Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

“I’m extremely proud of the Space Force and all the good it has accomplished. But, as good as we are, as much as we’ve done, as far as we’ve come, it’s not enough. We are not yet optimized for Great Power Competition.”

~ Chief of Space Operations
Gen. Chance Saltzman

The establishment of the U.S. Space Force was a direct response to threats arising from Great Power Competition in the space domain. Nevertheless, our legacy roots leave us sub-optimized for the security environment confronting us today, and we must finish fine-tuning the service to continue meeting its National Defense Strategy responsibilities

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

The space domain is no longer benign; it has rapidly become congested and contested.

We must enhance our capabilities, develop Guardians for modern warfare, prepare for the high intensity fight, and strengthen our power projection to thrive and win in this new era of Great Power Competition.

Video by Tech. Sgt. Philip Bryant

KC-10 Final Farewell

60th Air Mobility Wing

Sept. 13, 2024 | 1:07

The U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender is scheduled to fly its last flight Sept. 26, 2024, leaving Travis Air Force Base, California. The KC-10 has been a stalwart workhorse in the Air Force's fleet for decades and served as a vital component of the U.S. military's global reach and power projection capabilities. The aircraft carried cargo and passengers in addition to its primary role as an aerial refueler, making it a multi-mission platform for the Department of Defense. After entering service in 1981, the KC-10 will be decommissioned in September 2024 and gradually replaced by the new KC-46 airframe. This was not filmed on the actual last flight. It was directed and produced beforehand with the help of the 9th Air Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force video by Tech. Sgt. Philip Bryant)