Gen. Chance Saltzman underscored the imperative for a dedicated Space Force amid intensifying global rivalry for space dominance. He stressed that this current era represents the most fiercely contested period in history for this domain, emphasizing the critical role of a specialized military branch.
The Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, the Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force, Gen. Chance Saltzman, emphasized the escalating military competition in Earth’s orbital space
Drawing parallels to Russia‘s incursion into Ukraine, Gen. Chance Saltzman elucidated the necessity of safeguarding vital U.S. assets in space, including GPS systems, communication satellites, and early warning missile launch networks. He noted that the conflict underscored the fundamental importance of space access and utilization in modern warfare, emphasizing that technology alone is insufficient; the readiness of the forces employing it is the decisive factor.
While lauding the establishment of the Space Force as a pivotal milestone, Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized the need for ongoing enhancements to meet the challenges of great power competition. To ensure swift responses to space threats, the service has restructured units, fostering direct collaboration between Guardians managing GPS satellites and electromagnetic warfare systems, and counterparts responsible for hardware procurement.
Gen. Chance Saltzman further stressed the necessity of consolidating critical mission activities within the same organizational framework, avoiding fragmentation
The Space Force has been proactively fortifying its assets in the now contested Earth orbit, establishing a specialized unit for targeting adversary satellites, conducting live fire jamming exercises, and simulating on-orbit combat scenarios.
Echoing the sentiments of General David D. Thompson, vice chief of space operations, who noted frequent attacks on U.S. satellites, Gen. Chance Saltzman emphasized the persistent challenges faced by American satellites. Notably, American, Russian, and Chinese satellites have engaged in intricate maneuvers, maneuvering in proximity to gather intelligence on each other’s capabilities.
In response to the evolving dynamics of Earth’s orbital space, the Space Force recently deployed the classified Silent Barker satellite, described as a “watchdog” to vigilantly monitor U.S. satellites in orbit and ensure their security.
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