COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman detailed a comprehensive vision for the service's next 15 years, publicly introducing the "Future Operating Environment" and the "Objective Force" that will prepare the service to win in an increasingly contested and complex domain.
Speaking at the Space Foundation’s Space Symposium on April 15, Saltzman declared that the Space Force has moved beyond theory and is now a combat-credible force, proven daily by Guardians who have delivered critical effects during Operations Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve and Epic Fury over the last year. To maintain that credibility against evolving threats, he stressed that the service must rigorously prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
"The truths we hold close as space professionals – that space is foundational to our way of life, and vital to our modern way of war – well, they’re starting to catch on," Saltzman said.
At the core of the service's strategic shift is the Future Operating Environment for 2040, an analytical view of what the warfighting domain could look like in 15 years. Saltzman clarified that it is not an intelligence assessment or a list of specific threats, but a catalyst for critical thought.
“An expert team of Guardian strategists put together the Future Operating Environment, a document to spur complex thought, provoke debate, and ultimately put us on a trajectory to secure the nation’s interests in space,” he explained. "It will serve as our point of departure, and a catalyst for the growth and change that the future of space warfighting will demand."
The document paints a picture of a future that, if realized without action, could threaten national security. Saltzman encouraged partners, allies and industry to "read it critically, debate our assumptions, and then offer suggestions to help us build a stronger Space Force for the future."
“The Space Force we have today is not the Space Force we need to secure the future domain,” he said. “The future will shape the force we need – our Objective Force for 2040.”
The insights from the Future Operating Environment directly shape the Objective Force through 2040, the “North Star” for the service's evolution. This long-term plan defines the "what, when, and how many" across missions and support elements to ensure the force is resilient, responsive, and effective.
"I’ve been talking about this for some time, and it’s been a long campaign of learning and discovery," Saltzman said. "Through our assessment of these vital mission areas, we’ve built a framework for the systems, formations and support structures we will need for the next 15 years.”
The CSO provided concrete examples of how the Objective Force re-architects critical missions to remain competitive in a contested environment. He highlighted two chapters during his keynote:
• Navigation Warfare: To counter widespread threats to GPS, the Objective Force calls for augmenting future GPS with diverse allied and commercial navigation and timing systems. The plan also includes establishing a new NAVWAR squadron and upgrading receivers across the Joint Force to leverage the more resilient architecture.
• Satellite Communications: Moving away from small numbers of easily targeted satellites, the Objective Force for SATCOM will feature a hybrid, self-healing architecture. This includes proliferated constellations, leased bandwidth, and commercial services to ensure warfighters stay connected and Combatant Commanders can control their battlespace.
The Objective Force in its entirety covers various additional missions. Saltzman also discussed the documents in-depth during a recent Space Force Association podcast.
Saltzman emphasized that making the Objective Force a reality requires a "generational shift" in acquisition.
"The Department of War is implementing new initiatives to unshackle our industry partners and continue putting our space industrial base on a wartime footing," he said.
He noted efforts like the Space Force’s move to realign acquisitions under Portfolio Acquisition Executives to speed decision-making and the focus on delivering Minimum Viable Capabilities quickly.
To meet the demands of 2040, the Objective Force projects a significant expansion of the service.
He pointed to the success of new training pipelines like the Officer Training Course, the Acquisitions Initial Qualification Training course, and the advanced Galaxy program as critical to developing a force that "embraces change, takes calculated risks, learns rapidly from failure, and innovates at every level."
To achieve this vision, Saltzman echoed recent calls from various levels of national leadership for the Space Force to grow significantly in the coming years, particularly as it relates to infrastructure and manpower.
"This is the architecture we must build to enable the Joint Force and secure the domain," he concluded. "As I prepare to hand over the watch I’m not worried … because I know the Guardians from the operations floors to the program offices have the skills, knowledge, and grit to fight – and win – in our domain every day.
