The conversations held during the National Defense Industrial Association’s Space Warfighting Forum (SWF) held from 26–28 August 2025 focused on the theme of “Peace Through Strength” and brought together representatives from government, defence, industry, and academia to debate the future of space operations.
In his keynote address, USSPACECOM Commander General Stephen Whiting warned that a conflict with a near-peer rival “will include space conflict.” He cautioned that space is rapidly evolving from a supporting domain to a contested battleground in its own right and said understanding both friendly and adversarial systems in orbit is now crucial for effective defence.
GEN Whiting introduced the concept of the “Elements of Victory” – five key objectives essential for a fully integrated space enterprise. He stressed that “no one command, service, department, agency or company” can handle the requirements of space operations alone, calling instead for co-ordinated integration, deconfliction, and synchronisation of all national and allied capabilities.
Echoing those concerns, Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Tom James reiterated the fundamental necessity of protecting space systems from major threats. Quoting the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Navy Admiral Christopher Grady, James noted: “Space is the most important domain. It will enable everything terrestrial.”
Further highlighting industry’s role, Thomas Lockhart, USSPACECOM’s director of Capability and Resource Integration (J8), discussed the Capability Assessment and Validation Environment (CAVE). He described it as a highly flexible, integrated platform that allows commercial partners to test and align their technologies with realistic threat simulations, supporting mission planning and threat visualisation.
Lockhart also spoke to the importance of the Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) cell – a hub for commercial mission partners around the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.
These partners contribute space domain awareness data to US forces and allied warfighters, enhancing situational awareness and response capability.
He emphasised USSPACECOM’s drive toward being “allied by design” through expansion of its Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender (MNF OOD).
This initiative aims to break down policy barriers, bolster allied integration, and streamline Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales in space.
Looking ahead, Whiting said USSPACECOM will continue to enhance the resilience of space architectures and grow collaboration across stakeholders, especially through MNF OOD, to ensure preparedness for the “worst day” any nation may face in space.