The Aerospace Advantage

Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, and Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski about the top defense issues this month in Washington, D.C. and beyond. They unpack how the FY26 defense budget is unfolding—what is good and where is it falling short? The factors involving reconciliation versus the standard budget are throwing in some unpredictable factors to consider. They also discuss Golden Dome from a challenges and opportunities perspective. Past that, news coverage suggests that E-7 might be on the chopping block. Are we ready for a set of capabilities that are entirely space-based? Our experts also discuss a broad range of spacepower developments, plus they evaluate Ukraine’s novel strike on Russian bombers. Join us to learn about the latest when it comes to air and space power! 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: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Read: 1. Air Force and Space Force Vectors for the Incoming Trump Defense Team [https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/air-force-and-space-force-vectors-for-the-incoming-trump-defense-team/] 2. Want Combat Airpower? Then Fix the Air Force Pilot Crisis [https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/want-combat-airpower-then-fix-the-air-force-pilot-crisis/] 3. Air Force Reserve faces steep fighter cuts, uncertain future [https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/05/air-force-reserve-faces-steep-fighter-cuts-uncertain-future/405689/] 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 #TheHill #Rendezvous #Budget

Episode Summary: With threats surging around the world, the Air Force must figure out how to reset and do it fast. They can’t just buy more of what the service fielded in past decades. Fighting and winning tomorrow will require new operational concepts and technologies that’ll give airmen an edge. That’s where CCA come into the mix. They’re designed to bring new capabilities, more capacity, and empower new ways of fighting. But just like the rest of the Air Force aircraft inventory, just buying CCA won’t be enough. Credible, sustainable combat air forces require logistics—personnel, fuel, munitions, ground handling equipment, and other materiel—to generate sorties at scale. Mitchell Institute executed a major exercise in 2024 looking at logistical requirements for CCA—to assess challenges and opportunities. This involved operators, industry, planners, and logisticians. We recently released the report. Join us as we hear from report author Col Mark Gunzinger along with workshop participants Robert “Otis” Winkler of Kratos, Andrew “Scar” VanTimmeren of Anduril, and Scott “Fug” Gilloon of General Atomics. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Robert “Otis” Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, Kratos Guest: Andrew “Scar” VanTimmeren, Director of Air Dominance Systems, Anduril Guest: Scott “Fug” Gilloon, Sector Vice President of Air Force Strategic Development and Capability Assessments, General Atomics 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 #CollaborativeCombatAircraft #CCA #Leadership

Episode Summary: Fighting and winning in the twenty first century requires next gen electronic attack capabilities. Designing that technology and developing effective concepts of operation demands operational analysis. Heather Penney discusses this reality with Lt Gen David “Kooler” Krumm, USAF (Ret.) of BAE Systems. It comes down to empowering strategists, operational leaders, and technology experts to better understand how these functions can best empower overarching tactics, techniques, procedures, and investment decisions. Electronic attack is an incredibly complex, multi-dimensional capability. It’s not binary—like a light switch that’s on or off. Instead, there are incredibly nuanced effects in play, especially if various mission systems are brought together in a collaborative fashion. Major shortfalls exist in this area and it’s time to lean into developing the operational analysis required to ensure the U.S. maintains its electronic attack advantage. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen David "Kooler" Krumm, USAF (Ret.), Vice President, Mission Integration, BAE Systems 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 #ElectronicAttack #EMSO #Leadership

Episode Summary: Join us to learn more about the latest developments in Chinese airpower and spacepower developments. Heather Penney and Mike "JDAM" Dahm discuss a wide range of topics, including an update on China’s 6th generation fighters and recent PLA exercises in the Taiwan Strait. They discuss what is happening with more missing PLA generals and dynamics between Xi Jinping and Vladamir Putin. The INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Paparo just testified on the Hill about China’s military and the PLA just released a new national security white paper. We also explore Chinese fighter performance in the recent conflict between Pakistan and India. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, 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 Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] X: 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 #China #Russia

Episode Summary: Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) stand forth as one of the most important airpower developments of the twenty-first century. We learn more about CCA by talking to two of the people involved with developing and building them: Mike Atwood from General Atomics and Andrew “Scar” Van Timmeren of Anduril. CCA’s ability to harness the traditional attributes of range, speed, survivability, and a broad range of mission effects with the power of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and manned-unmanned teaming will yield an incredibly powerful tool for airmen and the broader joint military enterprise. We explain this technological journey, explore where the program currently stands, and discuss the pathway for production, test, and initial operational fielding. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Michael Atwood, Vice President, Advanced Programs, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Guest: Andrew "Scar" Van Timmeren, Senior Director - Air Dominance Systems, Anduril Industries 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 #CCA #Autonomy