SWT with Kristin Burke, China Aerospace Studies Institute

Space Warfighter Talk

with

Kristin Burke

China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI)

The mission of CASI is to advance understanding of the strategy, doctrine, operating concepts, capabilities, personnel, training, organization, of China’s aerospace forces and the civilian and commercial infrastructure that supports them. By studying “ everything that flies” in China, we can better understand decision making, limitations, opportunities, and challenges in competition. CASI serves as the Department of Air Force’s premiere center for the study of China and its aerospace capabilities.

     CASI supports the Secretary, Chiefs of Staff, and other senior leaders for the Air and Space Forces.  CASI provides expert research and analysis supporting decision and policy makers in the Department of Defense and across the U.S. government.  CASI can support the full range of units and organizations across the USAF, USSF, and the DoD. CASI accomplishes its mission through conducting the following activities:  

CASI performs the following tasks, in priority order.

• First, CASI will conduct primary source research and translation on all topics germane to Chinese aerospace, to include air, space, cyber, and missile related fields and civilian-sector work. This research will directly inform a variety of long and short form reports and briefings for a broader audience.
• Second, CASI directly enables the warfighter by expanding their understanding of Chinese aerospace and strategic thinking. This will include such actions as working with Red Cells for wargaming or providing background information for large force exercise design.
• Third, CASI works to educate the force about Chinese aerospace, to include lectures and direct instruction at multiple levels of Professional Military Education.
• Fourth, CASI engages the community of interest outside of the DAF, to include joint and allied partners, think and academic constituents, and other government organizations, as well as the PLA and PRC as applicable.

     CASI supports the U.S. Defense Department and the China research community writ-large by providing high quality, unclassified research on Chinese aerospace developments in the context of U.S. strategic imperatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Primarily focused on China’s Military Air, Space, and Missile Forces, CASI capitalizes on publicly available native language resources to gain insights as to how the Chinese speak to and among one another on these topics.

     CASI aims to fill a niche in the China research community by providing high quality, unclassified research on Chinese aerospace developments in the context of U.S. strategic imperatives in the Asia-Pacific region.