// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Space Force
The Space Force is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for military operations in space, ensuring U.S. access to space and protecting assets like satellites.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is a uniformed military service within the Department of the Air Force, tasked with organizing, training, and equipping Guardians to conduct global space operations, ensuring national security by protecting U.S. orbital assets and deterring space and counter-space aggression.
BACKGROUND
A space force is a military branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in outer space and space warfare. The world's first space force was the Russian Space Forces, established in 1992 as an independent military service. However, it lost its independence twice, first being absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces from 1997–2001 and 2001–2011, then it merged with the Russian Air Force to form the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2015, where it now exists as a sub-branch. As of 2026, there are two independent space forces: the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- USSF
- U.S. Space Force
- Space Operations
- Guardians
USAGE NOTE
The term specifically refers to the United States' dedicated military branch for space and should not be generalized to other nations' space military efforts.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Space Force.
Develops and manufactures a wide range of advanced technologies for space defense, including satellites for missile warning, navigation, communications, and intelligence, as well as ground systems and launch integration services critical for the U.S. Space Force.
Provides critical space systems, advanced payloads, missile defense technologies, and secure communications for national security space missions, directly supporting the operational capabilities of the Space Force.
Contributes to national security space through the development of satellite systems, launch services, and advanced space platforms for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and communication, aligning with Space Force objectives.
Develops advanced sensors, secure satellite communication systems, and space-based intelligence solutions that enhance situational awareness and provide critical data for U.S. Space Force operations.
A key provider of launch services for national security payloads via Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, and is developing Starshield, a secure satellite network specifically designed for government and defense applications, directly supporting Space Force mission needs.
Supplies a broad portfolio of space domain awareness, protected communications, navigation, and space-based remote sensing technologies vital for the U.S. Space Force's mission to protect and defend U.S. interests in space.
Designs and manufactures spacecraft, instruments, and advanced technologies for national security space, including weather satellites, remote sensing, and space-based intelligence platforms, directly serving government customers like the Space Force.
Provides resilient and secure satellite communication services and terminals for military and government clients, ensuring robust connectivity for the U.S. Space Force's global operations.
Delivers critical command and control systems, secure communications, and ground systems infrastructure essential for the operation and management of U.S. Space Force assets and missions.