The U.S. Space Force has intensified its advocacy for military capabilities in space, recently issuing a framework aimed at providing a “warfighting” perspective for planners, operators, and weapons developers. This announcement was made on Thursday and is designed to define the use of military power in space, a domain that has traditionally been perceived as non-combatant.
The Space Warfighting Framework was released amid comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who emphasized the necessity for the U.S. military to adopt a more robust “warfighting mentality” as the Space Force seeks to justify a larger budget allocation for the fiscal 2026 cycle.
Space Force officials indicated that this framework not only aligns with the Pentagon’s messaging but also marks a significant step in the service’s evolution since its establishment five years ago. Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, and requirements, noted that the early years were focused on building an organizational structure, while recent efforts have centered on developing the strategy, doctrine, and procedures to support ongoing and future operations.
Bratton described the framework as a reflection of the maturation of the Space Force, stating that it explicitly addresses the core function of space control and military operations in space. The document’s terminology around conflict in space has shifted from passive descriptors like “congested” and “contested” to a more explicit recognition of space as a warfighting domain in response to evolving threats posed by nations like Russia and China.
The framework is intended to establish a common language among internal stakeholders and inform external partners about the Space Force’s approach to maintaining dominance in space. It outlines a comprehensive list of offensive and defensive actions related to space operations. Defensive actions include counter-attacks, escort missions, mobility strategies, and redundancy planning, while offensive actions encompass electromagnetic and cyber attacks, as well as targeting space-enabling assets in other domains.
The document also stresses the importance of coordination across the joint military force, as various domains increasingly depend on space capabilities for operational success. It emphasizes that effective space operations are global and require synchronized offensive and defensive actions across different segments.
Additionally, the framework identifies potential targets, such as ground networks and communication links essential for information transport and satellites in orbit. It provides guidelines for prioritizing and engaging these targets, though Bratton clarified that the document does not alter any existing policies or rules regarding weapons use in space but rather specifies current processes in relation to the space domain.
Moreover, the framework is broadly conceived to outline capabilities that the Space Force may require in the future, representing an initiation of discussions about the tools needed to effectively compete and succeed in space during conflicts.
Courtney Albon, the author, is a C4ISRNET reporter focusing on space and emerging technologies, having covered the U.S. military since 2012 with a specialization in the Air Force and Space Force.
