US space combatant command achieves full operational capability

News, US December 19, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) commander Army Gen. James Dickinson declared that the country’s combatant command reached full operational capability after four years.

U.S. Army General Dickinson announced the achievement after an in-depth evaluation of the command’s capabilities, saying that the command has the ability to execute mission on “our worst day, when we are needed the most.”

Dickinson said, “Thanks to the disciplined initiative of our people and the support of our joint, combined, and partnered team, I can confidently say we have reached full operational capability,” adding that “As the command has matured, challenges to a safe, secure, stable, and sustainable space domain have significantly increased.”

The space domain has become increasingly congested due to heightened commercial activity and growing space debris, which has increased by 76% since 2019 reaching 44,600 objects.

The increasing challenges have motivated and focused the U.S. Space Command to prepare to counter threats in, to, and from space. The USSPACECOM statement highlighted that “Over the last four years the command’s competence has been refined and validated through real-world events and exercise scenarios.”

.@USArmy Gen. James Dickinson, #USSPACECOM commander, announced #USSPACECOM achieved Full Operational Capability today. He praised the command for their ability to execute its mission on the worst day, when we are needed the most.👇https://t.co/O9RiUmtXZ3 pic.twitter.com/0Jf9F8XGwe
— U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) December 15, 2023

USSPACECOM readiness criteria

SPACECOM declared operational capability based on an in-depth evaluation of the command’s capabilities. That criteria included:

Accomplishing the Unified Command Plan mission alongside global campaigning, exercising, and responding to crises.
Having the right numbers of skills across the human capital.
Having the infrastructure needed to support command and control across mission and business functions.
Having the necessary command processes and functions in place.
Being able to set the conditions and requirements for the future fight.

Since its formation in 2019, USSPACECOM has remained steadfast in its commitment to providing exceptional capabilities to the joint force, deterring conflict, safeguarding the U.S. critical interests, and, if required, defeating aggression.

The USSPACECOM commander highlighted that “Both the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation are fielding counter space capabilities designed to hold U.S., Allied, and partner space assets at risk. And North Korea and Iran are in the early stages of developing their space enterprise.”

To support ongoing global events, the USSPACECOM provides combatant commanders with space capabilities to bolster theater operations. These capabilities include weather monitoring, space control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, position, navigation, and timing, satellite communications, as well as missile warning.

*^{Evolved Strategic Satcom (ESS) illustration by Northrop Grumman. (Image Credit: Northrop Grumman)}*

Earlier this year, the U.S. Space Force requested a $30 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 to counter space threats. According to the Department of Defense, more than 60% (about $19.2 billion) of the budget is aimed at research, development, testing, and evaluation.

U.S. Space Operations General B. Chance Saltzman said that his first priority is “to build resilient, ready, combat-credible space forces,” and to achieve this objective, the U.S. needs to accelerate “the pivot towards resilient satellite constellations, ground stations, networks, and data links”.