U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain affirmed the force's preparedness: "I can confidently state that your United States Air Force stands ready and able to defend America's homeland, ensure a robust nuclear deterrent via our two legs of the Triad, and project power around the world to provide options to deter and win as the nation requires."
However, Spain highlighted longstanding concerns, aligning with sentiments shared by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin in prior months. "Today's Airmen will do so with the oldest airplanes, the smallest force and with fewer monthly flying hours than at any point in our history," he said. "Airmen have, and always will, get the job done, but today they do so at elevated risk."
The Space Force, which is now in its fifth year, was designed specifically to secure U.S. interests in space and continues evolving as a combat-focused service. U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein underscored the urgency for enhanced support: "We must increase investment to deter the threat and, if necessary, decisively defeat challenges to U.S. space superiority. The strategic choices we make today will determine whether space remains a domain for peace and progress or becomes a contested battleground for future conflict."
Guetlein stressed the challenges posed by emerging space threats and a constrained budget. He told the Senate that the Space Force "is woefully under-resourced" for its expanding mission and emphasized that rapid adaptation is critical. "As access to, and use of, space grows, the strategic landscape in space is becoming increasingly complex and perilous," he said.
Highlighting the real and present danger, Guetlein stated: "What were once theoretical threats are now daily occurrences. I have observed our adversaries' actions, and they are employing new capabilities to counter our advantage. Our competitors are jamming GPS signals, spoofing and disrupting satellite communications, and developing advanced anti-satellite weapons. Unfortunately, these behaviors have become the norm rather than the exception, creating an increasingly hostile environment and putting at risk our continued freedom in the space domain."
Both leaders joined counterparts from other military branches, including Gen. James J. Mingus of the Army, Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney of the Marines, Navy Adm. James W. Kilby, and Government Accountability Office representative Diana C. Maurer. While the hearing focused on force readiness, discussions extended to recruiting efforts, the impact of ongoing budget constraints, and topics such as the Golden Dome for America initiative.
Spain and Guetlein both addressed the drawbacks of operating under a continuing resolution (CR), which sustains government funding at previous levels without authorizing new programs. Spain noted the Air Force faces a $14 billion shortfall due to CR limitations: "The financial hit was close to $14 billion, which we cannot afford."
Guetlein elaborated on how CRs disproportionately impact the Space Force. "It does impact us because we are the smallest force with the smallest budget. So, any churn in our budget is a huge hit to us," he said.
He warned that delays in funding hinder response to emerging threats. "We are seeing an enormous amount of threats emerging every single year and it is very hard to get after those threats when you have to wait two to four years to get the budget," Guetlein said. He urged Congress to provide "budget flexibility for new start authority, (and) the ability to move money between programs would be hugely beneficial."
Related Links
United States Space Force
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
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