Mitchell Institute

FY27 budget ‘to reflect’ Space Force need for rapid capabilities growth: Saltzman

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said today that the White House, the Office of Management and Budget and DoD all agree that the service needs to grow.

DoD needs to clarify service/agency roles in supporting ‘space superiority’: Mitchell Institute

As the Space Force approaches its sixth birthday, there needs to be an assessment of "gaps and seams" between it and its sister services, said retired USAF Col. Jennifer Reeves, who authored the paper.

NRO extends contracts for 4 providers, readies new acquisition approach

NRO Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak said that the spysat agency soon will begin using a new commercial contract vehicle with a five-year "rolling" window for bids.

From on-orbit to launch, Space Force needs more focus on dynamic space operations

Building dynamic space operations concepts will be necessary to force "flexibility," and provide capabilities for "maneuver and surprise" on orbit, the new report by the Mitchell Institute says.

It’s more than fuel: Why the Space Force needs in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing

In this op-ed, Charles Galbreath argues the Space Force should adopt in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing as a means to maintain space superiority over China.

New ‘Space Warfighting Framework’ coming to codify Space Force concepts, terms

The interview signalled a rapprochement between Saltzman and the institute, following his Feb. 20 ban on engagement with Mitchell by Space Force personnel.

Saltzman bars Space Force staff from Mitchell Institute events

The order follows a Mitchell report criticizing Saltzman's overarching theory of space power, dubbed "Competitive Endurance," as too focused on defensive operations rather than offensive actions.

DoD needs to clarify Space Force roles and missions: Mitchell workshop

The new report cautions the Space Force against an "over reliance" on commercial capabilities and worries that Space Force is not concentrating enough on the need to win future space conflicts not simply "endure" attacks.

Goldwater-Nichols do-over? Mitchell Institute calls to reinstate service chief’s acquisition powers

The Goldwater-Nichols Act has resulted in "a pervasive pattern within the military of neglect of long-term defense procurement strategies and requirements," the Mitchell Institute argues in a new policy paper.

As Air Force lays out Force Design, top strategist warns service is ‘underfunded’ to face China

“If I had to categorize it, modernization costs are something that we still need,” Lt. Gen. David Harris told Breaking Defense. “And there's even some readiness pieces in here that allow me to have the right supply and support. All of that still needs to come together.”

The Army wants its own ‘Space Force.’ They shouldn’t be allowed to have it.

In this op-ed, two Mitchell Institute experts argue that the Army's Space and Missile Defense Command is overstepping with its plans to increase space personnel and space control capabilities.

Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute

The Mitchell Institute is advocating that from now on Congress bolster the Space Force's budget by "about $250M a year" and "increase end strength by approximately 200 personnel for the new responsibilities associated with emerging national interests on the moon and the cislunar region."

Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’

As Breaking Defense toured Boeing's Seattle area facilities where the E-7 radar plane will take shape, company officials talked about getting the bird in the air — and their vision for what it can do.

Troubled electronics upgrade vital for F-35 in future fights: Mitchell Institute

While billions over budget and years behind schedule, “Block 4 is going to be fundamentally, radically better,” especially in electronic warfare, argued AFA’s Doug Birkey. “In many ways, it’s an entirely new jet.”