Episode Summary: In Episode 154 of the Aerospace Advantage, Understanding the Chinese Challenge: Assessing DoD’s Latest China Military Power Report, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies Mike Dahm about key trends and insights shaping the security picture in the Western Pacific and beyond. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall recently described what keeps U.S. military leaders awake: “China, China, China.”  He’s right, the People’s Republic of China is growing its military capabilities at scale while its leaders are beginning to assert themselves in ways that often conflict with American interests and values. Each year, the Department of Defense produces an unclassified report for Congress to explain these variables: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China. This episode explores the 2023 edition with our own China expert, Mike Dahm, providing unique insights and analysis. The conversation focuses on concerning air and space power trends, but also considers factors influencing China’s national security calculus. Credits: Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: J. Michael 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 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 #report #military Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 153 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Defense Update; Conflict in the Middle East; and a China Threat Update: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), China expert Mike Dahm, plus Washington insiders Anthony Lazarski and Todd Harmer about the latest developments in the beltway and the broader national security community. We discuss what new leadership in the House of Representatives will mean for defense equities on The Hill, including the likelihood for another continuing resolution and the risks that will drive. Panelists also explore the latest developments regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, plus what this will mean for America’s broader national security interests around the globe. We wrap with an extensive national security assessment regarding China, especially given DoD’s newly released 2023 edition of Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China. As always, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Credits: Host: 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: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs 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 #Rendezvous Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 152 of the Aerospace Advantage, Commander Conversation: The Future of French Airpower, John “Slick” Baum explores the future of fighter aviation with Maj Gen Jean-Luc Moritz, head of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program for the French Air and Space Force. The FCAS is a next-generation fighter aircraft and the associated set of collaborative systems that France, Germany, and Spain are developing to replace types currently in service, like the Rafale, Typhoon, and Hornet. The U.S. Air Force has its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)—this is one of the European equivalents. The air superiority mission is critical for achieving success in modern warfare. Anyone who doubts the need for air superiority can see what has happened in Ukraine. Reverting to WWI-like trench warfare, with neither side controlling the sky, is beyond brutal. No one wins fighting like that, which is why it’s crucial to constantly push the state of the art with new design concepts, technologies, and employment concepts when it comes to next-generation fighter aircraft and associated systems. Join us to learn more from one of the key allied leaders charting the future of this crucial mission. Credits: Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Maj Gen Jean-Luc Moritz, Future Combat Air System Operational Project Director, French Air & Space Force 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 #France #Europe #Airpower Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 151 of the Aerospace Advantage, The Backbone of Aerospace Production: Understanding the Supplier Base, John “Slick” Baum discusses what it’ll take to ensure America’s aerospace industrial base can meet demand with industry expert Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director at AeroDynamic Advisory, and Karl Hutter, President & CEO of Click Bond, a leading supplier. The U.S. and its allies are in the middle of rebuilding their air forces to meet the challenges of an evolving threat environment. Considering that these countries largely still fly aircraft from the Cold War, the need for this modernization is acute. Everyone wants new aircraft now, but manufacturing lines can only accommodate so much, so fast—especially with a concurrent surge in demand for commercial airliners. Companies are trying to expand their capacity to produce, but that’s far easier said than done. In this episode, hear directly from the individuals deep in the industrial base who literally build the future of airpower—we’ll explore how they contribute, their strengths, and the risks that are in play so that we better understand what it’ll take to ensure we have an industrial base that can meet demand. Credits: Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director, AeroDynamic Advisory Guest: Karl Hutter, President & CEO, Click Bond 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 #space Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 150 of the Aerospace Advantage, The USSF’s Theory of Competitive Endurance: Expanding the Discussion, Tim Ryan sits down with Brian “Flasher” Goodman, a seasoned space operator and Guardian; Tom “Pumper” Nichols, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at True Anomaly; and Mitchell’s Charles Galbreath to explore ideas around Competitive Endurance and how it can be applied in today’s contested space domain. With threats on orbit on the rise, it is crucial to define this strategic concept and explore how it ties to key concepts integrated defense, space superiority, and maintaining the sustainability of the space domain. Additionally, our guests discuss the principles underpinning this theory—Avoiding Operational Surprise, Denting First-Mover Advantage, and Responsible Counterspace Campaigning. When Chief of Space Operations Gen “Salty” Saltzman released his vision, he also challenged Guardians and members of the space national security community to discuss and further develop a conceptual foundation. This is the first of what will be many future Mitchell discussions doing just that. Credits: Host: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, MI-SPACE Guest: Brian “Flasher” Goodman, USSF Guest: Tom “Pumper” Nichols, Chief Product Officer, True Anomaly 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 #space Thank you for your continued support!

