Commander of the U.S. Space Force, Chance Saltzman, likens his role to riding a fast-spinning merry-go-round. Despite being a relatively young military branch, the Space Force must prepare to confront China in what could be the decisive battleground of the future.
The establishment of the Space Force in 2019 was a controversial move championed by President Donald Trump. It faced initial opposition from the military and resistance from the intelligence community’s space agencies. However, the members of the new service, known as “Guardians,” successfully established themselves and began effectively navigating the power dynamics within the Pentagon.
During an interview, Saltzman acknowledged that the Space Force has faced some challenges. The service is relatively small, with under 13,000 personnel, including officers, enlisted members, and civilians. In comparison, the Marine Corps has around 177,000 active-duty members. The Space Force lacks sufficient command positions and struggles to fill existing roles. Additionally, its missions are highly secretive, leaving the public with limited knowledge of its activities.
According to John Hamre, a prominent early supporter of the Space Force, the service needs to build a larger ecosystem to develop personnel, weapons, and strategic capabilities in order to overcome the significant challenges it faces.
Saltzman agrees that resources are stretched thin. He acknowledges being outnumbered in key Pentagon meetings and committees by other services, sometimes at a ratio of 10 to 1. He recognizes the importance of quantity in order to be more effective and is open to the idea of expansion.
Saltzman has recently introduced innovative initiatives aimed at expanding the Space Force’s capabilities. The launch of the 75th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the targeting cell, is a notable development. This unit will utilize ground and space sensors to assess potential adversaries’ satellite capabilities, intentions, and maneuverability. The ultimate goal is to identify targets that may need to be disrupted or jammed.
Resiliency is a critical aspect of space defense. Currently, the United States is vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on a few satellites for intelligence and communications. To address this vulnerability, the Space Force has initiated the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture program. This program aims to create a mesh network of low Earth orbit satellites for communication purposes. The network is set to expand rapidly, with the launch of additional satellites planned in the coming years.
The Space Force is embracing the small-satellite revolution, following the example set by Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation. Saltzman highlights the challenges posed by these proliferated arrays, such as the Russian attempts to jam Starlink in Ukraine. The Space Force’s mission is further complicated by the presence of various government players in space, including the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
China, on the other hand, has pursued the consolidation of its high-tech military assets through the creation of the Strategic Support Force. This force combines cyber, space, electronic warfare, and psychological operations, offering a comprehensive approach to advanced information warfare.
The Space Force aims to provide better coordination for U.S. efforts in space. Saltzman and other military chiefs of staff now have the opportunity to prioritize space-related matters through discussions in the Pentagon’s “tank” meetings. Various coordination mechanisms, such as a joint panel overseeing the different services’ space requirements, have been put in place. However, the effectiveness of these efforts depends on the Space Force’s ability to expand its size and influence in order to drive strategic planning and war-gaming activities.
The importance of space as a domain of potential conflict cannot be understated in the current era of great-power competition between the United States and China. Saltzman emphasizes that the mission of the Space Force is to achieve space superiority by protecting U.S. assets and denying adversaries access to space. In order to fulfill this mission, the Space Force must grow in size and influence.
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