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Air Force to Close China Aerospace Studies Institute

September 24, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

The Air Force is closing its China Aerospace Studies Institute.
The center's mission will continue with military personnel.
All civilian positions will be unfunded starting October 1.
CASI employees will be reassigned or find new positions.

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Strategic Implications

The closure of CASI may indicate a shift in the Air Force's priorities regarding Chinese aerospace studies. This move could suggest that the Air Force is reevaluating its approach to understanding China's air and space capabilities, which may have implications for the broader US defense strategy. The decision may also indicate a focus on leveraging military personnel to accomplish CASI's objectives, which could impact the center's research capabilities.

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What Happened

Premier Think Tank Dedicated to Chinese Aerospace Studies to Shut Down

The US Air Force is shutting down its premier think tank dedicated to studying Chinese aerospace, the China Aerospace Studies Institute. Despite previous statements that the center’s mission would continue, the Air Force will no longer assign civilian positions to CASI as part of its ongoing civilian restructure. The center’s director, Brendan Mulvaney, stated that all civilian positions will be unfunded starting October 1, and employees will be reassigned or find new positions. CASI’s research informs policy and strategy across the Defense Department and broader US government, and its closure may have significant implications for the US defense strategy. This development was first reported by Federal News Network.

Source | Originally Published: September 24, 2026

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