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U.S. Air Force Shuts Down China Aerospace Studies Institute

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 11:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Air Force is shutting down the China Aerospace Studies Institute, its centre for studying China’s aerospace capabilities.
Civilian positions become unfunded on Oct. 1, 2026, while the institute continues paying surplus staff through March 2027.
Military service members will maintain the mission, delivering courses and publishing pending reports.
Analysts including Malcolm Davis called the closure a very bad move and a devastating loss.

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Story summary

The U.S. Air Force is shutting down the China Aerospace Studies Institute, its centre for studying China’s aerospace capabilities.
Civilian positions become unfunded on Oct. 1, 2026, while the institute continues paying surplus staff through March 2027.
Military service members will maintain the mission, delivering courses and publishing pending reports.
Analysts including Malcolm Davis called the closure a very bad move and a devastating loss.