"The Next Great Power War Won't Last Four Years—It Will Last Four Weeks": New Frontier Aerospace CEO Bill Bruner on America's Hypersonic Gap and NFA's Mission to Close It Before It's Too Late

America faces a strategic vulnerability that adversaries have already exploited. When fixed runways are targeted, our most advanced aircraft become useless. During Desert Storm, mobile Scud launchers evaded America's aerial dominance. Today, China fields operational hypersonic weapons while American programs lag behind.

Enter New Frontier Aerospace's revolutionary Pathfinder vertical takeoff and landing hypersonic aircraft powered by the compact and efficient pump-fed Mjolnir engine. One of the key leaders behind it, Bill Bruner, brings unique expertise as a decorated Air Force Colonel and F-111 Weapon Systems Officer who hunted Scuds during the Gulf War, later served as a NASA Assistant Administrator under President Bush, and now leads NFA as co-founder and CEO. With his background in airpower weapons & tactics, national security strategy and aerospace technology, Bruner isn't just developing innovative systems; he's racing to close a capability gap that could determine the outcome of the next conflict.

Bill, with over 40 years of experience spanning the Air Force, NASA, and now leading New Frontier Aerospace, what initially sparked your fascination with space and aerospace technologies?

Bill Bruner's fascination with space began during the height of the Apollo program, a formative experience that would shape his career trajectory. "I was a child of Apollo in the 60s," Bruner recalls. "I wrote to NASA when I was about eight or nine years old and received every picture of every astronaut and every diagram of the Saturn Five rocket. I had them all taped up on the wall in my room. The Gemini launches were particularly inspiring for me. Some of my earliest memories, at five years old, are of John Glenn's historic first orbital flight."

Like many children of the Space Age, his imagination was fueled by both real achievements and science fiction's promise. At 11 years old, he watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon - never dreaming he would get to meet them when he grew up to work on Capitol Hill and at NASA. "By the time I reached high school, the Space Shuttle program was just beginning to be discussed. We all assumed we would certainly reach Mars in the near future. I genuinely believed that by the time I reached my current age, we'd have established a presence on the moons of Jupiter and would be developing interstellar travel capabilities."

These dreams led him to military service, though not exactly on the path he initially imagined. "At my first opportunity, I joined Air Force ROTC with aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot. I ultimately attended Undergraduate Navigator Training and became a weapon systems officer in the F-111 strike fighter, later attending the U.S. AIr Force Fighter Weapons School. While I never realized my dreams of becoming a test pilot or astronaut, I was honored to be appointed by President George W. Bush as a NASA Assistant Administrator - leading the Office of Legislative Affairs, which was tremendously rewarding in its own right."

As a former military officer with extensive experience in strategic planning and having served during Operation Desert Storm, how do you see NFA's technologies contributing to the broader concept of deterrence in today's geopolitical landscape?

When asked how NFA's technologies contribute to the broader concept of deterrence in today's geopolitical landscape, Bruner emphasizes the company's unique approach to hypersonic flight. "New Frontier Aerospace is, to my knowledge, the only company developing a 100% reusable rocket-powered vertical takeoff and landing hypersonic aircraft. Some of the space launch companies want to adapt their reusable rockets to high speed transportation–but they will likely fly larger space launch vehicles on ballistic flight paths that require more energy than Pathfinder- which is much more airplane-like and stays within the atmosphere for the entire flight. And our air-breathing competitors remain dependent on runways and are building developmental hypersonic engines that they hope will eventually become operational. Meanwhile, rocket engines have been flying operationally for nearly a century - and reusable rockets fly to the edge of space at Mach 10 and come back to a vertical landing twice a week."

The distinction between the two approaches has two critical implications for military operations. First -"If an adversary identifies runways as our center of gravity, those naturally become primary targets. There's substantial unclassified information documenting our dangerous reliance on runways. I consider vulnerability to be the antithesis of deterrence. When you maintain an obvious vulnerability, you don't discourage adversaries—you effectively invite them to exploit that weakness." The second implication is that rocket propulsion solutions are ready now, while air-breathing hypersonic engines are still in development. This is problematic, since the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has warned that China will be ready to invade Taiwan in 2027, two short years away.

Bruner sees NFA's approach as addressing a fundamental challenge for current military thinking. "Breaking our dependence on runways serves our strategic interests. While we've made efforts in this direction with vertical lift, propeller-driven aircraft like the V-22 Osprey, and DARPA is developing VTOL jet technology, all current hypersonic aircraft efforts are creating capabilities that remain just as dependent on runways as the conventional aircraft we're trying to replace. NFA stands alone in combining true VTOL capabilities with hypersonic performance."

