Space Futures Command Temporary Halt: Exploring USSF's Efforts in Establishing New Alliances
The U.S. Space Force is maintainng its focus on planning for future collaborations, despite halting work on its Space Futures Command. According to RAF Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, currently serving as Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, the Space Force is charting a course to collaborate more closely with international partners.
During a speech at the National Security Space Association's Defense and Intelligence Space Conference, Godfrey outlined details of an upcoming International Partnerships Strategy. This strategy aims to enhance international partnerships across three critical areas: force design, force development, and force employment.
Force design involves addressing long-term needs within the next five to 15 years. Force development, which encompasses acquiring and integrating new technologies within two to seven years, is another important focus. Force employment covers generating and operating combat power within three years or less.
The International Partnerships Strategy seeks to set the conditions for allies to be included in Space Force planning, develop international standards, increase information sharing, and expand opportunities for joint training and operations.
The strategy's objectives include securing shared interests in, from, and to space, promoting interoperability and information sharing, and integrating allies and partners across every aspect of joint force development. These objectives are designed to provide a competitive edge, given the Space Force's broad missions and limited resources.
Collaboration with other countries and industry is essential, according to Pentagon leaders, to achieve the wide-ranging missions of the Space Force efficiently. Other nations are also eager to build up their space capabilities.
An example of current cooperation is the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative, which fosters collaboration among ten countries' space operations. The CSpO can help establish international standards and set measurable goals for cross-national collaboration.
The Space Force's Chief Science Officer, Stacie Williams, also advocated for research and development partnerships. She highlighted the CSpO as a potential avenue for long-term cooperation, including through the Space Strategic Technology Institute program, which funds academic research into complex operational problems.
While Godfrey was hesitant to discuss the impact of resource constraints on the International Partnerships Strategy, he noted that it would require prioritization and process rather than additional resources.
The Space Force's international partnerships strategy underscores the importance of collaboration and cooperation to achieve operational success in the space domain. This strategy aims to foster stronger alliances, enhance resilience, and promote a unified effort among partners.
- In his speech, RAF Air Marshal Paul Godfrey emphasized the Space Force's intention to collaborate more closely with international partners, as outlined in an upcoming International Partnerships Strategy.
- The International Partnerships Strategy will address three critical areas: force design, force development, and force employment, seeking to set conditions for allies to be included in Space Force planning.
- Collaboration with other countries and industry is crucial, according to Pentagon leaders, for efficient achievement of the Space Force's wide-ranging missions, as other nations are also working to bolster their space capabilities.
- One example of current cooperation is the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative, which encourages collaboration among ten countries' space operations and may set international standards and measurable goals for cross-national collaboration.
- Stacie Williams, Space Force's Chief Science Officer, advocated for research and development partnerships and suggested the CSpO as a potential avenue for long-term cooperation, such as through the Space Strategic Technology Institute program that funds academic research into complex operational problems.
