Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse: Partnerships Hold Key to Maintain US Superiority in Space Domain

Increasing partnerships and enhanced counter-space capabilities are two major trends presenting opportunities and challenges to the U.S. space community, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Defense Intelligence Agency director and 2024 Wash100 awardee, said at the recent Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. 

Kruse viewed partnerships, including government-to-government and between public and private entities, as “the only way” to be effective in the space domain, according to a Department of Defense report on his Aspen forum presentation. The DIA director also gave a rundown on the Chinese and Russian counter-space threats that the United States must address, the DOD said Thursday.

Technological advancements, especially artificial intelligence development for space use, is an area that requires U.S. focus, Kruse said. He noted that China, in an effort to dislodge the United States in space dominance, is testing adversarial technologies, such anti-satellite capabilities and directed-energy weapons.

Gen. Stephen Whiting, U.S. Space Command head, also told attendees of the Aspen forum that the United States needs to develop satellite defense systems as a deterrent to Chinese and Russian counter-space initiatives. 

Whiting, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker and also a 2024 Wash100 awardee, earlier wrote a memo to congressional committees requesting $1.2 billion funding for Spacecom and $1.1 billion for the U.S. Space Force to counter Chinese and Russian threats on U.S. satellites.