Arlington, VA | July 10, 2026 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Technology and Military Disruption: Inbound from the Space Frontier, by Jess Sponable and Priyanka Mishra.

A U.S.–India partnership can help plant the seed to rapidly mature key space, air, and defense technologies while stabilizing the Indo-Pacific region with the only country in Asia that can stand toe to toe with China. Beyond advancing technology, key partnership goals should include building a 21st-century economic engine benefiting both countries, developing high-speed space and air transportation, opening the space frontier for 21st-century commerce, and countering China’s aggression by collaborating on national security, military intelligence, and counter terrorism efforts to facilitate peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

One key technology that can be “harvested” is reusable rocket-powered Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) vehicles. Although still in their infancy, these VTOL vehicles offer inherent global reach capability. Indeed, properly matured and equipped, they have the potential to execute many Air and Space Force missions with aircraft-like operability, cost efficiency, and unprecedented speed.