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The Aerospace Advantage

Episode 189 – Fighting the Air Base: Decisive Combat Sortie Generation Under Fire

Jun 22, 2024
Fighter pilot Heather “Lucky” Penney, along with experts Mike Dahm and Mark Gunzinger, discuss the critical need for US Air Force commanders to defend frontline air bases as key weapon systems in modern operations. They highlight challenges in countering integrated attacks, restoring operational capabilities, and generating combat airpower under fire to support joint force operations. Failure is not an option in projecting power and fighting adversaries alongside allies.
45:30

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Air bases must be defended as critical weapon systems to maintain combat airpower.
  • A mix of active and passive defenses is essential for effective air base defense.

Deep dives

China's Anti-Access Area Denial Strategy

China has developed an Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) strategy with integrated long-range strike systems targeting US airbases globally, emphasizing system destruction. This includes using intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to cue missiles and aircraft to target US and Allied forces, aiming to nullify combat power before it can launch.

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