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 Nancy Hudson

AFRICOM Flies Egyptians Home from Tunisia-Libya Border

U.S. Africa Command

March 6, 2011 | 1:12

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) is supporting the United States effort to respond to the evolving humanitarian emergency on the Libya-Tunisia border.

On March 3, 2011, President Obama ordered the U.S. military to help provide transport for Egyptians who had fled from Libya to Tunisia following the Libyan government's violent reprisals against demonstrators. On March 4, 2011, less than a day after President Obama's announcement, two U.S. Air Air Force C-130 aircraft delivered to Djerba, Tunisia, humanitarian aid supplies from the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) storage warehouse at Leghorn Army Depot in Pisa, Italy. The OFDA donations included 2,000 blankets, 40 rolls of plastic sheeting, and 9,600 10-liter plastic water containers.

On March 5, U.S. military aircraft began carrying Egyptian citizens who wished to leave Tunisia and return to their home country. On March 5 and 6, U.S. aircraft carried a total of 640 Egyptians from Tunisia to their homeland. Aircraft included U.S. Air Force D-130Js and U.S. Marine Corps KC-130s.

The U.S. military is playing a supporting role in the much larger U.S. government emergency response. These U.S. military aircraft fill a critical niche in being able to provide short-haul passenger transport.

Also available in high definition.