U.S. Space Force releases warfighting framework amid rising orbital threats
The conversations around space within the American military have shifted drastically, with leaders openly discussing the prospect of fighting in space, moving beyond a purely defensive stance. At the recent annual Space Symposium, senior officials conveyed an assertive posture focused on “space superiority." In military terms, this means the U.S. must maintain the ability to operate satellites in orbit without interference, and deny that advantage to enemies, as reported by SpaceNews.
In his keynote speech, Gen. Chance Saltzman, the chief of space operations at Space Force, said, “Space superiority is now a prerequisite for battlefield success," before adding, “So regardless of whether or not you believe space superiority will win the next war, it must be recognized that we will most certainly lose without it.”
This new rhetoric signals a significant evolution in US space strategy. For decades, space was viewed as a support domain for earthbound operations. Now, it is increasingly seen as a dynamic and contested domain where the capacity to maneuver and strike (if needed) is vital. General Saltzman highlighted the motivation behind this shift: “Potential adversaries have realized the unique strategic advantage of space superiority.” He added, “They know, as we do, that control of the ultimate high ground is critical to success in all the other domains.”
To put it bluntly, Gen. Stephen Whiting, the new head of U.S. Space Command, said, “Without space-based capabilities, the joint force cannot shoot, cannot move, and cannot communicate the way they need to at the speed and scale necessary to win on the modern battlefield.” Whiting emphasized that war in space is not inevitable, “but we must apply our best thinking to be ready. There is no longer any debate that space is a warfighting domain.”
Previously, the military described space as “congested and contested”, a carefully chosen phrase, as a deliberate tactic to avoid open discussion of offensive capabilities. However, Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, and requirements at Space Force, thinks this culture is evolving. He said, “We’re moving past ‘protect and defend’ and yeah, we’re going to talk about offensive capabilities in space."
Adding to this shift, just days after the annual Space Symposium, Space Force released one of its most detailed strategy documents to date. Titled “Space Warfighting: A Framework for Planners," it details how the US forces intend to defend American satellites, and in the event of conflict, target enemy space systems. While Bratton said the titled document is very specific to the Space Force authority, this document outlines how U.S. forces might assert control of the orbital high ground through a range of offensive and defensive operations, reflecting an evolution in how the military thinks about warfare beyond Earth.
He explained that the more assertive language reflects a broader Pentagon push to instill what military leaders refer to as a “warfighting ethos." It is a cultural emphasis on readiness, combat effectiveness, and the willingness to engage adversaries directly when necessary. Bratton further added, “We have a new administration that has us very focused on this. We’ve got a Secretary of Defense who’s very interested in warfighting ethos and lethality.”
