has remarkable parallels to the challenges the United States and its allies must confront in Great Power Competition. In this conversation, we explore this key history with two figures integral to the program's success.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Doug Pearson, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Col Jack Anthony, USAF (Ret.)

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

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

Episode 200 – Spacepower Roles and Missions Debate, Washington Update, and EA-37B Hits the Ramp: The Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

In episode 200 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spacepower Roles and Missions Debate, Washington Update, and EA-37B Hits the Ramp: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

It’s September and D.C. is back in action. We explore what’s next for the defense bills in Congress, a debate that is playing out regarding spacepower roles and missions between the services, and the Secretary of the Air Force’s direct appeal for more Space Force funding. We also discuss why it’s such a big deal that the Air Force just accepted its first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft and whether there will be any long-term ripple effects given the F-16 loss in Ukraine. We wrap by discussing Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen David Allvin’s frank remarks about the need for increased attention for airbase defense and we also consider what the results of the Presidential election might mean for defense spending.

These are significant issues, so join us to learn more!

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 Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

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

Links:

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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #space #rendezvous #Army #AirForce #SpaceForce

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Episode 199 – Winning Tomorrow’s Fight: Airpower Must Maximize Electronic Attack

Episode Summary:

In episode 199 of the Aerospace Advantage, Winning Tomorrow’s Fight: Airpower Must Maximize Electronic Attack, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with long-time F-35 pilot and 188th Wing commander Col Jay Spohn, Josh Niedzwiecki of BAE, and 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Larry Fenner Jr. about this key aspect of warfighting. 

For too long, individuals regarded electronic attack as a bolt-on effect—an afterthought. Traditional forms of kinetic combat airpower—things like missiles and bombs— dominated capability development, integration, and execution efforts. However, given the nature of the modern threat environment, it is clear that electronic attack will be crucial for both projecting power and helping ensure the survival of the force. This requires a holistic approach to integrating electronic magnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) with traditional airpower assets like fighters and bombers

The F-35, as a 5th generation information-centric aircraft, stands uniquely situated in this realm. It was designed from day one to maximize EMSO functions. Its sensors, processing capability, ability to integrate offboard inputs, and ability to derive electronic attack effects from a number of onboard technologies that will help U.S pilots meet the challenges of tomorrow’s battlespace. But maximizing the potential designed in the F-35 demands approaching EMSO in a whole new way. We explore this topic with leaders who develop the technology, innovate on the warfighting edge, and execute the missions.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Larry Fenner Jr., Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

Guest: Joshua Niedzwiecki, Vice President & General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems

Guest: Col Jay "Evil" Spohn, Commander, 188th Wing

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #space #multidomain #AirForce #SpaceForce

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Episode 198 – Want to Fight and Win? Air and Space Integration is Key

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space; Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Mitchell Institute’s Charles Galbreath.

Read defense news headlines and you’ll see a distinct trend: a drive to sunset airborne missions and move them to space—especially for functions like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. In fact, the trend has been in play since the end of the Cold War.

At Mitchell Institute, we are huge fans of space-based capabilities. What Guardians can deliver on orbit is incredible, often superior to what an airborne solution can secure. That said, it is critical to guard against an over-concentration of capabilities in a single domain when our adversaries have clearly indicated that they’re willing to destroy or disable those assets—even when they are on orbit. As the saying goes—“don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

We now live in a world where mission effects will best be assured by pursuing a combined air-space approach. This will demand a new strategy to ensure smart multi-domain collaboration, a new assessment regarding how smart command and control is executed to ensure smart tasking, and adequate resourcing.

Join us to hear from some of the top figures in this discussion who innovate the technologies that are key to delivering mission results today and tomorrow.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space

Guest: Greg Ulmer, President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

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

Links:

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #air #space #multidomain #AirForce #SpaceForce

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Episode 197 – Mission Command: Leveraging the American Cognitive Advantage

Episode Summary:

In episode 197 of the Aerospace Advantage, Mission Command: Leveraging the American Cognitive Advantage, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, recent fellow at the Mitchell Institute, and Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood of Air University’s LeMay Center about how we can best empower Airmen to fly and fight.

Conflict in the Western Pacific will challenge US Command and Control. Despite significant effort and progress with efforts like Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control and the Advanced Battle Management System, China will exploit the electromagnetic spectrum to contest, degrade, and deny communication. Mission Command—a philosophy of leadership that empowers Airmen to operate in uncertain, complex, and rapidly changing environments through trust, shared awareness, and an understanding of commander’s intent—offers resilience to the physical command and control structure. Without a numerical advantage or a technological advantage, Americans will need to exploit their cognitive advantage and continue to make decisions when temporarily disconnected from their leaders. We discuss the necessity of mission command in a complex, dispersed, multi-domain fight in the Western Pacific.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, Air University

Links:

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #aerospace #leadership #AirForce

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Episode 196 – What’s Up With NGAD? Understanding The Stakes

Episode Summary:

In episode 196 of the Aerospace Advantage, What’s Up With NGAD? Understanding The Stakes, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the Air Force’s recent pause for its future air superiority program. What does this mean? Why does it matter? What possible courses of action might the Air Force might pursue?

Whether talking about long-range strike, airborne ISR, electromagnetic spectrum functions, or air superiority—all of this will be impacted depending on what course the service takes on NGAD. This isn’t just an Air Force issue—it impacts the entire joint force and national security writ large. Victory demands taking the fight to the enemy on a decisive scale and scope. We can’t achieve that through standoff capabilities alone. It is crucial to fly and fight inside an enemy’s defended airspace. That requires air superiority. Join us for this crucial conversation.

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: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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

Guest: J.V. Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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

Links:

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