The Aerospace Advantage

Episode Summary: In episode 112 of the Aerospace Advantage, Deploying the Swarm: Autonomous Drone Operations in Denied Environments, John Baum chats about the challenges of operating drone swarms during a great power conflict with Dr. Doug Meador, the Autonomous Collaborative Vehicles Portfolio manager within AFRL's Aerospace Systems Directorate; Lt Colonel Ryan “SCUDS” Slaughter, the lead for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms in the Headquarters AF Strategy, Integration and Requirements directorate; plus Caitlin Lee and Mark Gunzinger from the Mitchell Institute team. In popular depictions, drones swarms always seem to show up at exactly the right moment, in seemingly infinite numbers, to attack their targets. But in real life combat, deploying drone swarms will require new, thoughtful and creative approaches to operations, logistics, and maintenance.  As the Air Force gets ready to field a new generation of autonomous drones – known as collaborative combat aircraft–CCAs–it will have to address these very practical considerations.  On today’s podcast, we bring together operators, scientists and policy experts to identify the challenges of deploying a drone swarm in a combat environment and their implications for CCA design. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Dr. Doug Meador, Autonomous Collaborative Vehicles Portfolio manager, AFRL Aerospace Systems Directorate Guest: Lt Colonel Ryan “SCUDS” Slaughter, Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Lead, Headquarters AF Strategy, Integration and Requirements Directorate Guest: Dr. Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow for UAV and Autonomy Studies, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #uav #cca #drone Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 111 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Drama and Defense, New F-35 Contract, Space Update, and Ukraine: The Rendezvous, John Baum chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Tim Ryan. The churn we all saw in the House of Representative as members struggled to elect the Speaker of the House has implications for defense—our conversation breaks down key perspectives. We also discuss the latest F-35 contract and how new pricing will impact the future of the program. Our team also assesses challenges and opportunities for the Space Force as we look to 2023. The conversation wraps with an update regarding factors to consider as fighting continues in Ukraine. This is an important set of conversations as we consider the vector top defense issues will take as 2023 unfolds. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Col (Ret.) Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International Guest: Col (Ret.) Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Submit Your Questions: mitchell@afa.org Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #speaker #congress #rendezvous #ukraine Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 110 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Russian Airpower in Ukraine: Lessons for the West, John “Slick” Baum chats with Dr. Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies along with Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Col Michael “Mongo” Kingry of our Mitchell Institute team about key takeaways from the Ukraine-Russia war. Media reports have largely focused on the ground war, but the opening stages of the conflict saw a fierce air battle. And it’s still unfolding. We need to discuss this, because it has challenged a lot of the assumptions about the Russian air force and what a modern air campaign looks like against advanced systems and a determined enemy. Unfortunately, many pundits are drawing the exact wrong conclusion from this fight.  This episode explores the strategies and tactics the combatants are employing, the hardware they are bringing to the fight, and what it means for the wider war.  We’ll also look at what lessons can be learned by NATO and the United States as war rages in Eastern Europe and adversaries around the globe evaluate the Western response. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Producer: Patrick Gensel Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Dr. Justin Bronk, Airpower Research Fellow, Military Sciences at Royal United Services Institute Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Lt Col Michael Kingry, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Links: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Ukraine #Russia #AirSuperiority #IADs #NATO #UAVs Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 109 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Strapping into the Cockpit: Mitchell Institute Heads into the Sky Part II, our team members recount some of their most memorable experiences flying and fighting. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. This week, we hear from Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.) as he explains what happened when the missile he just launched formed up on him, not the intended target; Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) talks about leading a 24 ship flight of F-16s in the weather on a comm-out training sortie…and then losing spatial orientation; Chris "Jekyll" Brunner remembers a time when he was flying a B-1 combat sortie with hung bombs, significant diplomatic issues flaring up, and a low fuel situation in play; Heather Penney shares a moment of levity from the middle of a combat sortie over Iraq when she encountered a huge number of enemy tanks; and Slick shares a Thunderbird memory that will make you laugh out loud. Credits: Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair at MI-SPACE, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Chris "Jekyll" Brunner, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Guest: John "Slick" Baum Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #stories #fighter #usaf #bomber Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 108 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Strapping into the Cockpit: Mitchell Institute Heads into the Sky, our team members recount some of their most memorable experiences flying and fighting. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. This week, we hear from Lt Gen Joseph Guastella Jr., USAF (Ret.), Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Mark Gunzinger, plus Air Force Fellows Lt Col Michael Kingry and Lt Col Sarah Brehm. So this episode is for you if you want to know what it’s like to attack enemy forces in an A-10, direct strikes as an impromptu forward air controller, make it back to base in a B-52 with a major portion of the tail missing, launch on a nerve-wracking combat search and rescue mission, or fly with Air Force Special Operations in Africa. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen Joseph Guastella Jr., USAF (Ret.), Non-Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Col. (Ret.) Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Lt Col Michael Kingry, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Guest: Lt Col Sarah Brehm, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #stories #fighter #usaf #bomber Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 107 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Building the Future of Airpower Today: F-35 Production, John “Slick” Baum visits Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production line in Fort Worth, TX, where he chats with Steve Howes, vice president for F-35 production operations, and J.R. McDonald, vice president for F-35 business development. There’s no question that the F-35 is the world’s most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft. However, it’s one thing to talk about this sort of capability and quite another to actually produce it. Things became even more interesting when fate tossed in curveballs from COVID, global supply chain challenges, and historic levels of inflation. This episode digs into everything from what it takes to build this unrivaled aircraft to how the team has overcome challenges and what it means to insert new capabilities on a production line. This is a unique opportunity to talk to the industry leaders who are actually building tomorrow’s airpower.    Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Steve Howes, Vice President for F-35 Production Operations, Lockheed Martin Guest: J.R. McDonald, Vice President for F-35 Business Development, Lockheed Martin Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #F35 #fighter #usaf #allies Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 106 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, We’ve Seen the B-21: What Comes Next?, John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Mark Gunzinger, and Doug Birkey of the Mitchell Institute team about their experiences at the B-21 rollout and what the future will hold for America’s newest bomber. Opening the hanger doors and rolling the aircraft out for public viewing earlier this month marked a key juncture towards rebuilding America’s airpower arsenal. It all comes down to producing the long-range sensor/shooter capabilities in adequate capacity that the nation will need to meet tomorrow’s threats. Combatant commanders simply can’t get enough bombers these days, so we can’t get B-21s on the ramp soon enough. These members of the Mitchell Institute team were part of a select group to see this aircraft during its December 2nd rollout; in this episode, they discuss the event, first impressions of the aircraft, and key factors that will shape the future of the program. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #b21 #bomber #usaf #lrs Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 105 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Congressional Update, B-21 Rollout, & CCA Vectors: The Rendezvous, John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Anthony Lazarski, Todd Harmer, and Caitlin Lee to discuss the air and space topics that you’ve seen in the national security headlines. This week, we consider how the Congressional election results will impact defense priorities on The Hill, thoughts regarding the FY24 defense budget submission, latest developments for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), the latest news regarding Ukraine, and what it will take for the defense bills to cross the finish line this year. We also share our perspectives on long range strike, given the B-21 debut to the public on 2 December. A lot has happened this month and we break it all down in this episode. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Col (Ret.) Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International Guest: Col (Ret.) Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs Submit Your Questions: mitchell@afa.org Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #b21 #bomber #rendezvous #ukraine Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In episode 104 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, The Origins of B-21: Understanding the Imperative, John Baum chats with a key set of individuals who were incredibly involved with the decisions that eventually yielded the B-21 program. Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), was the commander of STRATCOM, Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), serving on the Air Staff, Maj Gen Charlie Lyon, USAF (Ret.) was the lead for future Air Force capability requirements in the Pentagon, and Mark Gunzinger was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The arrival of the B-21 into America’s airpower arsenal stands as a crucially important step in rebuilding long-range strike capabilities and capacity in support of Combatant Commander demands. The B-21’s December 2nd rollout is a critical juncture on the path to realizing this objective. However, this eventuality was not always a certainty. In the 2000s, in the wake of the Next Generation Bomber cancelation, a group of individuals had to build a case explaining why it was important to build a new penetrating bomber. They had to engage with senior leaders in OSD, the Joint Staff, and Combatant Commands to transform a concept into a program of record. This episode will explore this unique window in time with folks who were there. If you want to understand the B-21 that will be unveiled this coming week, you need to listen to this episode. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Maj Gen Charles Lyon, USAF (Ret.) Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director, Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #B21 #Bomber Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In episode 103 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Hardened Shelters and UCAVs: Understanding the Chinese Threat Facing Taiwan, John Baum chats with China expert Daniel Rice about a set of capabilities the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) may bring to bear in a possible future cross-strait conflict. Based on an independent analysis of unclassified aerial imagery, it looks like the Chinese military may be seeking to harness airfields adjacent to the Taiwan Strait for permanent, sustained operations in the event of an attack. Existing and newly installed hardened aircraft shelters afford secure facilities for maintenance, refueling, and rearmament in the event of surge operations during conflict. These airfields may also be instrumental in a broader PLAAF strategy to conduct large-scale attack drone operations against Taiwan. These are important factors for the U.S., Taiwan, and allies in the region to consider as they assess what it will take to deter, and necessary defeat, such an attack. Credits: Host: Lt Col (Ret.) John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Daniel Rice, China Expert, Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare, Marine Corps University Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #China #UCAVS #strategy Thank you for your continued support!