The budget deal can’t come at the expense of defense production
"In an era defined by peer conflict, America must prioritize the ability to innovate and build at scale," argues Douglas Birkey of the Mitchell Institute.
Don’t want to lose Ukraine? Empower Kyiv with airpower
The Mitchell Institute's Douglas Birkey argues Kyiv's need for airpower is only highlighted by recently leaked US intelligence documents.
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The uncrewed revolution: MQ-9B and Gambit Series forge a path to regional air dominance
The MQ-9B and Gambit Series represent parallel capabilities that address global challenges for security head-on.
Congress is right: Accelerate the E-7 Wedgetail buy
The Air Force can't wait when it comes to modernizing command and control, writes the Mitchell Institute's Douglas Birkey.
The Air Force we need now can’t be sacrificed for the force we need in the future
"Shortchanging what you can deliver today for a dream sheet regarding the future is a dangerous course given the current fragility of the existing force and scope of demand," writes Doug Birkey.
Hands Off, Budgeteers! DoD Must Fund Our Small Bomber Fleet
If an aircraft like the B-1 was taxed so hard due to high demand, the appropriate lesson is that the nation needs more bombers, not less.
Mitchell Weighs In: More F-35s or New, Old F-15s?
Fifth gen or fourth gen? F-35A or F-15X. Stealth, sensors and fusion or lots of missiles? Lockheed or Boeing? See what the Mitchell Institute says.
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Not just selling into the kingdom, but building partnership with Saudi Arabia’s defense industry
Partnerships with outside industry are a cornerstone of the kingdom’s ambitious growth strategy.
Up the Buy ASAP: Fixing American Airpower
Double the buy rate on F-35A starting in 2020 and plan on a minimum of 200 B-21 bombers built in rapid fashion. That will begin to get to the Air Force that America needs to meets the challenges of the future.
Hey GAO: Fighter Gap Means We Should Buy F-35 Faster
The GAO’s recommendation against boosting acquisition rates for F-35 components misses the mark while the United States faces severe security threats in multiple regions around the world. America faces a dangerous fighter gap that requires buying more F-35s faster. The only way to make this happen in the present budget environment is to drive the price down — […]
No, Mr. Trump, You Can’t Replace F-35 With A ‘Comparable’ F-18
President-Elect Trump’s recent announcement that he is considering acquiring the F/A-18 Super Hornet in place of the F-35 Lightning II does not add up for a leader who seeks “to make America great again.” Too much is at stake for the United States to rely on a fighter aircraft design whose roots extend back to […]
Give DoD 18 RD-180s; Alternatives Too Late, Too Costly
When the National Defense Authorization Bill comes to the Senate floor, lawmakers will face an important choice regarding the future of national security space launch. The Defense Department has relied upon United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV and Atlas V rockets — the latter powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine. Maintaining redundant launch system capabilities — […]
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Breaking the Pentagon’s new bottleneck of time
As threats evolve, the winning model ties digital engineering to manufacturing capacity and a reindustrialized supply chain.
Change How Air Force Buys Compass Call, JSTARS
The 21st century is defined by connectivity, from our iPhones to the networks that power our economy. The US military is not immune to this. Either it seizes opportunities presented by the information age, or risks precipitating problems if it retreats into anachronistic paradigms. Well into the late 20th century, combat power was largely measured […]
Army Never Outgunned If Joint Force Can Help
The authors are with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster issued a warning April 5 to the Senate Armed Services Airland subcommittee saying that the service will be “…outranged and outgunned by many potential adversaries in the future….” This statement garnered much attention in the media, but it artificially assesses Army capabilities […]
Sen. McCain: Keep the B-21 On Track
The Air Force’s new B-21 long range strike bomber acquisition program has encountered turbulence in recent weeks as Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declared: “I will not authorize a program that has a cost-plus contract.” Justifying his position, the senator referenced his smart phone, explaining that: “Silicon Valley built the latest […]