Space Force Races to Prepare for War in Orbit

Space used to be the quiet backdrop of American military power. Satellites relayed communications, tracked missile launches, and guided precision munitions while the real fighting happened on the ground, at sea, or in the air. That era is over. In 2026, the US Space Force is racing to transform itself from a support service into a full-spectrum warfighting branch, and the urgency couldn’t be higher.

Why Space Is Now a Warfighting Domain

According to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2025 annual report, China’s operational satellite fleet exceeded 1,060 by mid-2025, with hundreds dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. That’s not a peaceful science program. Beijing is “aggressively positioning itself as a global leader in space technology and exploration, seeking to reshape international governance, influence standards, and displace the United States as the world’s premier space power.”

Russia adds another layer of concern. Both nations have demonstrated anti-satellite capabilities, and US officials report that signal jamming, sensor dazzling with directed-energy weapons, and cyberattacks against American space systems happen daily or near-daily. Even temporary disruptions could cripple joint military operations in wartime.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman made the stakes clear at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in March 2025: “The Space Force will do whatever it takes to achieve space superiority.”

The Race to Resilience

The Space Force’s signature init iative for 2026 is called the “Race to Resilience,” and it aims to deliver battle-ready architectures across several critical areas.

First, there’s missile warning and tracking. The legacy Space-Based Infrared System is being supplemented by Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites and the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 3 tracking layer. That tracking layer alone represents a $3.5 billion investment for 72 new low-Earth orbit satellites, awarded in late 2025 with launches planned for 2029.

Then there’s protected communications. The jam-resistant Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation and enhanced anti-jam GPS with military M-code keep command and control alive in contested environments. Meanwhile, space domain awareness tools like the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites conduct close inspections of suspicious objects in orbit.

And in April 2025, the service released “Space Warfighting: A Framework for Planners,” a document that codifies the shift from purely supportive roles to offensive and defensive counter-space operations. Gen. Saltzman wrote in the foreword that space superiority “unlocks superiority in other domains, fuels coalition lethality, and fortifies troop survivability.”

Commercial Satellites Join the Fight

One of the most interesting developments dropped on February 23, when the Space Development Agency awarded a $30 million contract to AST SpaceMobile through its new HALO vendor pool (Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit). It’s the first contract of its kind.

AST SpaceMobile is building a commercial broadband satellite network called BlueBird, with six spacecraft currently in low-Earth orbit and plans for 45 to 60 more this year. Under the SDA deal, the company will demonstrate how its BlueBird satellites can integrate with existing tactical military radios, essentially testing whether commercial satellite infrastructure can be rapidly applied for defense communications.

The demonstrations are expected to wrap up by December 2027. If successful, the technology could feed into future versions of SDA’s Transport Layer, part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation.

This matters because the military can’t build everything from scratch fast enough. Leveraging commercial capabilities lets the Space Force scale its communications architecture more quickly and at lower cost than traditional defense procurement allows.

What’s Still Uncertain

Not everything is smooth sailing. The Space Force’s fiscal 2026 budget request put long-term plans for SDA’s data transport layer on hold and zeroed out funding for Tranche 3. Officials say they hope to have a solid plan in time for the fiscal 2027 budget this spring.

There’s also the question of MILNET, a lesser-known satellite network developed with the National Reconnaissance Office. SpaceX is reportedly the sole contractor, though defense officials say the plan is to eventually bring in multiple companies for satellites and ground terminals. How MILNET, SDA’s constellation, and commercial SATCOM all work together remains an open question.

Critics argue that the pace of ac quisition still lags behind the threat. China continues adding satellites at a rapid clip, and Russia has shown willingness to test destructive anti-satellite weapons. Supporters counter that initiatives like HALO prove the Space Force is learning to move faster by embracing commercial partnerships.

Key Takeaways

• The US Space Force is shifting from a support role to a full warfighting branch, with 2026 as its target year for battle-ready architectures.
• China’s satellite fleet topped 1,060 by mid-2025, with hundreds focused on ISR, driving urgency in the US response.
• The SDA awarded its first HALO contract ($30M to AST SpaceMobile) to test commercial satellite integration with tactical military radios.
• Budget uncertainty around Tranche 3 funding and the MILNET program could slow momentum if not resolved in the FY2027 budget.

Watch the Full Episode

For more on how satellites and space technology support national security, check out this episode of The NDS Show featuring Umbra Space’s Gabe Dominocielo on the role of satellite imagery: