In 2012, China had less than 100 satellites in orbit. Last month, the country launched its 1,000th spacecraft. That milestone demonstrates the evolution and growth China’s space enterprise has undergone in the last decade, according to the U.S. Space Force’s top intelligence officer. The concern for the Defense Department is about the mission of the spacecraft its adversary is operating as well as the number of satellites. Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon described the rapid buildup of the People’s Liberation Army’s space capabilities as a “strategic breakout.”
To counter China’s advancements in space, the Space Force will need more funding to build satellites and sensors that can track the PLA’s growing fleet. Nearly half of the Space Force’s $30 billion budget funds critical capabilities like positioning, navigation, missile warning, and satellite communications. The service needs more funding to maintain those capabilities and expand its space domain awareness and counter-space systems. Air Force and Space Force leaders are pushing for a larger share of the Pentagon’s budget to support demand for space capabilities.
To garner more support for its funding needs, the Space Force is drafting a detailed “North Star” plan for the next 10 to 15 years. The plan will lay out the resources and capabilities the Space Force needs to meet demands from the other military services. Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, said the first iteration of the plan should be completed in the fall of 2025.
