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 Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt

F-22 Engine Removal B-ROLL

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

March 17, 2025 | 4:57

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the Propulsion Flight of the 3rd Maintenance Squadron and the 525th Fighter Generation Squadron remove a Pratt & Whitney F119 engine from an F-22 Raptor at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 17. When an aircraft is grounded for a long duration, whether due to maintenance, storage, or operational pause: the engine can be vulnerable to internal corrosion, seal degradation, and other forms of wear that are not immediately visible. Re-preservation is a critical process that helps ensure the engine remains within performance and safety standards. Removing the F119 engine from an F-22 is a highly technical process that demands precision, coordination and safety at every stage. (U.S. Air Force video by Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt)