The US Space Force

“We’ve got to … stop debating if it’s a warfighting domain, stop debating whether there are weapons, and get to the point of how do we responsibly, as part of the joint and combined force, deter conflict that nobody wants to see, but if we do see it, demonstrate our ability to win?” he said. “We have to get about the process and the prospects of — from multiple domains, not just the space domain — providing capability to find, fix and deny any adversary capability to find and target US forces or allied forces.”
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breakingdefense.com

'Stop debating' over space weapons and prepare for conflict: Space Force general - Breaking Defense

A Mitchell Institute policy paper essentially lays out an implementation plan for what Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has dubbed "responsible counterspace campaigning."
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 
Innovative Rocket Technologies, known as iRocket, won a U.S. Space Force contract to demonstrate a reusable rocket engine for small launch vehicles.

The $1.8 million agreement with the U.S. Space Systems Command is a Tactical Funding Increase, or TACFI, where the government and private investors split the cost 50/50.

The New York-based startup, founded in 2018, develops rocket engines and plans to build a small launch vehicle.

The 18-month TACFI contract, announced June 28, was awarded by AFWERX, a U.S. Air Force technology accelerator.

“Under the contract, iRocket will further develop our highly reusable rocket engine,” said Asad Malik, founder and CEO.
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spacenews.com

Startup iRocket wins Space Force contract to demonstrate rocket engine

Startup iRocket wins Space Force contract to demonstrate rocket engine
spacenews.com spacenews.com
 
jsport said:
breakingdefense.com

Space Force chief seeks to 'shift mindset' to defend Joint Force on the ground - Breaking Defense

"While important, a narrow focus on protecting space capabilities disregards how U.S. strategic competitors are preparing to use their own space capabilities to find, target, and attack forces operating in the terrestrial domains," Gen. Chance Saltzman wrote in an internal Commander's Note...
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
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This was what the ABMA was gunning for right before the end.

Look for pushback...
 
For any United States "force" in physical space, it's ultimately about kinetic assets...
 
martinbayer said:
For any United States "force" in physical space, it's ultimately about kinetic assets...
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Not necessarily. There are a number of non kinetic options. In fact I consider it unlikely that USSF will develop kinetic weapons (outside a couple existing dual use systems) given the high risk to own infrastructure using them.
 
Josh_TN said:
martinbayer said:
For any United States "force" in physical space, it's ultimately about kinetic assets...
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. There are a number of non kinetic options. In fact I consider it unlikely that USSF will develop kinetic weapons (outside a couple existing dual use systems) given the high risk to own infrastructure using them.
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If that were the case, it would certainly break the mold of USA, USN, USAF, and USMC all having physical assets capable of kinetic options.
 
Delta 9 handles orbital warfare. Space warfare is extremely boring though and mostly consists of jamming at the moment. It should be somewhat obvious that smashing enemy satellites is often counter-productive. Most USSF's conceptual space warfare systems consist of orbital tugs and parasite craft that dislodge high altitude birds from expected orbits. That's most of the killing of them with none of the risks of fratricide.

Space warfare is just going to be high tempo dances of dumb looking satellites with Canadarms trying to wiggle each other's solar panels and communication dishes out of alignment, attach goofy thruster packs to send one of them careening into a wild orbit that eats delta-v to recover, or use HPMs to fry onboard computer systems.

That said the USSF is pretty active in the Ukraine War.
 
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martinbayer said:
Josh_TN said:
martinbayer said:
For any United States "force" in physical space, it's ultimately about kinetic assets...
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. There are a number of non kinetic options. In fact I consider it unlikely that USSF will develop kinetic weapons (outside a couple existing dual use systems) given the high risk to own infrastructure using them.
Click to expand...
If that were the case, it would certainly break the mold of USA, USN, USAF, and USMC all having physical assets capable of kinetic options.
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Non kinetic doesn’t mean nondestructive. I just think their operating environment doesn’t cater to thing’s running into each other.
 
