Space Force Official: DOD Recognizes Service’s Role in Joint Warfighting

Brig. Gen. Robert Hutt, director of plans and programs for the U.S. Space Force, has highlighted the service’s vital role in the nation’s joint warfighting capabilities.

At a recent Space Force Association event, Hutt said that the Department of Defense has recognized the valuable contribution of the Space Force in enabling kill chains, a term used among service members to refer to how to successfully eliminate a target.

However, budget constraints remain a challenge for the Space Force, despite its growing importance on the battlefield. For fiscal year 2025, the Biden administration requested a $29.4 billion budget for the military branch, with a big chunk of it going to research, development and procurement of new technologies, SpaceNews reported.

In fiscal year 2024, the Space Force is among the federal organizations affected by Congress’ cost-cutting initiative. The military branch received a $29 billion budget, a small increase compared to the $26.4 billion allotted for the service in fiscal 2023.

At the same event, Hutt also discussed plans to invest about $5 billion in satellite communications to ensure soldiers in and out of the continental United States have reliable connectivity options.