America is running short on munitions. With so many conflicts ongoing, our consumption is outpacing what we can build. This episode explores this the munitions gap and what folks are doing to try and fix it. We speak with Nick Bucci, vice president of defense systems and technologies at General Atomic EMS. They recently partnered with Rafael to build their Bullseye missile here in the United States. This adds more domestic munitions production capacity, while also on-ramping in some new capabilities.
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Every week, Heather “Lucky” Penney will take listeners into the world of aerospace power and help the audience understand what it takes to fly and fight in the sky, while also protecting America’s interests in space. Whether talking to top generals, standing on a flight line full of combat aircraft, looking at a rocket being prepared for launch, or hearing from those who have laid it all on the line in defense of the nation—this podcast will afford unprecedented access and insight into where the combat aerospace community is going and why.
Ep. 248 - The Rendezvous
Fighter Recapitalization, Trump on Ukraine, and the X-37B Mission: The Rendezvous
Our team digs into the status of the defense bills on Capitol Hill, spacepower policy, fighter recapitalization and E-7. Plus, President Trump’s new approach to Ukraine, Air Force and Space Force leadership changes and the X-37B mission.
Spacepower is fundamentally reliant on the cyber domain—it is the backbone of connectivity for constellations on orbit, their ground stations,...
As America’s interests in space grow and humanity ventures further from Earth, the need to have Guardians in space to...
The Air Force increasingly needs a broader set of munitions to achieve mission effects in the modern age. Combat operations...
Ep. 244 - The Rendezvous
Readiness Precipice, FY26 Budget Pressures, and E-7 on the Line: The Rendezvous
In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Anthony...
This week, we’re shining a spotlight on the men and women of the 11th Space Warning Squadron (SWS). They provide...
We’re bringing you a special edition of the Aerospace Advantage to discuss Saturday’s strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. Everyone...
The U.S. must deter China from using hostile force in space. Experts from Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), in partnership with the Center for Naval Analysis, just released a new report suggesting that while conflict in space is not inevitable, the U.S. security establishment has a long way to go when it comes to boosting America’s ability to deter conflict on orbit.
Combat operations in Ukraine and the Red Sea clearly demonstrate the impact of small lethal drones as portable precision-guided munitions....
Ep. 239 - The Rendezvous
Budget Battles, Golden Dome, and Ukraine’s Strike on Russia: The Rendezvous
Heather "Lucky" Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, and Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski about the FY26 defense budget, Golden Dome, the potential cancelation of E-7, a broad range of spacepower developments, and Ukraine’s strike on Russian bombers.
Fighting and winning tomorrow will require new operational concepts and technologies that’ll give airmen an edge. That’s where CCA come into the mix. They’re designed to bring new capabilities, more capacity, and empower new ways of fighting. But just like the rest of the Air Force aircraft inventory, just buying CCA won’t be enough. Credible, sustainable combat air forces require logistics—personnel, fuel, munitions, ground handling equipment, and other materiel—to generate sorties at scale.
Fighting and winning in the twenty first century requires next gen electronic attack capabilities. Designing that technology and developing effective concepts of operation demands operational analysis. Heather Penney discusses this reality with Lt Gen David “Kooler” Krumm, USAF (Ret) of BAE. It comes down to empowering strategists, operational leaders, and technology experts better understand how these functions can best empower overarching tactics, techniques, procedures, and investment decisions.
An update on China’s 6th generation fighters, recent PLA exercises in the Taiwan Strait, Admiral Paparo's testimony about China’s military, PLA's new national security white paper, plus the Chinese fighter performance in the recent conflict between Pakistan and India.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) stand forth as one of the most important airpower developments of the twenty-first century. We learn more about them by talking to two of the people involved with developing and building them. We explain CCA’s technological journey, explore where the program currently stands, and discuss the pathway for production, test, and initial operational fielding.