The advantages extend beyond just eliminating runway dependency. "By reducing our vulnerability to air base attacks through dispersed operations and a smaller operational footprint, we significantly enhance deterrence. The primary advantages of hypersonic technology are increasing the probability of mission success and reducing the loss rate of aircraft and personnel. At Weapons School, we emphasized that 'speed is life' in air combat—a principle that remains absolutely true. Operating at Mach 5 or higher dramatically reduces an adversary's probability of successfully engaging your assets. The less vulnerable your forces, the more effective their deterrent value becomes."

This approach combines elements of traditional strategic deterrence in a novel way. "Our technology combines highly survivable speeds with highly survivable basing concepts. This effectively merges the primary advantages of ICBMs with those of manned aircraft in deterrence strategy. ICBMs are difficult to intercept due to their speed, rapid time-to-target, and resistance to defensive measures. Aircraft provide flexibility, allowing deployment, recall, and the judgment of human crews when needed."

While NFA's immediate plans don't include crewed vehicles, Bruner notes: "Although we aren't initially planning for crewed platforms, our systems will incorporate virtually all the advantages of both the air-breathing bomber leg and the ICBM leg of the strategic triad. This creates a uniquely powerful deterrent capability."

The concept of deterrence has evolved from traditional nuclear frameworks to include space-based capabilities. How might NFA's Mjölnir engine and hypersonic technologies specifically enhance "deterrence by denial" strategies by increasing resilience and redundancy in space assets?

Turning to NFA's Mjölnir engine and its contribution to space-based capabilities, Bruner first clarifies the discussion. "I'd like to approach this from a higher strategic level. The true significance lies in the overall platform capabilities rather than any single component. My earlier comments focused primarily on hypersonic technology and conventional deterrence in traditional warfare scenarios. When discussing space applications and the role of our engine in providing high-thrust, high delta-V maneuverability in orbit, it's important to recognize we're addressing two distinct operational domains."

He explains the unique position of NFA's technology in the current market. "The Mjölnir is a compact, pump-fed, highly efficient rocket engine. While numerous companies are developing engines for space maneuver vehicles—including various electric thrusters and water-based electric propulsion systems—there are remarkably few chemical bipropellant engines offering both high specific impulse and high thrust for orbital transfer vehicles."

The current industry standard has limitations that NFA aims to address. "The canonical example is the RL-10 engine powering the Centaur upper stage. While effective, it is physically large, heavy, and prohibitively expensive. Impulse Space is developing their Deneb engines delivering 15,000 pounds of thrust using propellants similar to ours, though with a different cycle architecture. These will power their Helios vehicle, but the system will likely be too large to integrate with small launch vehicles."

NFA's solution is distinctive in its versatility. "Our Bifrost spacecraft functions essentially as a Swiss army knife for space operations. It can accommodate virtually any payload type—commercial, scientific or military. In certain architectures, it enables capabilities from small launch vehicles that wouldn't otherwise be possible. The electric propulsion alternatives simply can't match our ability to rapidly transfer between orbits. In space operations, just as in atmospheric flight, speed equates to survival and effectiveness. When an adversary knows you can rapidly engage any object in any orbit, that knowledge alone creates a powerful deterrent. Should deterrence fail, you maintain the ability to respond decisively."

Elaborating on the broader capabilities needed in space, Bruner emphasizes maneuverability. "At the highest strategic level, our nation requires the ability to maneuver freely in space without operational penalties or regret. Historically, spacecraft carried limited propellant supplies in self-contained tanks, typically using storable hypergolic propellants. While these don't experience boil-off and remain stable for years, they provide relatively low thrust. This means you can't quickly evade threats or rapidly investigate objects of interest. Furthermore, with the existing completely expendable architecture, once you depleted your propellant, the mission ended. Every maneuver came with a significant operational cost."

NFA aims to change this paradigm. "Consider instead a refuelable, cryogenically-fueled orbital maneuvering system with a refrigeration system that maintains propellant at liquid temperatures indefinitely and can be periodically resupplied. Cryogenic propellants are essential for achieving higher efficiency and specific impulse. While some are exploring refueling with hypergolic propellants, which could certainly work, those engines deliver substantially lower specific impulse. A pump-fed cryogenic engine represents the pinnacle of rocket propulsion performance, and we've developed a compact system in this category."

The practical benefits could be substantial. "Integrated with our Bifrost spacecraft, the Mjölnir engine can deliver four kilometers per second of delta-V to a payload. Once we solve the challenges of refrigeration and implement refueling capabilities, we'll have created a reusable, compact, highly efficient system—what earlier generations called an 'orbital tug.' I prefer to describe it simply as an extraordinarily capable spacecraft serving multiple critical functions."

