HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –
Gen. Stephen Whiting, U.S. Space Command commander, highlighted the command’s future priorities at the 2024 Space and Missile Defense Symposium at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Aug 6, 2024.
During his remarks, titled “Developing Critical Capabilities for the Joint Force of 2040,” he offered both a look backwards and forwards to describe the requirements necessary for the Joint Force of the future.
“In trying to look ahead to 2040, we must consider how much the world can change in 16 years and how difficult it is to forecast into the future. In 2008, we would not have predicted the threats we face today,” Whiting said.
The People’s Republic of China had only recently launched its first successful direct-ascent ASAT test, SpaceX completed its first successful launch, and North Korea conducted their first nuclear test a few years prior.
Whiting then pivoted to describe the current challenges of the dynamic, multi-domain operational environment and its broader impacts to the global landscape.
“Traditional ballistic missile threats are now being surpassed by advanced technologies, including hypersonic glide vehicles, cruise missiles, fractional orbital bombardment platforms, and unmanned aerial systems,” he said. “These technologies will introduce new and diverse challenges, complicating our existing architectures and our ability to close our kill chains.”
Whiting added, preparing for the evolving threat landscape begins now through the fiscal year 2027 Integrated Priority List to the Joint Staff. The IPL is an annual document submitted by each Combatant Command that informs the services and defense agencies of their warfighting needs as they prepare their budget and acquisition plans.
For U.S. Space Command, the FY27 IPL has several key priority investment areas including:
- Space Fires to enable space superiority and enhanced battlespace awareness to conduct advanced Space Domain Awareness operations in support of space fires
- Resilient, timely operational space command and control to enhance machine-to-machine connectivity to support decision making on tactically relevant timelines
- Space systems cyber defense capabilities required to defend critical space infrastructure from cyber-attack
- Assured satellite telemetry, tracking, and commanding architecture to operate in a contested environment
- Missile defeat effects
“Missile Defeat Effects will significantly enhance our ability to defeat trans-regional ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats, as well as air-launched or ground-launched, direct ascent threats,” Whiting said. “Missile Defeat Effects involve new and innovative approaches, across all domains, which evolve beyond point solutions and one versus one missile interceptors. The services and the Missile Defense Agency are all actively working on ways to defeat an ever-increasing myriad of threats.”
While key for 2027, Whiting also shared his priorities for 2040 and beyond, to include sustaining maneuver through dynamic space operations platforms and the importance of improving the resiliency and survivability of space-enabling infrastructure and sustaining legacy systems.
“Dynamic Space Operations is based on the idea that, in a future fight, some of our assets in space must be able to do what our terrestrial assets do all the time—maneuver and sustain themselves,” he said. “Doing so will allow our space-based capabilities to execute their mission until the objectives are met, not until they run out of the gas they launched with.”
Whiting also emphasized the importance of developing and deploying a multi-layered missile defense architecture, which includes incorporating ground-based interceptors, sea-based systems, and space-based sensors working together to provide comprehensive coverage.
Finally, the value and importance of joint, combined, and partnered approaches remains paramount.
“Our strength lies in our partnerships, which are essential for maintaining our competitive advantage in today’s complex and dynamic security environment,” Whiting said.
One example is NIMBLE TITAN, the premier global forum for integrated air and missile defense policy experimentation and concept development. It just concluded its tenth campaign of experimentation in May and has grown to include 25 nations, three international organizations, and supporting partners from across the Department of Defense.
“In this rapidly evolving threat environment, maintaining a competitive advantage requires continuous innovation, robust international collaboration, and unwavering vigilance,” Whiting said. “Enhancing our space-based capabilities, improving missile defense systems, and fostering strong alliances are critical components of our strategy to countering these emerging threats. By staying ahead of technological advancements and maintaining a proactive defense posture, we can better safeguard our national security—and that of our Allies—in an increasingly complex global landscape.”