Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of Space Operations for U.S. Space Force, outlined his vision for the service’s next 15 years during the Space Foundation’s Space Symposium on April 15.
Saltzman introduced the “Future Operating Environment” and the “Objective Force” that will prepare the Space Force to win an increasingly contested and complex domain, officials said. Space Force has moved beyond theory and is now a combat-credible force, proven by the work the force has done during Operations Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve and Epic Fury over the last year.
“The truths we hold close as space professionals – that space is foundational to our way of life, and vital to our modern way of war – well, they’re starting to catch on,” Saltzman said.
The service’s strategic shift starts with the Future Operating Environment for 2040, a view of what the warfighting domain could look like in 15 years. Saltzman said the vision was not an intelligence assessment or a list of specific threats, but a catalyst for critical thought. The insights from that vision will shape the Objective Force through 2040, he said. The long-term plan will define the “what, when, and how many” across missions and support elements to ensure the force is resilient, responsive, and effective.
“I’ve been talking about this for some time, and it’s been a long campaign of learning and discovery,” Saltzman said. “Through our assessment of these vital mission areas, we’ve built a framework for the systems, formations and support structures we will need for the next 15 years.”
Saltzman said making the Objective Force a reality requires a “generational shift” in acquisition and that in order to meet the demands of 2040, the Objective Force will require a significant expansion of the service.