You've led NFA since its founding in 2020. How do you envision the Pathfinder vehicle changing the equation for rapid global response capabilities, and what implications might this have for deterrence doctrine?

NFA's Pathfinder vehicle represents a potential paradigm shift in military capabilities. Bruner compares current hypersonic technology with NFA's vision. "Current thinking about hypersonic strike systems assumes they'll be produced in limited quantities at extremely high costs. The standard value proposition for the startup hypersonic aircraft companies suggests that delivering people and cargo anywhere globally in minimal time justifies the premium pricing necessary to recoup the enormous R&D investments in advanced engine development."

NFA's approach is fundamentally different. "Our thesis challenges these assumptions. We believe rockets can be produced relatively inexpensively, particularly when incorporating 3D-printed engines, operating at moderate hypersonic speeds around Mach 5, and utilizing metallic thermal protection systems similar to those employed on the X-15. It was built from Inconel X, a nickel alloy similar to what we currently use in our engine manufacturing, rather than requiring exotic thermal protection materials.

This approach could dramatically reduce costs. "Working under the premise that we can produce these systems for single-digit millions per unit for our Pathfinder vehicle, we're establishing a foundation for future development. The Pathfinder itself is precisely that—a pathfinding technology demonstrator standing just 20 feet tall. The intercontinental vehicles we envision developing in the 2030s will reach 100 feet in height with trans-Pacific and ultimately global operational range."

The initial capabilities are still substantial. "Even our relatively compact Pathfinder will perform fighter-type missions with ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 miles, providing slightly under 1,000 miles of combat radius. This enables complete mission cycles—takeoff, employment, return to base, rearming, refueling, and relaunch—with minimal turnaround time."

Bruner envisions a fundamental shift in military capabilities. "Imagine the transformational impact of deploying vehicles capable of flying 4-6 sorties daily, traveling 1,000 miles to execute military missions, and returning for immediate redeployment. This represents a profoundly different operational paradigm compared to our current environment, where systems such as the Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon cost between $40-60 million per unit. Our aircraft will operate at approximately $20-30,000 per mission while delivering payloads costing substantially less than $1 million each."

The implications could be revolutionary. "This capability will fundamentally transform global security by introducing capabilities that simply don't exist today. The operational tempo, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility will create entirely new strategic and tactical possibilities."

Bruner draws a historical parallel to underscore the potential impact. "The US Army effectively hindered the development of aviation technology between the Wright brothers' demonstration at Fort Myer in 1908 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914—a mere six-year period. From the first official military evaluation of the airplane to global conflict was just half a decade."

This delay had serious consequences. "During that critical period, the Wright brothers licensed their technology to French and German interests. By the time global hostilities commenced, European aircraft such as the SPAD, Fokker, and Nieuport designs had become the world's most advanced, leaving American aircraft woefully outclassed. This created a significant scandal following the war that has largely faded from our collective memory. Even the iconic 'Hat in the Ring' aircraft flown by Eddie Rickenbacker was actually a French Nieuport 28."

The lesson, Bruner argues, is clear. "If we found ourselves in a major conflict today where foreign powers maintained the same technological advantage over us that European nations held at the beginning of World War I, the engagement wouldn't last four years as that conflict did. It could be decided in four to five weeks, with America on the losing side, facing devastating consequences."

This historical comparison underscores what Bruner sees as a coming revolution in warfare. "We're facing a similarly pivotal technological revolution today, and we must avoid repeating historical mistakes by continuing to invest in outdated warfare approaches. It's worth remembering that the US Army was still producing training films as late as 1942 demonstrating how to fit gas masks on horses and mules. I'm concerned that many of our current investments are similarly focused on preserving obsolete warfare paradigms rather than embracing inevitable change."

Instead, Bruner argues for embracing new paradigms. "The future battlespace environment is clearly approaching, characterized by low-cost reusable hypersonic platforms, minimal operational footprints, mobile deployments, and low per-target costs. We should be moving away from multi-billion-dollar platforms, subsonic operations conducted under cover of darkness, and massive maritime assets that become missile magnets. The coming era of conflict will feature small, dispersed, mobile, hypersonic systems capable of resolving conflicts within weeks rather than months or years. These emerging weapon systems will be able to engage hundreds of separate targets daily with unprecedented efficiency."

President Trump's "Golden Dome" initiative has been described as having "the magnitude of the Manhattan Project." Given your experience at NASA and the Department of Defense, how might NFA's technologies potentially contribute to this comprehensive missile defense architecture, particularly in addressing hypersonic threats?

When asked about President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative, Bruner draws connections to an earlier era. "I vividly recall President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative speech and find myself in complete agreement with both President Reagan and President Trump that leaving American citizens vulnerable to nuclear or conventional missile attack is fundamentally immoral. As we've witnessed consistently since the first Gulf War, protecting population centers and military assets from ballistic missile threats represents a core responsibility of any ethical government. I've been a dedicated advocate for comprehensive strategic defense systems for more than four decades."

He notes that technological capabilities have evolved significantly since Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. "During the SDI era, many of the proposed technologies represented significant technical stretches beyond existing capabilities. Today, we routinely witness rockets like the Falcon 9 reaching orbit twice weekly. We've demonstrated the ability to deploy thousands of satellites through programs like Starlink. Implementing a space-based 'Brilliant Pebbles' constellation-type defense system is now entirely feasible from a technical perspective—it's primarily a matter of marshaling the necessary national will. I'm deeply encouraged that the President is providing leadership in this critical area."

However, Bruner cautions against overcomplicating implementation. "Our defense establishment tends toward over-engineering and unnecessary complexity. Consider how quickly Elon Musk has transformed space operations: SpaceX began flying a vertical landing/reusable rocket around 2015—just a decade ago. Within only 10 years, the company has deployed more satellites on orbit than all the nations of the world combined."

Musk's management approach offers lessons. "There are instructive anecdotes about Musk's management style during Starlink's development. When facing delays, he reportedly visited Seattle facilities and directly addressed underperforming teams, making immediate personnel changes to ensure progress. This ruthless focus on objectives and pragmatic approach to technology development—prioritizing available solutions over theoretical ideals—suggests we could implement effective defensive systems within 2-3 years if approached with similar determination and leveraging existing launch capabilities and Starlink-model satellite production methods."

As for NFA's potential contribution to this initiative, Bruner identifies a specific capability gap. "Any effective orbital defense constellation requires substantial delta-V capacity. A system of 5,000-6,000 interceptors must maintain sufficient maneuvering capability to conduct multiple consecutive engagements during conflict scenarios. The architecture necessarily demands a layered approach. Mid-course interception requires orbital assets capable of rapidly repositioning to intercept threats, while boost- and terminal- phase defense similarly benefits from space-based systems. NFA's technology could play a critical role in this architecture. "Our systems deliver four kilometers per second of delta-V per vehicle at single-digit million dollar costs per unit, rather than the hundreds of millions typically associated with comparable capabilities. This makes a proliferated constellation requiring extensive maneuvering capabilities economically viable. While specific architecture details haven't yet been defined—including constellation parameters and the balance between space-based and terrestrial components—we're still in the preliminary planning stages.’ However, he adds, “Any space-based missile defense system will be more effective and far less expensive than today’s limited terrestrial based defenses. An important advantage for NFA is that our orbital transfer vehicle offers a unique ability to deploy, service, and even deorbit assets ensuring positive control over all weapons systems at all times. I firmly believe there will be substantial demand for compact, high specific impulse and highly efficient orbital transfer spacecraft exactly like what we're developing."

About Bill Bruner

Bill Bruner is the co-founder and CEO of New Frontier Aerospace, an aviation and space technology development company in Seattle, Washington. NFA is an equity-funded startup manufacturing advanced rocket engines to power multiple products, including orbit transfer spacecraft and net carbon-negative hypersonic aircraft for civil, commercial, and defense applications.

During President George W. Bush's Administration, Bill was the Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) at NASA. Under Bill's leadership, the OLIA team directed all of NASA’s relations with the U.S. Congress, governors, state legislators and local governments.

Prior to joining NASA, Bill had a distinguished career in the United States Air Force, from which he retired as a Colonel. During his flying career as an F-111 Weapon Systems Officer, he served in Europe, standing nuclear alert to deter Soviet aggression during the Cold War. Among his decorations is the Bronze Star, awarded for service in the First Gulf War. He then served in several key positions in Washington -- among them as a space and airpower expert on the staff of the Secretary of the Air Force; as a Military Fellow in the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and as an Office Director within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he won the Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul H. Nitze Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs. 

Bill is a graduate of the National War College, the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, and the Air Force's School of Advanced Air and Space Power Studies -- where his thesis topic was "National Security Implications of Inexpensive Space Access." He has earned master's degrees, with distinction, in National Security Strategy and Airpower Arts and Sciences. His bachelor’s degree in Physical Science (Astronomy) is from San Francisco State University. 

For more information, contact New Frontier Aerospace at info@nfaero.com.

For press inquiries, contact Jim Bono at jim@nfaero.com.