The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast CCA: Realizing Tomorrow's Airpower Today | 1st Annual Airpower Futures Forum
14 snips
Mar 7, 2025 Guest
Robert Winkler
Guest
Mike Benitez
Guest
Diem Salmon
Guest
Mike Shortsleeve
Guest
Col Timothy M. Helfrich
Col Timothy M. Helfrich, a Senior Materiel Leader for the Air Force, discusses advancements in the CCA program and innovative design challenges. Mike Shortsleeve from General Atomics highlights the hurdles of integrating autonomy into aircraft. Diem Salmon of Anduril shares insights on collaborative approaches to CCA development, while Mike Benitez from Shield AI emphasizes mission autonomy integration. Robert Winkler from Kratos outlines the importance of effective schedule management for military tech. The guests explore future prospects for CCA and the continued evolution of military capabilities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Prioritize Schedule
- Prioritize schedule over other factors when developing complex systems like aircraft.
- Be willing to make tough trade-offs in capability to meet cost and schedule targets.
Affordability Considerations
- Affordability in aircraft development encompasses lifecycle costs, including operation, maintenance, training, and logistics.
- Consider the entire cost picture, not just procurement costs, to make informed decisions.
Government Reference Architecture for Autonomy
- The government is developing a Government Reference Architecture (AGRA) for autonomy to address vendor lock-in and platform specificity.
- This architecture will enable competition and continuous upgrades by separating flight/platform autonomy from mission autonomy.