Space Force finalizing plan for commercial acquisitions

Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt of the Space Force has announced that the service is close to adopting a strategy for purchasing and integrating commercial space capabilities, expected within a few days. This strategy will address how commercial systems can fill capability gaps and provide backup capability. The Space Force aims to rely more on industry to provide services rather than complete systems. A draft strategy was submitted and then sent back for more detail by Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. The Space Force’s interest in strengthening the space industrial base is prompting a push for investment in the space domain’s industrial base. The Space Force has increased its focus on strengthening its partnership with commercial and industry. It established a Commercial Space Office last year aimed at integrating commercial capabilities across its mission areas. The Space Force also must engage with industry to defend commercial space assets during conflict and work to determine how to prioritize commercial satellites in wartime. “Critical assets” requiring protection during conflict must be determined by the military.