Maintaining American dominance in space requires a renewed focus on capabilities delivery, the U.S. Space Force’s chief of space operations said this week at the annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference.
During his Tuesday keynote address at the conference at Maryland’s National Harbor, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman zeroed in on how the Space Force can better deliver necessary capabilities that empower troops to complete critical missions.
“Developing and delivering space warfighting capability is a vital part of our DNA as a service,” Gen. Saltzman said. “The time has come for us to focus on enhancing the speed and effectiveness of our deliveries. Because if we fall behind, the Joint Force and the nation will feel the consequences.”
Gen. Saltzman said the Space Force is in a distinct position to enact important changes due to President Trump’s focus on efficiency and readiness. He also praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent orders, which have focused on getting emerging and essential technologies into the hands of soldiers faster.
The general added that this focus on readiness and the speedy delivery of capabilities is already generating successes. He pointed to the launch of the Space Development Agency’s “Tranche One” proliferated architecture. The satellite network will provide advanced communication, missile tracking and continuous overwatch to deny “first mover advantage.”
Gen. Saltzman touted the launch of two state-of-the-art GPS satellites over the past year. According to the general, it previously took the Space Force almost two years to prepare and launch similar satellites, and “now it takes us only three months,” he said.
He added that intense and consequential conflicts, such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, demonstrate the need for rapid capabilities delivery. According to Gen. Saltzman, previous development strategies have focused on perfection when rapid deployment should be prioritized.
“Effective systems don’t require perfection to be combat credible. We need to consider rapid entry into operations, manage the capability with a smart risk posture, and then focus on rapid and continuous improvement of the capability in operations,” he said.
Additionally, Gen. Saltzman said the Space Force is working to create a comprehensive “architecture of the future,” known as the Future Operating Environment, to ensure that the branch is ready for what the U.S.’ adversaries might do next.
“A small team of planners and strategists has been focused on our five-year, 10-year and 15-year plans, so we know where to invest to stay ahead. To do this, we looked closely at what our adversaries can do today, and what we expect them to be able to do in the future,” the general said.
The Space Force is expected to release the full Future Operating Environment report by the end of the year.
To fully realize its goals, Gen. Saltzman said, the Space Force needs to adjust its relationship with industry. Part of that adjustment is “Space Force Front Door,” a new online portal that enables the branch to collect ideas from private industry and assess how they align with the needs of the Space Force or other organizations.
“Every bit of new technology that gives us an advantage is a win for the Space Force and our nation,” the general said.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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