Just when people were saying the future of air power was small, distributed systems like UAVs, the US struck Iran’s nuclear program infrastructure with an old-fashioned manned penetrating bombing raid. Which future is it? We ask two experts: retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the planner behind Operation Desert Storm, and Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn of the Center for a New American Security. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics chief Greg Ulmer joins us with fresh insights on the futures of F-35 (Block 5!), NGAD (more!), F-55, airlift, and more. Plus airpower headlines, including fussin’ up at the FCAS Ranch. Powered by GE!

Whether your plane is hypersonic, stealthy, or rocket powered, he knows the science behind it. Dr. Mark Lewis, former chief scientist of the Air Force and head of Purdue’s Applied Research Institute, gets technical with us. Plus many airpower headlines. Powered by GE!

There’s fast, and then there’s hyperfast. Hermeus is developing a hypersonic transport for the U.S. Air Force, and they took a big step recently with the first flight of their proof-of-concept plane. Founder and CEO A.J. Piplica joins us with the inside story. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On this special edition of the Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Tim Walton of the Hudson Institute, Air Power Podcast co-host JJ Gertler and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb attack on strategic bomber bases across Russia; the lessons from from the attack that are applicable to US forces; how to secure American bases at home and abroad; and learning from China’s use of large unmanned aircraft to carry large numbers of smaller unmanned craft to swarm targets.

We’re used to thinking of UAVs as throwaway systems, but when they cost 20 or 30 million dollars apiece, that changes the approach. Travis Sharp of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments has a new study out on the long-term costs and issues of operating collaborative combat aircraft, and we dig in. Plus this week’s headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Naval aviation has been busy, with real-world operational experience in the Red Sea, the Med, and elsewhere while they welcome and adapt to a new generation of aircraft carrier. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzalotta, the commander of Carrier Strike Group TWELVE and Captain Dave Dartez, Commander of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT, from aboard CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford, with the latest on airpower from the sea.  Powered by GE!

The U.S. Government has initiated an investigation to determine whether imported commercial aircraft and engines harm US national security. How do they threaten airpower? Aerospace guru Richard Aboulafia and noted trade attorney Jeff Bialos join us to explain it all — plus E-7, that Qatari 747, and more.  Powered by GE!

The US is building new generations of aircraft, but how much good are they if their bases can’t survive attack? Tim Walton of the Hudson Institute and CNAS’s Tom Shugart have a new report on just this topic, and they join us to get into the details of base vulnerability and defense. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

The US Air Force is building an uninhabited future with its collaborative combat aircraft. There’s been a lot of focus on their capabilities and procurement, but not so much on how to keep them effective in the fight. Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute, joins us to fill in that critical blank. Plus other headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!