On this thought-provoking podcast, the hosts discuss the drama and negotiations in Congress over government funding, the potential impact of a government shutdown on agencies, the need for a new architecture in the space force, recent developments in space bar and lunar missions, the confusion surrounding the Replicator initiative, and the delay in providing weapons to Ukraine.

Episode Summary: In Episode 148 of the Aerospace Advantage, Understanding Hostilities in Space Short of War: Harnessing an Irregular Warfare Model on Orbit, Mitchell Institute’s Tim Ryan chats with Commander John ‘Patsy’ Klein, USN (Ret), a noted spacepower expert; Colonel El Gardner, Director Space Strategy, Policy, and Plans HQ USSF; and Henry Heren about what it means to successfully engage in an era of enduring competition in space. The conversation focuses on the findings of Klein’s latest book, 'Fight for the Final Frontier: Irregular Warfare in Space.'  Klein argues that hostile actions on orbit normally fall outside the definition of armed conflict, with actions short of overt war as the norm for adversaries seeking to disrupt our ability to engage in this domain. The net effects yield distinct similarities to what we’ve seen in irregular warfare. This discussion opens the aperture for applying lessons learned. Credits: Host: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Henry Heren, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, MI-SPACE Guest: CDR John "Patsy" Kline, USN (Ret.), Senior Fellow, Falcon Research, Inc. Guest: Col El Gardner, Director, Space Strategy, Policy, and Plans, HQ USSF 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 #a8 #budget Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 147 of the Aerospace Advantage, No Bucks, No Buck Rogers: Leadership Conversation with Lt Gen Rick Moore, Mitchell’s Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) explores the fiscal realities facing the USAF. As the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs at Headquarters Air Force, Lt Gen Rick Moore oversees building the budgets that are ultimately submitted to top Department of the Air Force leaders, DoD, and the Hill. We frequently talk about hardware like aircraft and munitions, plus the operating concepts and strategies governing their use. But making that happen all comes down to resources and General Moore is the key figure in that realm. Join us to learn more about how he sees the priorities stack, the tough choices that must be made given finite resources, and what this means for the future of the service. Credits: Host: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt Gen Richard G. Moore, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters USAF 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 #a8 #budget Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 146 of the Aerospace Advantage, Innovating the Spectrum Warfare Edge: Industry Conversation, Mitchell’s Doug Birkey continues our focus on this topic with Josh Niedzwiecki, vice president and general manager of electronic combat solutions at BAE. As we discussed last week with 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Joshua Koslov, this technology, the associated conops, and tactics are crucial for success in modern warfare. The nation has taken too much risk in this area since the end of the Cold War, and now it’s time for the U.S. military to reset. Success demands the recruitment of industry talent who can innovate and produce the tools required to empower this mission—a complex endeavor that should not be taken for granted. The talent needed to help meet these requirements takes years, even decades, to cultivate. The same holds true for the facilities and tools needed for production. This week’s episode covers these essential industry-side factors of the spectrum warfare equation. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Joshua Niedzwiecki, Vice President & General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems 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 #spectrum #ew #bae Thank you for your continued support!

Episode Summary: In Episode 145 of the Aerospace Advantage, Regaining the Spectrum Warfare Advantage: Leadership Conversation, Doug Birkey chats with the commander of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, Col Joshua Koslov to discuss the current state of this mission area, explain challenges and opportunities, define key concepts, and provide insights on future vectors. Spectrum warfare is a crucial element of overall warfighting effectiveness.  At its core, it comes down to securing an information advantage, which facilitates more effective decision-making at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Spectrum warfare lies at the heart of concepts like JADC2 and ABMS—empowering data gathering, exchange, processing, and collaboration between various team members in the battlespace. It’s also a competitive realm: our adversaries seek to deny us this capability, and our forces seek to deny the same to our opponents. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Col Joshua Koslov, Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing 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 #spectrum #ew Thank you for your continued support!