The Aerospace Advantage

Episode Summary: In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss top Air Force and Space Force developments in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Topics include the latest defense budget plus-up via reconciliation and what this means for air and space power. We also discuss INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Paparo’s testimony regarding airpower gaps in the Pacific and Lockheed’s new vision for the F-35 in the wake of Boeing winning the F-47 competition. The team explores two of the Space Force’s new foundational documents: Space Force Doctrine Document 1 and Space Warfighting, a Framework for Planners. The conversation also explains why it’s so consequential that Michigan is going to see the F-15EX, the importance of a new electronic warfare squadron that opened at Eglin AFB, and why it’s a big deal that a new weather capability is now operational in space. Join us to learn more about these topics and more. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, 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: Guest: Jeff "Rowli" Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Rendezvous #Politics

Episode Summary: France is America’s oldest ally. We’ve been through a lot: the American Revolution over 250 years ago, two World Wars, and ongoing worldwide military operations. Our two nations have stood side by side when it mattered most. This connection endures. These days, it’s more important than ever, considering China’s rise, Russia’s aggression in Europe, and other elements of instability we see around the globe. A key component of this security relationship depends on robust aerospace power. Modern military operations don’t work without mastering these domains. Our adversaries know this, and that’s why they’re working hard to challenge us in these realms. Heather Penney discusses these variables with Brig Gen Nicolas Chambaz, the leader charged with overseeing international relations for the French Air and Space Force headquarters. He’s a career pilot with over 4,000 flight hours under his belt, including 50 combat operations. In particular, we explore the French Air & Space Force’s latest Strategic Vision, The Sky as a Battlefield. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), The Air & Space Forces Association Guest: Brig Gen Nicolas Chambaz, General Officer "International Relations" of the Air and Space Force Read: The Sky as a Battlefield Document [https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Sky-as-a-Battlefield-PDF.pdf] Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Vietnam #POW #History

Episode Summary: This week, The Aerospace Advantage takes a break for Easter, but that doesn't mean our listeners need to take a pause. In this week's episode we reach back to a previously recorded conversation where the Mitchell team reflects on the air war over Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and speaks with combat pilot and POW Lt Col Gene Smith, USAF (Ret). Not only did Lt Col Smith fly and fight in some of the most heavily defended airspace in the history of aerial warfare, but he also spent over five years as a POW—facing conditions that pushed him to the brink. Despite these challenges, Lt Col Smith and his fellow POWs prevailed. The Air Force lost 1,737 aircraft over Vietnam. That’s roughly 80% of the Air Force’s current fighter inventory. Those losses are hard to imagine today given the relatively permissive conditions that our airmen have operated in since the end of the Cold War. Tomorrow’s conflicts, however, promise to be far more costly, which is why it's important to reflect on our history and learn from the past in order to properly leverage the effects of American airpower. Credits: Host: John "Slick" Baum, Non-resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Executive Vice President, The Air & Space Forces Association Guest: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Lt Col Richard “Gene” Smith, USAF (Ret.) Guest: Rob Collings, President & Financial Director, The American Heritage Museum Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Vietnam #POW #History

Episode Summary: As the Air Force develops the operational construct for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Doug Birkey and Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) urge the service to tap into two decades of lessons learned flying highly sophisticated uncrewed aircraft like the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and RQ-170. Harnessing his experience as an uncrewed aircraft pilot and commander, Cantwell explores the tremendous insights gained through uncrewed operations and the fundamental differences from traditional crewed combat aircraft operations. While CCA will execute at an entirely new level of performance, thanks to technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced mission systems, there are also foundational realities tied to uncrewed aviation that will shape how these aircraft fly and fight. Join us to learn more about this aspect of tomorrow’s airpower. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Uncrewed #Technology #Aircraft Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss top Air Force and Space Force developments in Washington, D.C., and beyond. We review key themes from Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman's visit with the Mitchell Institute last week, as well as a broad range of spacepower topics, from Chinese “dogfighting” in space to the new lunar landing to new launch contracts and the future of Space Development Agency contracts. On the Air Force side, we discuss how the recent F-47 NGAD announcement will shape the future of airpower and how that program could impact the service's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, F-35, and B-21 programs, and more. Credits: Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Charles Galbreath, 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: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Rendezvous #CapitolHill Thank you for your continued support!