The Aerospace Advantage

Investing in Airlift: The Price of Tomorrow’s Victory — Ep. 267

Episode Summary: The U.S. Air Force doesn’t have enough airlift. Today’s inventory is half the size of what it was in the Cold War, but current demands are far higher and more complex. This isn’t just an Air Force problem; it impacts the entire Department of War. Join us as Heather “Lucky” Penney talks with former AMC commander Gen. Mike Minihan, USAF (Ret.) and Mitchell Institute Non-Resident Fellow Col. Rob Owen, PhD, USAF (Ret.) about this challenge and what we should do to fix it. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Gen. Michael Minihan, USAF (Ret.), Former Commander, Air Mobility Command Guest: Col. Robert Owen, USAF (Ret.), Professor, Department of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 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 #mobility #airforce

Fighter Update, Vector 2025, and CSAF Priorities: The Rendezvous — Ep. 266

Episode Summary: In this episode, our team explores the top defense issues in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Where do the defense bills stand? What’s up with the new Air Force fighter force structure report, plus Secretary of War Hegseth’s acquisition speech? We also explore Gen. Wilsbach’s new priorities, F-35s to Saudia Arabia, as well as Lt. Gen. White’s nomination for a new job as DRPM. The conversation also covers the Space Force, including Vector 2025, the creation of Combat Forces Command, and new developments regarding their test and validation requirements. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Jennifer "Boost" 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, Vice President of Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Post-Credits Discussion: Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Kyle "Puma" Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) 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

Dynamic Space Operations: A New Imperative — Ep. 265

Episode Summary: Now that space is a warfighting domain, the Space Force and Space Command must pursue capabilities and operational concepts that increase resilience and effectiveness. That’s where dynamic space operations comes into play. By evolving on-orbit capabilities and activities, ground operations, the link segments, and even launch operations, the U.S. space enterprise can be more flexible and adaptable to impose costs on potential adversaries. Join us as Mitchell Institute space experts Charles Galbreath, Jen Reeves, and Kyle Pumroy discuss this important topic. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Kyle Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) 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 #space #spaceforce

Jet Engines at the Merge: Industry Insights — Ep. 264

Episode Summary: Today, the U.S. Air Force is at a key inflection point when it comes to jet propulsion. Most of the service’s aircraft are flying with engines designed during the Cold War. Newer types are now multiple decades old. This is why the Air Force has invested in multiple programs to pursue new engines. Heather Penney and Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) talk with Lt. Gen. Steve Shepro, USAF (Ret.) of Pratt and Whitney to learn more about where military aircraft propulsion stands today and where it’s headed in the future. 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 for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Lt. Gen. Steven Shepro, USAF (Ret.), Vice President of Integrated Customer Solutions (ICS), Pratt & Whitney 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 #propulsion #defense #industry

Fixing the Readiness Crisis: Better Training — Ep. 263

Episode Summary: The Air Force is facing a readiness crisis, one that threatens our airmen’s ability to prevail in a peer conflict. A key constraint is the inability to accurately replicate advanced adversary capabilities on open air, live fly ranges. Between constrained physical range space, electromagnetic spectrum challenges, and operational security, it’s tough. However, we must do better. As the saying goes, we must train like we fight, or we may lose in the next war. That’s why live, virtual, constructive (LVC) training paired with advanced simulation is key to warfighter readiness and lethality. Heather “Lucky” Penney digs into this topic with CAE’s Nick “Master” Yates and Matt Martin. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Nicholas "Master" Yates, Senior Business Development Manager, CAE USA Guest: Matt Martin, Director, C2ISR and RPA Strategy, CAE USA 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 #Readiness