Aerospace Power: An Imperative for National Security

An Imperative
for the Nation

The Mitchell Institute is the only aerospace power-focused think tank in the nation’s capital. The Institute informs the national security debate, educates about the essential role of aerospace power, and cultivates aerospace-minded talent.

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Airpower

6.7 Aerospace Nation: Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to join Aerospace Nation with Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force on Wednesday, June 7, at 9:00 am EST. Gen Brown will discuss the lessons from his tenure as Air Force Chief, the challenges of building capability and capacity under budget constraints, and the critical importance of America’s Airmen in great power competition. Advance registration is required.Registration Link: https://afa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZoR0Z-poTDmCikGB85U1dw

Space

5.24 Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to watch or listen to our Schriever Spacepower Series event with Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of Space Operations Command. Lt Gen Whiting will discuss the space domain’s criticality to national security, the latest in space technologies and tracking, and space’s role in winning our kill chain competitions.

Airpower

Press Release – Gen Dave Deptula Speaks at the Italian Air Force Centenary Celebration

On May 12, Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, delivered an address at the 2023 Aerospace Power Conference in Rome, Italy.

Airpower

5.17 Aerospace Nation: Lt Gen Leah Lauderback

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to watch or listen to Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen Leah G. Lauderback, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations. Lauderback discussed what it means to successfully fight and win in the information age with the full spectrum of ISR and cyber tools the USAF brings to the equation. Advance registration is required. Registration Link: https://afa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Cd1LH3GcS-2q49l6WzL3gQ After registering, you will receive a

In the News & Commentary

The Mitchell Institute’s editorials, media articles featuring Mitchell expertise, and other content.

Aerospace Nation Interview Series

The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Interview Series.

Publications

Read Mitchell Institute Research Studies, Policy Papers, and the latest entries in the Mitchell Forum Paper series.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events feature thoughtful commentary from decisionmakers, thought leaders, and other authoritative voices from the aerospace power community.

Aerospace Advantage Podcast

The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Advantage Podcast.

References

An Aerospace Power Reading List For National Security Professionals.

In the News and Commentary

All News

Press Release – Gen Dave Deptula Speaks at the Italian Air Force Centenary Celebration

On May 12, Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, delivered an address at the 2023 Aerospace Power Conference in Rome, Italy.

Press Release – Gen Deptula Delivers Keynote to the Hellenic Air Force’s 8th Annual Air Power Conference

On April 27, Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, delivered a keynote address to the Hellenic Air Force’s 8th Annual Air Power Conference.

ANALYSIS: Rise of the AI fighter pilots

Aerospace America | May 4, 2023 | Caitlin Lee, Jesse Breau, and Keeley Erhardt

Press Release – Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force Visits the Mitchell Institute

On April 28, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies team hosted Chief of the Singapore Air Force Maj Gen Kelvin Khong along with Air Force Command Chief ME6 Ng See Lye, Head of Air Operations Col Teo Soo Yeow, and other members of their delegation.

Northrop Says It’s ‘Premature’ For Australia to Buy the B-21—But Maybe Later

Air & Space Forces Magazine | April 27, 2023 | John A. Tirpak

Accelerating Fifth-Gen Airpower

Air & Space Forces Magazine | April 27, 2023 | Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Lt. Col. Eric Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.) and Doug Birkey

It’s time to resource the Air Force fighter enterprise the US needs

Defense News | April 27, 2023 | Doug Birkey

Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast Ep15: We’ve got a secret!

Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast | April 27, 2023

Airpower

No matter the mission, from air superiority and long range strike to air mobility and command and control, a broad range of missions executed in the air provide vital options at the strategic, operational, and tactical realms.

Space

National security space activities are essential facets of any military operation, while also creating conditions essential for the civilian economy.

Acquisition

Empowering actors at all levels with a smart set of options at the right time and place demands procuring the most effective, efficient, and resilient set of tools.

Strategy

Meeting national security requirements today and tomorrow requires insightful, creative approaches that prioritize America’s strengths, while not projecting undue vulnerability.

Budgeting

Resource investment must prioritize investments that will yield best value for the Air Force, Space Force, and national security establishment as a whole.

Nuclear

Strategic deterrence is the bedrock of the national security enterprise thanks to the virtues and value of the triad.

Publications

All Publications

Scale, Scope, Speed & Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition

Arlington, VA | May 3, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Scale, Scope, Speed & Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. In this report, Penney explains how the “kill chain” is an enduring framework for the process of securing battlespace effects. Often, this means putting a bomb or missile on target,

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Need Data to Train for Combat

Arlington, VA | April 13, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Collaborative Combat Aircraft Need Data to Train for Combat, by Lt Col Jesse Breau, USAF; Keeley Erhardt, MIT; and Maj Joshua Reddis, USAF. AI-powered software pilots have the potential to fulfill the U.S. Air Force’s quest for affordable tactical airpower capacity; however, the foundational requirement for data to enable air combat autonomy algorithms

Back to the Future: Balloons in the Modern Security Paradigm

Arlington, VA | March 17, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Back to the Future: Balloons in the Modern Security Paradigm by Dr. Greg Canavan and Dr. John Browne. It is clear from the coverage and commentary on the recently downed Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that it caught America’s defense establishment on the back foot. These and other of China’s recent activities appear to

Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber

Arlington, VA | March 23, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Research Studies series, Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute. Today’s U.S. bomber force falls short of having the penetrating strike capacity needed to meet the objectives of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. Thirty years of successive inventory cuts

C2 Series: Clearing the Fog and Friction of Command and Control

Arlington, VA | January 9, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to announce three new Forum Papers in a series on command and control (C2) by Col Frederick “Trey” Coleman, the commander of the 505th Command and Control Wing. With an Air Force still pondering how it can accelerate change (or lose), as well as grappling with the requirements to realize a Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept, these short

The Next Frontier: UAVs for Great Power Conflict | Part 1: Penetrating Strike

Arlington, VA | December 7, 2022 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Research Studies series, The Next Frontier: UAVs for Great Power Conflict | Part 1: Penetrating Strike by Caitlin Lee, Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and Mark A. Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Only a few years ago, the

Joint All-Domain Command and Control: The Role for Space

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce the publication of its submission to the 2022 Air Power Journal for the Dubai International Air Chiefs’ Conference (DIACC), titled Joint All-Domain Command and Control: The Role for Space, and authored by Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies Tim Ryan. Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) will collect information from any sensor and any domain, rapidly transmit large volumes of data across vast physical distances, process

Hardened Shelters and UCAVs: Understanding The Chinese Threat Facing Taiwan

Arlington, VA | November 9, 2022 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Hardened Shelters and UCAVs: Understanding The Chinese Threat Facing Taiwan by non-resident fellow Daniel Rice. This analysis of unclassified aerial imagery concludes that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) airfields adjacent to the Taiwan Strait are intended for permanent, sustained operations in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Previous

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An Imperative
for the Nation

Featured

6.7 Aerospace Nation: Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr.

5.24 Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting

Press Release – Gen Dave Deptula Speaks at the Italian Air Force Centenary Celebration

5.17 Aerospace Nation: Lt Gen Leah Lauderback