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.
Featured
Airpower
Mitchell Institute Dean Delivers Remarks at the 2SOS for the RPA Squadron of the Year Banquet
Hurlburt Field, FL | December 2, 2023 On December 2, Lt Gen Dave Deptula USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, was pleased to speak at the 2nd Special Operations Squadron’s award banquet for winning the General Atomics RPA Squadron of the Year for 2022. The Scorpions are a reserve MQ-9 squadron based out of Hurlburt Field, Florida under the 919th Special Operations Wing. Lt Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind, Commander of Air
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Airpower
Episode 157 — Congressional Defense Update; B-21 First Flight; Spacepower Considerations, and a China Update: The Rendezvous
In Episode 157 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Defense Update; B-21 First Flight; Spacepower Considerations, and a China Update: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense developments in the beltway and the broader national security community. We discuss where defense bills stand in Congress and continuing resolution implications. Panelists also explore the latest developments regarding the B-21’s first flight and what the future will
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Airpower
Episode 156 — 4th Gen to 5th Gen Air Combat Evolution: Operator Perspectives
In Episode 156 of the Aerospace Advantage, 4th Gen to 5th Gen Air Combat Evolution: Operator Perspectives, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with two seasoned fighter pilots, Lt Col Gary Glojek and Lt Col Max Cover, about how modernization is impacting today’s Air Force flightlines. Specifically, they discuss how the combat Air Force inventory is evolving from a 4th generation force to one increasingly populated by 5th generation aircraft. Types like the A-10, which
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Content
In the News & Commentary
The Mitchell Institute’s editorials, media articles featuring Mitchell expertise, and other content.
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Aerospace Nation Interview Series
The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Interview Series.
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Publications
Read Mitchell Institute Research Studies, Policy Papers, and the latest entries in the Mitchell Forum Paper series.
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events feature thoughtful commentary from decisionmakers, thought leaders, and other authoritative voices from the aerospace power community.
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In the News and Commentary
All News
Mitchell Institute Dean Delivers Remarks at the 2SOS for the RPA Squadron of the Year Banquet
Hurlburt Field, FL | December 2, 2023 On December 2, Lt Gen Dave Deptula USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, was pleased to speak at the 2nd Special Operations Squadron’s award banquet for winning the General Atomics RPA Squadron of the Year for 2022. The Scorpions are a reserve MQ-9 squadron based out of Hurlburt Field, Florida under the 919th Special Operations Wing. Lt Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind, Commander of Air
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Hamas is going to ‘take advantage’ of the cease-fire: Lt. Gen. David Deptula
FOX | November 26, 2023
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Rain or shine: Why upgraded space-based weather-monitoring is crucial for the military
Breaking Defense | November 17, 2023
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Press Release – Mitchell Dean Presents Keynote at ROK Airpower Symposium
The Dean of the Mitchell Institute, Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) was invited to the Republic of Korea (ROK) the first week of November to deliver the keynote address at an Airpower Symposium hosted by the ROK Air Force History Foundation and present a briefing to senior ROK Air Force leadership.
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Calls grow for more strikes against Iran proxies attacking US forces in Middle East
FOX | November 4, 2023
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Space-Based Environmental Monitoring for Today’s Military
Air & Space Forces Magazine | November 2, 2023
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Press Release – The Royal Canadian Air Force visits the Mitchell Institute
On November 2, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies team hosted Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Lt Gen Eric Kenny and a delegation of senior RCAF leadership.
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Issues
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
Winds of Change: Environmental Monitoring for an Era of Peer Competition
Arlington, VA | November 20, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Winds of Change: Environmental Monitoring for an Era of Peer Competition by Lt Col (Ret.) Tim Ryan, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE). Weather has always played an important role in military operations and will prove even more vital in
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Accelerating 5th Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge
Arlington, VA | June 29, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Accelerating 5th Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge by Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow at The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; Douglas Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute; and Lt Col Eric Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.). The Air Force faces a severe fighter aircraft
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Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense
Arlington, VA | June 26, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense by Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute. Space is on the front line of America’s strategic competition with China. Capabilities in this domain are essential to the U.S. military’s ability to deter threats
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Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air & Missile Threats to the Homeland
Arlington, VA | June 22, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air & Missile Threats to the Homeland by Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. The Arctic has remained an attractive attack vector for both U.S. and Russian long-range aviation and missiles since the earliest days of the Cold War. The growing Arctic
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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The Mitchell Institute is an independent, nonpartisan research organization established to provide fact-based policy options, inform debate, and empower our nation’s leaders.
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