Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, is urging a more „comprehensive program” to improve Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities, emphasizing increased collaboration with the commercial sector to prevent „operational surprise.”
Beyond Incremental Improvements
Speaking at the AMOS conference in Hawaii, Saltzman stressed the need to move beyond „just enhance ongoing efforts incrementally” and focus on truly solving SDA problems, not just improving processes. He highlighted the increasing congestion in space and the challenges of keeping pace with current SDA capabilities.
The Imperative of Operationally Relevant SDA
„Without operationally relevant SDA,” Saltzman warned, „it will be nearly impossible to win in space.” He emphasized the necessity of moving beyond a simple collection of sensors and data towards a „true decision quality understanding” of the space domain.
Gaps in the Current Catalog
Saltzman pointed out significant gaps in the Space Force’s current catalog of space objects, their positions, and trajectories. He expressed dissatisfaction with detection times and the prolonged characterization of on-orbit events. „We need to retire our lost list, not manage it, because that creates ideal conditions for operational surprise,” he added.
A System Built for a Different Era
The core issue, according to Saltzman, is that much of the service’s SDA architecture was designed for an era when space was not a warfighting domain. Addressing this requires more dedicated personnel, updated training, enhanced SDA tools, and revamped policies and procedures.
Internal Policy Challenges
Saltzman acknowledged that policy challenges exist within the Space Force and the Pentagon. He noted a disconnect between those who know what policies need adjustment and those with the authority to make those adjustments.
Embracing Commercial Capabilities
A key aspect of the overhaul involves changing policies and attitudes toward the use of commercial capabilities. Saltzman called for a shift from a largely transactional relationship with industry to a more collaborative partnership. „We need you, everyone in this room today, to help us turn commercial innovations into war fighting advantage for mission priorities, for interagency requirements, and to strengthen our international partnerships,” he urged.
