Double the space force budget.

Key Chapter Title List

1. Accelerate or Fail
2. Adversaries Are Becoming More Dangerous and Harder to Deter
3. The Critical Pivot to Regain Space Dominance
4. Acquisition and Program Execution Must Keep Pace with the Commercial Sector
5. The Moment to Double Down
6. Recommendations
7. Call to Action

Document Introduction

This report, released by the National Security Space Association (NSSA), provides an in-depth analysis of the urgent challenges facing the United States Space Force (USSF) and the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) in the current strategic environment. The report begins by noting that although the United States established the Space Force and re-established the Space Command five years ago, marking a critical response to the increasingly competitive space domain, questions remain about whether its existing systems are sufficiently effective in countering rapidly evolving threats. The report's core argument is that adversaries' rapid advancements in space and counterspace capabilities have outpaced America's ability to respond, forcing the U.S. to reset priorities and reallocate resources.

The report provides a detailed assessment of the space capability developments and threats posed by major strategic competitors—China and Russia. It states that China has launched a large number of military satellites, constructing a vast system including equivalent GPS constellations, space stations, and mega-constellations in low Earth orbit, while also developing a range of counterspace capabilities such as deorbiting space shuttles, inspection and repair/grappling satellites, laser weapons, and orbital attack weapons. China is also actively conducting cislunar space operations and has tested a fractional orbital bombardment system using hypersonic glide vehicles, with its orbital presence growing by approximately 620% since 2015. Russia is accused of developing and preparing to launch a nuclear-armed anti-satellite weapon into orbit and has deliberately interfered with U.S. government and civilian spacecraft. Both nations are alleged to regularly attack U.S. satellites using non-kinetic means (e.g., lasers, RF jammers, cyberattacks) and to have generated significant space debris through destructive anti-satellite tests, endangering the sustainability of the space environment and international security.

Based on this threat assessment, the report concludes that the United States is at a critical turning point for maintaining space dominance. It emphasizes that the current Space Force and Space Command are insufficient in both size and structure to provide the force needed to deter or defeat adversaries in orbit and beyond. The Space Force must transition from its initial lean establishment to a fully operational military service, while the Space Command requires forces capable of rapid, globally integrated operations. To this end, the report's core recommendation is to gradually double the Space Force's budget from approximately 30 billion dollars annually to 60 billion dollars during the Fiscal Years 2026-2030 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), with a corresponding increase in resources for the Space Command.

The report also outlines specific pathways to achieve this goal. In terms of acquisition and program execution, it is necessary to reform the current slow, bureaucratic processes by adopting flexible acquisition strategies (such as fixed-price contracts, Other Transaction Authority agreements, etc.) to keep pace with the commercial sector and rapidly integrate commercial innovations. For capability building, focus should be on investing in space domain awareness, on-orbit servicing and assembly, more ambitious offensive and defensive space control capabilities, and the localization of critical chemicals, payloads, and satellite subsystems. Simultaneously, a review of the space industrial base is needed to ensure a healthy domestic supply chain is maintained.

Finally, the report concludes that in the face of tangible and rapidly evolving threats from China and Russia, the U.S. Congress and executive branch must take decisive action to increase budgets, streamline acquisition, and achieve rapid mission-driven adaptation. Without this commitment, the United States risks losing dominance in the next major strategic domain—space—thereby weakening its overall deterrence, operational capabilities, and national resilience.