Ready for Combat – Embracing a New Generational Model of the US Space Force > Vandenberg Space Force Base > View Article

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) — The current international order, which for decades has provided relative security and stability, is under threat from authoritarian regimes seeking to advance their own interests. An ambitious China and an openly belligerent Russia are aggressively challenging the established rules and norms on which global security and stability depend.

These security challenges have now extended to the space domain, with both regimes conducting destructive anti-satellite missile tests, striking their own satellites to demonstrate their ability to target US and allied satellites. These tests generated more than 4,000 pieces of debris, threatening human life and forcing orbiting assets like the International Space Station to move out of harm’s way.

Both countries are also developing and deploying orbital anti-satellite weapons and intelligence and surveillance systems to find, locate, track, and target U.S. forces. In addition, China demonstrated a split orbital bombardment system in July 2021, and more recently, to the alarm of many in the international community, Russia appears to be pursuing a nuclear anti-satellite capability in space.

It is these actions and ambitions that have transformed space into nothing less than a “war domain.” The reckless behavior of Russia and China threatens not only our national security, but also systems critical to the functioning of the global economy and to everyday essentials such as GPS, satellite communications, arms control verification, and international banking.

That’s why Congress, with bipartisan support, created the United States Space Force in 2019. Our goal is simple: to provide “a space warfighting advantage to outmatch, outplay, outmaneuver, and communicate.” “. » any adversary and to protect the joint force against space attacks. Our mission is to “ensure our nation’s interests in, from and to space!” »

The United States remains the world’s leading space power, but this superiority is being challenged and threatened at a rapid pace. Rest assured that the Space Force responds, evolves, and demonstrates warfighting capabilities in, from, and to space that enable the United States and its allies to deter and, if necessary, defeat any potential threats to U.S. space capabilities.

As senior leaders helping to shape and lead our efforts in space, we know that success in space requires excellence and innovation here on Earth. To meet the demands of Great Power CompetitionJuly 1 marks the implementation of the U.S. Space Force’s new Readiness Model, which provides optimized mission readiness tailored to the warfighter’s assigned command and service missions. Our Space Force Generation (SPAFORGEN) represents an unprecedented improvement in how we organize, train, and equip our Guardians, as well as our joint and coalition teammates. This foundational approach builds on the successes of the past five years to deploy combat-credible space forces and better prepare our Guardians and Airmen to defeat threats to the United States, our allies, and our partners.

Organize to deter and win
SPAFORGEN organizes forces into combat squadrons and combat detachments with integrated mission planning, mission support, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and cyber capabilities necessary to accomplish the mission. Combat forces increasingly leverage our network of installations as power projection platforms to provide force protection and security, combat support maintenance and sustainment, mission enhancements and engineering capabilities. As we utilize combat squadrons as a tactical unit of action, we deliberately and consciously prioritize combat effectiveness over organizational efficiency. These combat squadrons will be deployed to USSF service component commands worldwide to execute combat missions. For example, the Commander, U.S. Space Forces – U.S. Space Command will receive forces on behalf of U.S. Space Command and will have command and control of those forces to seamlessly execute the space combat mission fueled by a constant flow of fully trained and ready forces that now have dedicated time to “prepare” and “get ready” to present as an “engaged force” and as an integrated team.

Training to Deter and Win
At the same time, we are taking a fundamentally new approach to training our combat forces. SPAFORGEN integrates developments in unit, mission domain (e.g., missile warning and tracking, space electromagnetic warfare, orbital warfare, space domain awareness) and integrated combat team training , tailored to the latest needs and requirements of combatant commanders and threat intelligence. This modular approach allows for unprecedented reach, at unmatched speed, between USSF units to establish the mutually supportive relationships necessary to confront any threat.

Advanced training beyond weapon system procedural processes and day-to-day operations allows Guardians and Airmen to better understand the threat and combat mission requirements of their weapon systems, enabling innovative solutions to combat scenarios. Future investments in training and simulator development will increase training fidelity and span the entire continuum of conflict, providing our Guardians and Airmen with a more realistic environment to refine or challenge our current tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Equip yourself to deter and win
Our Guardians and Airmen are committed to the security, stability and security of the space domain and, as such, require the right tools to successfully carry out their missions. To expedite improvements and sustainment of weapon systems and to align responsibilities, authorities, and resources under a single commander, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations have designated the Command Commander Space Operations as the executive agent for sustainment of weapon systems and have activated integrated mission deltas to harness the power of our operations, ISR, cybersecurity, and sustainment professionals under a single chain of command. This important step will allow mission area commanders to better balance current and future risks to their weapon systems and align resources and accountability to drive readiness improvements. Additionally, we are also accelerating the removal of historic security barriers to developing advanced capabilities through joint training and commitment to a new security access baseline for planning and employment. Finally, we are increasing the resilience of our current space architectures through the proliferation of space systems and the fortification of our weapons systems infrastructure, while modernizing existing systems to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Committed to deterring and winning
Once forces are properly prepared and readied, Space Force strategically allocates and assigns aircrews and their inherent capabilities to operational missions under the direction of combatant commanders. This mission assignment ensures that these elements are employed effectively, maximizing their impact and support to the joint and combined force. Space Force’s proposed force elements include locally employed combat squadrons, which are assigned to combatant commands such as U.S. Space Command through component field commands. In addition, Space Force provides deployable combat detachments that can be assigned to other combatant commands as needed. This flexible approach to readiness allows space service components to provide real-time feedback to their combatant commanders and Space Operations Command so that future force offerings can be adapted and, as directed, reallocated to effectively respond to evolving scenarios.

Our Guardians and Airmen have made remarkable progress and evolved to meet the growing threat in the space domain during this first SPAFORGEN cycle. We will continue to improve this model based on feedback and critical analysis from our most vital source for process improvement: the exceptional Guardians and Airmen who make up the elements of the SPAFORGEN force.

Implementation of the new SPAFORGEN model provides the framework necessary to deliver synchronized, combat-focused space forces, which combatant commanders require to meet the growing threats to the joint and combined force. The increasing recklessness and irresponsible behavior of our competitors requires a critical shift in our thinking about generating and delivering combat-ready space power.

As China and Russia continue to act aggressively in space, we will remain clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. By remaining flexible and placing our Space Force Guardians at the forefront of operational deterrence concepts, we will ensure that the United States and our allies continue to have unfettered access to and use of the space domain, now and in the future.