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 Paolo Bovo

Rock Hammer (Cao Malnisio)

Training Support Activity Europe

Jan. 15, 2019 | 3:56

U.S. Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and Italian Army Forces, from 8th Genio Guastatori, Legnago Verona, Folgore Brigade conduct Rock Hammer Exercise in the night with the Deployable Instrumentation System Europe (DISE) at Cao Malnisio Range, Pordenone, Italy, Jan. 15, 2018. Exercise Rock Hammer is a bilateral training exercise between U.S. Soldiers assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade and the Italian Armed Forces, focused on small-unit tactics and building interoperability between allied forces. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands' areas of responsibility. (U.S. Army Video by Paolo Bovo)