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 Chelsie Holloway

System of Systems Naval Integration Experiment (SoSNIE) Stringer 2024

Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic

March 21, 2024 | 6:17

A stringer of B Roll footage captured during the 2024 System of Systems Naval Integration Experiment (SoSNIE) hosted by Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic.

During this year’s expansive event, more than 200 NIWC Atlantic engineers, scientists and technical managers collaborated on nearly 50 C4ISR systems, analyzing data exchanges across local airspace to evaluate the proficiency of end-to-end targeting, fires and communications.

For realistic connectivity throughout the experiment, Marines from the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group in Quantico, Virginia, were on hand to provide Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) access via a recently fielded capability called Tactical Entry Point (TEP).

Throughout the event, UAVs swarmed high above the SAUSR Range and provided participants huddled in tents with real-time data, as did NIWC Atlantic’s tethered aerostat overhead.

The majority of the experiment was held between March 18th-22nd, 2024. The footage in this video was captured on March. 21st, 2024.