I'm hoping orbital rail gun. Use for cubesat-probe-launch in peacetime ;)
 
I like that part that is absolutely true:

He was also clear about some of the key areas “ripe for collaboration” between Space Force and European partners, mainly covering “equipment, training and policy” — areas in line with the service’s “partner to win” ambition.

Joint requirements with European allies are, he said, much “less complicated” to plan and discuss compared to joint procurements.
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The US Space Force is set to launch a constellation of satellites this summer to track Chinese or Russian space vehicles that can potentially disable or damage orbiting objects, the latest step in the burgeoning extra-terrestrial contest between superpowers.
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www.ndtv.com

"Silent Barker": US Spy Satellite To Counter Russia, China Threats

The US Space Force is set to launch a constellation of satellites this summer to track Chinese or Russian space vehicles that can potentially disable or damage orbiting objects, latest step in burgeoning extra-terrestrial contest between superpowers.
www.ndtv.com www.ndtv.com
 
breakingdefense.com

Space Force should offer European allies protection from anti-satellite attacks: Saltzman - Breaking Defense

“The destruction of a satellite may not have that same public effect as a missile attack into a civilian population, but from a military standpoint, you’ve still definitely created an act of war,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com

breakingdefense.com

SDA racing ahead with new, US-based satellite ground stations, could meet hiccup abroad - Breaking Defense

SDA Director Derek Tournear also shed some more light on the agency's new, highly secretive FOO Fighter program to develop new fire control quality tracking satellites.
breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com
 
Currently ULA and SpaceX are the only NSSL launch providers. Due to concerns about growing commercial demand, the Space Force in a revised solicitation July 14 said it planned to select a third provider in NSSL Phase 3, creating an opportunity for a new entrant like Blue Origin which is developing a heavy rocket.
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spacenews.com

ULA has concerns about a third competitor in national security space launch

ULA has concerns about a third competitor in national security space launch
spacenews.com spacenews.com
 
www.spacewar.com

Lockheed Martin opens facility for rapid development of small satellites

Littleton CO (SPX) Aug 08, 2023 - Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has opened a facility that streamlines small satellite (smallsat) processing to enable high-rate delivery. The multi-million dollar facility will house the company's Spac
www.spacewar.com

www.spacewar.com

Firefly Aerospace and Xtenti collaborate to conduct responsive space tests for NRO

Cedar Park TX (SPX) Aug 09, 2023 - Firefly Aerospace, Inc., an end-to-end space transportation company, has announced a new agreement with Xtenti, LLC, an innovative space logistics company, to conduct a responsive space mission with
www.spacewar.com

www.spacewar.com

Viasat receives $80M for Multi-Function AESAs across warfighting domains

Carlsbad CA (SPX) Aug 08, 2023 - Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has received awards totaling over $80 million to develop Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) systems for ground, maritime, and space applications. AESA, a typ
www.spacewar.com
 
www.dvidshub.net

Space Force's first targeting squadron brought to life

The U.S. Space Force's first targeting squadron, the 75th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, was activated during a ceremony Aug. 11, 2023, at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
www.dvidshub.net www.dvidshub.net
www.space.com

US Space Force creates 1st unit dedicated to targeting adversary satellites

"We are changing the way targeting is done across the joint community when it comes to space and electromagnetic warfare."
www.space.com www.space.com
 
www.spacewar.com

USSF contracts OneWeb for commercial LEO communications services

Houston TX (SPX) Aug 22, 2023 - OneWeb Technologies has been awarded a Commercial Satellite Communications Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (p-LEO) contract from the U.S. Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC), Commercial Spa
www.spacewar.com

www.spacewar.com

Pentagon awards contracts for next 'swarm' of tiny missile defense satellites

Washington DC (UPI) Aug 21, 2021 - The Pentagon announced Monday it has awarded $1.5 billion to contractors Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for a swarm of 72 tiny prototype satellites meant to detect incoming enemy missiles.
www.spacewar.com

www.spacewar.com

Lockheed Martin to supply 36 Small Satellites to advance SDA satcom network

Littleton CO (SPX) Aug 22, 2023 - The Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a firm-fixed price agreement valued at approximately $816 million to build 36 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Beta satellites.
www.spacewar.com
 

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