Should Space Force Focus More On Space War?

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – A recent critique of the Space Force’s guiding principles for competing against adversaries in space has provoked strong pushback from the Space Force’s leadership, exposing disagreements about how the U.S. should prepare for war beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

The controversy began with a report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, a nonpartisan think tank affiliated with the Air & Space Forces Association. The report challenged the Space Force’s strategic framework, known as “competitive endurance,” which was developed under Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.

The doctrine is criticized in the report for not embracing a more aggressive posture to counter threats from adversaries such as China and Russia that are expanding their capabilities to disrupt U.S. satellites.

The report suggests this framework doesn’t go far enough in preparing for actual combat in space. Its report questioned whether the Space Force is cultivating the necessary “warfighting ethos” — the mindset and capabilities needed for direct military superiority, including potential offensive operations.

Following the release of the report, Saltzman moved to bar Space Force personnel from participating in Mitchell Institute events, pending further guidance. 

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Russian and US diplomats met in Turkey on Thursday for talks to resolve disputes over the work of their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, a first test of their ability to reset wider relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine.

Special ops commanders warn that adversaries are dangerously outpacing US in tech advancement.

HOMELAND SECURITY

WHO ELSE COULD DO IT? The Starlink satellite company owned by Elon Musk has the inside track to potentially take over a large federal contract to modernize the nation’s air traffic communications system.

The rise of the fake tech workforce: State-sponsored infiltration of US technical supply chains by China, Russia and North Korea. If the cornerstone of U.S. competitive advantage is its domestic workforce’s capacity to drive technological innovation, then how do we respond if members of that workforce are not who they say they are?

Ex-Army sergeant ruled competent to stand trial on charges he tried to sell secrets to China after nine months in a federal psychiatric facility.

POLITICS

Looking to cut Pentagon costs? Start here, GAO says. The Pentagon reduced waste, abuse, and mismanagement in most “high-risk” areas over the past two years but is losing ground in weapons acquisition.

Team Trump sets the stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs in a new memo. The U.S. government is facing a generational realignment as Trump directs federal agencies to develop plans for eliminating employee positions and consolidating programs.

USAID workers will be given 15 minutes to clear their workspaces as the agency gets dismantled.

A freshman Democratic congressman is introducing a bill to protect the jobs of veterans working for the US government amid mass firings by the Trump administration.

US POWER OVERSEAS

A Virginia-class attack sub is in Perth, Australia for a port visit as part of the ongoing AUKUS partnership that’s gearing up to base U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarines out of Western Australia.

IRAN THREAT/ISRAEL WARS

Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of Donald Trump, according to the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

Hamas calls on Israel to start talks for the next phase of truce after the group handed over the bodies of four hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

CHINA THREAT

China carried out a snap naval “joint combat readiness patrol” drill on Wednesday in an area 40 nautical miles off Taiwan that included live fire.

A Chinese reconnaissance and attack drone was spotted for the first time flying near Japan, as Beijing continues to ramp up aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Volodymyr Zelensky says a proposed deal with the US on natural resources is a “framework,” and he will want to discuss the countries’ relationship further in person with President Trump, as a draft of the text does not provide Kyiv explicit security guarantees.

North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia to back its war against Ukraine, Seoul says. This, after its soldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine fronts suffered heavy casualties.

SPACE THREAT

A congressional watchdog report is raising red flags about the Space Development Agency’s ambitious plan to build a network of missile-tracking satellites, highlighting concerns over a key piece of technology that has yet to be fully tested in orbit.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

The US has publicly welcomed the UK’s decision to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, with SECDEF Hegseth calling it “a strong step from an enduring partner.”

Why the British army is so unprepared to send troops to Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK is “ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.”

Japan is in talks with Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries as part of a push to export weapons and subsystems throughout the Indo-Pacific, part of a campaign to increase defense industrial ties regionally.

Doug Ford: Rightwing populist becomes Canada’s anti-Trump figurehead.

US MILITARY

An Air Force two-star general warned Wednesday that potential 8% cuts to the service’s budget would be “painful” but could bring fresh funds for Air Force.

The Air Force’s force design director says the service will face more operational risk and be less able to achieve assigned objectives without a new crewed sixth-generation combat jet.

Following a lengthy delay as the Army and Navy struggled to test the round, the Army will field its long-range hypersonic weapon by the end of fiscal 2025.

The Navy’s risk averse culture is preventing the service from delivering new construction ships and performing repair work in a timely fashion, a major expert told the House Armed Services Committee.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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