Lt Col Gary Glojek and Lt Col Max Cover discuss 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.
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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.
JSTARS enabled Air Force battle managers to monitor surface targets, convert data into actionable insights, and exploit a comprehensive command and control system to make more effective decisions. But given the JSTARS retirement, the Air Force is reshaping how it achieves these effects. Mitchell Institute’s Doug Birkey and Lt Col Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis, a former JSTARS battle manager explore this evolution and what it means for the future force.
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.
Ep. 153 - The Rendezvous
Congressional Defense Update; Conflict in the Middle East; and a China Threat Update: The Rendezvous
In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss what new leadership in the House of Representatives will mean for defense equities on The Hill, the latest developments regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Ep. 149 - The Rendezvous
Washington Drama, Boosting Defense Production, Spacepower Update, and Replicator: The Rendezvous
In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss the national security realities created by a continuing resolution and the looming potential of a government shut down, plus Secretary Kendall’s call for a Department of the Air Force reorganization and the latest developments in spacepower. We consider variables involved in Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment LaPlante’s call for increased defense production and cover Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks’ initiative termed “replicator,” followed by an update on developments in Ukraine.
Ep. 148
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.
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.
Mitchell’s Doug Birkey continues our focus on Spectrum Warfare with Josh Niedzwiecki, vice president and general manager of electronic combat solutions at BAE.
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.
Doug Birkey chats with Brigadier General Mike Adamson, Commander of 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD); Brigadier General Chris McKenna, Director General Air and Space Force Development; and Brigadier General Kyle Paul Deputy Commanding General, Transformation, U.S. Space Operations Command.
The U.S. military is not alone in focusing on the role information will play in future conflicts. So while concepts like JADC2 and ABMS are shaping the future of the U.S. military, it’s crucial to recognize that China is pursuing similar vectors and that the PLA's evolution is not just about amassing new hardware and weapons platforms. This episode explores these concepts, and our guests explain what they reveal about China's ambitions to become a world-class military.
John “Slick” Baum, Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), and Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.) chat with Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Commander. During this episode, the Mitchell team explores with Air Marshal Smyth how he sees the global security environment and where the RAF stands from a capabilities perspective. They also discuss future operating concepts and RAF spacepower objectives.