US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy: Key takeaways for the space industry

The US Space Force, the US military’s newest branch, has released its US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy  (New Commercial Strategy). 

Released on April 8, 2024, the New Commercial Strategy challenges leaders to incorporate commercial partnerships and emerging technological innovations in the space warfare domain as to address space-related threats to national security.  The Space Force seeks to build on its foundational commercial sector partnerships and leverage the use of commercial space solutions in a new “hybrid” architecture in order to maintain the US’s competitive advantage in the sector.  

This new strategy represents an important shift in approach – instead of merely augmenting existing government systems, the Space Force aims to fully integrate commercial solutions into the national security space architecture.

Overview of the New Commercial Strategy 

Acknowledging that the commercial sector in the US is now successfully developing solutions that were previously only pursued by government, the strategy outlines four lines of effort (LOEs) to operationalize the integration of commercial space capabilities.  Those LOEs include (i) collaborative transparency, (ii) operational and technical integration, (iii) risk management, and (iv) forward-leaning engagement.

LOE No. 1: Collaborative transparency

The Space Force will actively seek to build partnerships with the commercial sector in order to sustainably expand its use of commercial space solutions.  It also aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of innovative commercial culture, implement shorter development timelines, understand market trends, and recognize and mitigate undue barriers to collaboration.  In short, the Space Force seeks to implement best practices from the commercial sector into its evolving mission.

LOE No. 2: Operational and technical integration

The Space Force will introduce a new hybrid architecture by developing policies and processes that allow the commercial sector to operationally integrate data and hardware with existing Space Force systems.  Several hybrid areas have been identified and include, among others:

Satellite communications (SATCOM), which are critical to the effectiveness of modern warfighting

• Space domain awareness (SDA), which depends on commercial sector detection systems and management of space assets
  
  
• Space access, mobility, and logistics (SAML), including commercial launch services
  
  
• Tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking (TacSRT), which relies on data analytics and robust communication pathways, and
  
  
• Space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM), including sensing, characterizing, and exploiting the terrestrial environment.

The Space Force will also identify emerging opportunities for operational and technical integration going forward.

LOE No. 3: Risk management

Understanding that there is inherent risk in supporting military operations, the Space Force will assist commercial companies in identifying these risks and provide data to aid in risk mitigation.  The Space Force will also work with the Department of Defense to mitigate barriers to clearance processes and establish procedures for unclassified communications with the commercial space sector.

LOE No. 4: Forward-leaning engagement

In addition to fostering a hybrid approach with the commercial sector, the Space Force will seek out emerging technologies that have the potential to enhance its competitive advantage. As acknowledged in the new strategic plan, the Space Force believes it must “tap into the spirit of American entrepreneurship, innovation, and vibrant competitive markets” to sustain a competitive advantage in the space domain, especially considering Great Power competition.

Key takeaways 

• It is still unclear how the Space Force intends to leverage the commercial space industry.  The New Commercial Strategy may be seen as a declaration of Space Force’s seriousness about innovation and rapid development of the space warfare domain.  It seeks to open up opportunities for the commercial sector in a broader array of mission areas and encourages continued collaboration between the commercial and government domains.  This message is echoed in the Department of Defense Commercial Space Integration Strategy, also released in April.   Both plans emphasize that space plays a critical role in American security and prosperity, and that integrating commercial solutions into existing government systems is imperative.  But questions remain: Will the Space Force be reacting to innovation by the commercial space industry, or will they be proactively steering innovation that addresses visible defense needs?  
  
  
• The Space Force’s new approach to interacting with the commercial space industry will likely provide an advantage to companies that already maintain robust regulatory compliance programs, particularly in the areas of government contracts, export controls, and sanctions.  
  
  
• The New Commercial Strategy does not provide specific details about how much money will be available to integrate commercial space technologies – it is rather meant to frame the discussion about the national security space architecture. Subsequent planning orders for each of the LOEs are expected.  That said, there may be more opportunities for the commercial sector to present concepts and technological innovation to the Space Force, which would be a departure from the conventional approach where the Department of Defense states requirements, and for commercial companies to bid for and try to meet those requirements.  Commercial space companies that have a direct line, so to speak, to the relevant decisionmakers may enjoy a greater advantage over the rest of the commercial space market. 

Find out more about the implications of the New Commercial Strategy for your business by contacting any of the authors.