The United States is actively working to maintain control in space, a domain that has become increasingly weaponized by adversaries over the past two decades, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. Speaking at the Air and Space Force Association’s conference, Meink emphasized that while the U.S. did not initiate the weaponization of space, it must now ensure its ability to operate effectively within this contested environment.
Key Takeaways
- Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stated the U.S. is "pushing hard" to maintain control in space.
- Adversaries have been "aggressively" weaponizing the domain for the last two decades.
- Future U.S. space systems must be designed to function in contested, non-permissive environments.
- The Department of the Air Force is increasing its reliance on commercial technology and faster acquisition models.
A Response to a Weaponized Domain
During his keynote address on September 22 at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Secretary Meink addressed the changing nature of space operations. He stated that the U.S. may have waited too long to respond to the growing threats in orbit.
"We didn’t start the race to weaponize space, but we have to make sure that we can continue to operate in that domain," Meink explained. He noted that for years, the U.S. "stood on the sideline, probably too long," while other nations moved forward with developing space-based weapons.
The Pentagon is now more openly discussing the concept of "space control." This strategy involves a range of activities necessary to challenge adversaries and secure U.S. interests in orbit, including orbital warfare, electromagnetic warfare, and cyberspace operations.
The End of Permissive Environments
A central theme of Meink's message was the need for a fundamental shift in how the U.S. develops space systems. He stressed that the era of operating in a safe, uncontested domain is over. All future systems must be built with resilience and defense in mind from the start.
"There’s almost no such thing as a permissive environment in space—or on the ground, or in the air," Meink told reporters at the conference. "If the system cannot do its job, unless it’s in a permissive environment, it’s probably not something that we should be focused on."
This new reality demands that satellites and ground systems are capable of withstanding potential attacks, whether through cyber intrusions, electronic jamming, or direct physical threats. This marks a significant change from past designs that often assumed a peaceful operational environment.
What is a Contested Domain?
In military terms, a "contested domain" is an operational area where freedom of action is challenged by an adversary. In space, this means U.S. satellites and assets face potential threats from anti-satellite weapons, jammers, cyberattacks, and other hostile actions, requiring them to have defensive and counter-response capabilities.
A Push for Faster, More Efficient Programs
In his first appearance at the conference since becoming service secretary in May, Meink also highlighted the urgent need to field new capabilities more quickly and affordably. He pointed to the U.S. Space Force's GPS Operational Control System (OCX) as a cautionary tale.
The software-heavy upgrade to the GPS ground control system was delivered in July, a full 15 years after its development began. Meink described the OCX program as an example of a project that was "just not executing" according to modern demands for speed and efficiency.
This critique signals a broader push within the Department of the Air Force to move away from long, drawn-out development cycles and toward more agile acquisition methods that can keep pace with rapidly evolving threats and technologies.
U.S. Launch Advantage
Despite challenges in other areas, Secretary Meink praised the U.S. launch enterprise, calling it an area where the nation holds "a distinct advantage, whether it’s small, medium, heavy, or super-heavy-lift vehicles."
Embracing Commercial Innovation
To achieve greater speed and innovation, the Department of the Air Force is increasingly turning to the commercial sector. Meink told reporters that leveraging private-sector technology, especially in digital advancements, will have "one of the biggest impacts to what we do in space."
Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, reinforced this point. He explained that the Space Force is using every available method to harness commercial capabilities, from buying data products to tapping into commercial services and leveraging venture capital funds.
According to Purdy, commercial involvement is now a factor in nearly every mission area. "Protected nuclear strategic communications is about it," he said when asked which areas would not involve commercial capabilities. "And even there, we’re trying to figure out a way to build a commercial market." This comprehensive approach underscores a strategic commitment to integrating private-sector agility and technology across the U.S. space portfolio.