NIDS Knowledge

This second episode in Maj. Gen. USAF (Ret.) Don Alston's Leadership Series, Don discusses the importance of setting expectations, incentivizing behaviors and enforcing standards to drive a self-critical culture essential to success in nuclear alert missions. Alston shares stories and examples to illustrate how culture can be cultivated and improved within an organization.

In this episode, Christopher Stone speaks with Dr. Kathleen Ellis about her paper on China’s version of GPS and its strategic impacts upon those peoples falling under the Belt and Road Initiative. Disclaimer: The thoughts, opinions and statements of the host and the guest are those and are not to be viewed as those of their employers or the Department of Defense. Guest Dr. Casey Ellis https://nipp...

Carl hosts David Ochmanek to discuss deterring a potential invasion of Taiwan. Likely scenarios are discussed, military challenges are identified, and technological and operational solutions are proposed.

Christopher Stone explores the background and significance of U.S. policy and strategy changes regarding the Russian-made RD-180 engine and the US's former reliance on it. The episode discusses the decision to import the RD-180 engine and the movement away from it following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

Carl, Christine, and Natalie discuss preparedness, transparency, and acquisition in relation to deterrence. The Australian Triad also discuss Australia’s purchase of loitering munitions, its recent role in cyber deterrence, and the importance of readiness and sustainment to deterrence.

Guest, Jim Cooper, of COMSPOC, a commercial leader in space situational awareness (SSA) technology, shares his views regarding the past, present, and future of commercial sector space domain awareness and supporting the government with space traffic management.

The first in a series on leadership, Maj. Gen. USAF (Ret) Don Alston explains the part that risk, trust, and consequence plays in nuclear deterrence.

Dr. Peter Layton joins Carl, Christine, and Natalie to discuss Australia's National Defense Strategy and the concept of deterrence within an alliance. The strategy emphasizes conventional deterrence and working with the US and key partners to maintain a favorable regional strategic balance and explores the challenges of building a force to contribute to an alliance versus deterring independently,...

Dr. Peter Layton joins Carl, Christine, and Natalie to discuss Australia's National Defense Strategy and the concept of deterrence within an alliance. The strategy emphasizes conventional deterrence and working with the US and key partners to maintain a favorable regional strategic balance and explores the challenges of building a force to contribute to an alliance versus deterring independently,...

Christopher Stone welcomes Kevin Pollpeter, Director of Research, China Aerospace Studies Institute to talk about China's view on space deterrence and warfighting. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and don't reflect those of their employers.

Bob Peters describes the new American nuclear consensus and the difference between realists vs. arms controllers vs. disarmers.

In this introductory episode, Christopher begins a look into the concept of Competitive Endurance and why it's lack of enemy understanding is troubling and ineffective. More detailed episodes to follow.

The Australian triad, Carl, Christine, and Natalie, discuss the importance of transparency in deterrence, including transparency to the Australian public, partners, and potential adversaries. They highlight the need for clear communication of what Australia is deterring and the tools of deterrence, such as capability, credibility, and communication.

Christopher Stone and Dr. M. V. Coyote-Smith discuss the challenges and shortcomings of the mindset governing the Space Force and why a renewed focus on space superiority and offensive weapons are needed for defense. The views of the host and guests on Real Space Strategy are their own and do not reflect the views of the Department of Defense.

In this episode on uranium, NIDS Fellow and Chief of Staff Alex Littlefield follows up on a promise made by our president, Jim Petrosky, during a previous NIDS Knowledge episode titled “Nuclear Reactors, the forbidden topic” to record a future NIDS Knowledge podcast comparing the nuclear fuels used for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. This NIDS Knowledge episode on uranium will be followed wi...

In this episode Christopher Stone looks at the experiences and past plans of General Curtis LeMay as a model that the Space Force seems to have forgotten despite it being a key part of Air Force strategy for decades: keeping friendly offensive forces, needed for deterrence (nuclear and space) more capable than enemy defenses.

Kirk Fansher discusses the safety and security of nuclear weapons and how the PRP ensures the most reliable individuals are in critical positions related to nuclear weapons.

Christopher Stone looks deeper into the threats posed by a nuclear Russian anti-satellite (ASAT) and why we are not prepared to deter or destroy such a threat due to current policy.

Christine and Natalie interview The Honorable Frank C. Miller where they discuss the need for the US to revitalize its nuclear arsenal and policies in the face of a tripolar superpower nuclear competition. https://tinyurl.com/yx49uwv4 https://tinyurl.com/2p94vkr7

Jim describes how time, distance and shielding can reduce health effects from fall out. More on the HHS Web Page: https://remm.hhs.gov/nuclearfallout.htm

Christopher Stone explains the difference between deterrence and defense and why they're not the same thing.

In this special episode, Natalie and Carl discuss Australia’s National Defence Strategy and the associated Integrated Investment Program. They examine the assumptions and discuss the plan to address Australia’s most challenging strategic environment since World War II.

Carl, Natalie, and special guest, Bob Peters, discuss options for extended AUKUS cooperation.

Chris talks with Brig Gen Michael Bruno, Director of Joint Staff, Colorado National Guard, about a proposal to absorb Air National Guard units into the Space Force.

Jim explains how radiation dose leads to health effects, based upon EPA numbers.