The Space Force Needs New Space-Based Systems to Defend America

What is happening to our Air Force? Once the technology leader among U.S. military services, the Air Force is now honored to be the home of our first Space Force, which needs new space-based systems to defend America. Incredibly, however, the Air Force is embarked on looking backward with a huge expenditure, apparently to keep open a Boeing production line for past-generation F-15s that have been cleverly renamed F-15EXs.

How would this $23 billion (or more) venture help America? Not in fights where years ahead non-stealthy fighters would need to operate in contested airspace (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) or against fifth-generation fighters (Russia, China), nor, like other Air Force fighters, where close-in airbases would be sitting ducks against attacks by cruise missiles and ballistic missiles (China, Russia, North Korea, Iran) and new hypersonic missiles (China, Russia).

Experts have decried this F-15EX buy! “It is perhaps the most un-cost-effective expenditure ever made by DOD,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, head of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. [2] Retired Air Force General Mike Loh, former Air Force Vice Chief and Commander of the Air Combat Command, said, “Buying new F-15X fighters for the U.S. Air Force is unsolicited and unwise.” [3] Loh also criticized the F-15EX buy on the grounds that, "In its haste, the Air Force is buying the engines, two per F-15EX, on a sole-source contract from General Electric rather than on a competitive basis, despite the availability of Pratt & Whitney engines already flying on nearly all its F-15Es. The GE engines will be provided to Boeing from the Air Force as government-furnished equipment.” [4]

What else could be done with that $23 billion (or more)? It could buy many more modern F-35s or new B-21s than funds now permit. But with this F-15EX decision, the Air Force has decided that more of those advanced stealthy fighters and bombers have a lower priority for available dollars.

To really help America, that $23 billion (or more) could buy new space planes and 1,000 space-based interceptors to defend GLOBALLY against attacks on U.S. satellites and against ballistic and hypersonic missile attacks on U.S. interests!

Vividly illustrating the current threat, Russia just flexed its anti-satellite (ASAT) muscles again when one of its military satellites “launched a mysterious projectile into orbit at high speed.” [5]  U.S. X-37C space planes, upgrades of Boeing’s current two X-37Bs, could be built and made operational within a couple of years to help counter anti-satellite attacks. Spaceplanes could also be used to perform close reconnaissance against Russian, Chinese, and North Korean satellites to ascertain if they are ASATs, or even clandestinely and illegally nuclear-armed for an EMP attack. For example, the Congressional EMP Commission warned that two North Korean satellites that regularly orbit over the U.S. might be a clandestine EMP threat. [6]

In addition, the small space-plane fleet could assist in testing new U.S. low-earth-orbit satellites in conjunction with the space-based interceptors, all 1,000 of which could be in place within five years to defend against ballistic and hypersonic missile attacks, including attacks on Air Force bases.

 Two retired Air Force generals (Kevin Chilton and William Shelton) recently joined the experts' chorus, urging attention to America's space-based deterrent. "Successful deterrence in space requires the development of both offensive and defensive capabilities that will force adversaries to question the wisdom of interfering with U.S. space systems.” [7]

National Defense leaders in Washington D.C. should reverse the F-15EX mistake and put the $23 billion (or more) into much-needed space-based systems to defend America!

Norm Haller has led and assisted analyses, planning, and preparing reports for DoD and Congress on nuclear and non-nuclear forces for deterrence and defense against missile attacks; now a consultant, he served in the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the Chairman’s Executive Assistant.

Dr. Peter Vincent Pry is executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security. He served on the Congressional EMP Commission as chief of staff, the Congressional Strategic Posture Commission, the House Armed Services Committee, and the CIA. He is author of "Blackout Wars," and also of "The Power and the Light," available on Amazon.com.