Space Force Formulating Strategy for Industry Partnerships

The U.S. Space Force is developing a strategy to strengthen its partnership with commercial space industry players, with plans to release it in the coming weeks.

At the Global Aerospace Summit, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, a 2023 Wash100 awardee, explained that the strategy will provide guidance to effectively integrate commercial space services into military operations, noting that such services, including rapid-revisit satellite imaging and low-Earth orbit satellite communications, are essential to outcompete adversaries.

According to Saltzman, the new guidance will clarify the role of commercial providers in augmenting governmental and military capabilities in the space domain, SpaceNews reported. 

Citing the war in Ukraine, the CSO highlighted how space capabilities provide advantages in modern warfare, particularly in the areas of communications; precision, navigation and timing; missile warning; command and control; intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance.

Besides space-based services, the Space Force also seeks to improve its collaboration with the private sector on protecting satellites in orbit and securing the data being shared via satellites. Saltzman said increasing collaboration with the commercial space industry will enable new capabilities that support integrated deterrence.