General Stephen Whiting, commander of US Space Command (SPACECOM), has issued a pivotal call for a fundamental shift towards maneuver-based space operations. This strategic evolution aims to mirror the fighting doctrines of the broader Joint Force, demanding intensified investment in critical enabling technologies such as refueling, repair, and on-orbit logistics, alongside the development of new, large-scale exercises.
A New Doctrine for the Final Frontier
Speaking at the annual Space Mobility Conference in Orlando, Fla., Whiting referenced the core Marine Corps doctrine (MCDP 1) of “shattering enemy cohesion through rapid, focused, and unexpected actions” as a blueprint for the future of space warfare. He emphasized that given the immense scale of SPACECOM’s operational area, realizing maneuver warfare necessitates „sustained” and robust on-orbit logistics.
The Critical Imperative of Space Maneuver
While the Space Force continues to deliberate on the military utility of maneuver-enabling technologies like refueling, Whiting unequivocally stated to reporters post-speech that SPACECOM firmly believes maneuver warfare in space is essential for the success of both its own mission and overarching US military operations.
“We see that operational demand [for maneuver-related capabilities] at US Space Command as we’re thinking about our requirements in space, thinking about the missions that we’ve been given to deter conflict and to win,” he explained. “Those investments, we think, just have to continue to grow, and the Space Force is going to need more resources to do that.”
Tangible Progress and Rapid Innovation
Whiting further highlighted observable progress in demonstrating the value of maneuver capabilities, including rendezvous and proximity operations, in-space refueling, and responsive launch, particularly within the Space Force.
“For example, the Victus series of launch activities that the Space Force has demonstrated shows the rapid launch capability, the ability to put things on orbit quickly,” he noted. “That’s a part of this story, because we want to be able to replenish capability.”
Moreover, Whiting confirmed his participation in “exercises and tabletops that the Space Force has chartered that I think, are exploring these issues.”
He pointed out that, as a combatant commander, he enjoys the “luxury to demand capability without being beholden to a budget,” a freedom not afforded to Space Force leaders.
“So, today’s speech was just about us looking forward to say, ‘Here’s what we see that we need. And we really got to start turning the ship toward those investments,’” Whiting stated. “I think we’re making progress, and we’ll continue to work with the Space Force to accelerate that progress.”
„Apollo Maneuvers”: A Grand Strategic Vision Takes Shape
During his Space Mobility address, General Whiting also unveiled SPACECOM’s nascent „Apollo Maneuvers” exercise concept. Drawing inspiration from the Army’s 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers, which prepared the nation for World War II, these exercises envision Guardians undertaking large-scale satellite movements, responsive launch activities, and advanced “spectrum maneuvering” operations.
“This is the seed of an idea that we still have to continue to develop, but we see individual elements of this being trained and tested and exercised, and we’re trying to think, ‘How would we pull that all together?’” he told reporters.
“We need to work with other stakeholders, like the Space Force, but we want to really think that through and then ask: ‘how would we holistically look at a maneuver and logistics type exercise for space’?”
Whiting projected that it would take “a few more months” to refine an internal SPACECOM concept for such an exercise campaign. Optimistically, the “Apollo Maneuvers” series could commence around 2027, factoring in the need to “fit into the exercise schedule, fit into the training schedule.”
“But we think with the various elements that are out there, there’s probably some way we can pull that together and, that’s, again, a conversation we want to have with a broader set of stakeholders to find where on the calendar can we put that in and then align everybody to such an activity,” he added.
Near-Term Tactical Drills with Commercial Partners
In the immediate future, Whiting announced SPACECOM’s intention to launch a series of four quarterly tabletop exercises at the classified level, involving commercial providers.
“This first one is going to be focused on thinking through weapons of mass destruction in space, if that were to happen,” he detailed. “It’ll be focused, from our perspective, on all of the joint functions. And as I mentioned today, movement/maneuver and sustainment are two of those joint functions; but fires, intelligence, information, command and control, all of those seven joint functions, will be the kind of things that we’re thinking through.”
