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Space Defense & National Security

Open-source intelligence on military space organizations, programs, procurement, counterspace threats, and allied cooperation

USSF Budget (FY25)
$33.3B
Requested
NRO Budget (FY25)
$18.9B
Publicly disclosed
Nations w/ Space Forces
9+
Dedicated commands
SDA Satellites Planned
300+
PWSA total
⚠

UNCLASSIFIED / OPEN SOURCE INFORMATION ONLY

All information presented on this page is sourced exclusively from publicly available, unclassified sources including official government press releases, congressional budget justification documents, academic research, and reputable open-source intelligence publications (Secure World Foundation, CSIS, etc.). No classified or controlled unclassified information (CUI) is included. Budget figures are based on public budget requests and may differ from enacted appropriations.

Military Space Organizations Worldwide

Dedicated space forces and commands have proliferated since 2019, reflecting global recognition of space as a contested operational domain. The following organizations represent the primary military space commands with dedicated organizational structures.

US

United States Space Force

United States
Established:December 20, 2019
Personnel:~16,000 Guardians + ~11,000 civilians
Budget:$33.3B (FY2025 request)
Parent:Department of the Air Force
Commander:Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations
HQ:The Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Field Commands
  • Space Operations Command (SpOC) -- Peterson SFB, CO
  • Space Systems Command (SSC) -- Los Angeles AFB, CA
  • Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) -- Peterson SFB, CO
Key Programs
National Security Space Launch (NSSL)GPS III / IIIFNext-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR)Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS)Space Development Agency (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space ArchitectureSpace Fence (Kwajalein)Space Domain Awareness
GB

UK Space Command

United Kingdom
Established:April 1, 2021
Personnel:~1,500 (projected growth)
Budget:Part of ~GBP 6.6B defence space allocation (2024-2034)
Parent:Ministry of Defence
Commander:Air Vice-Marshal Paul Mayall (initial); rotating command
HQ:RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Key Programs
SKYNET 6 military satellite communicationsIstari space domain awareness programMINERVA small satellite demonstrationOperation Olympic Defender (with USSF)
FR

French Space Command (Commandement de l'Espace)

France
Established:September 3, 2019
Personnel:~500 (growing)
Budget:EUR 6.5B allocated for military space (2024-2030)
Parent:French Air and Space Force (Armee de l'Air et de l'Espace)
Commander:General Philippe Adam (initial); rotating command
HQ:Toulouse, France
Key Programs
Syracuse IV military SATCOMCSO (Composante Spatiale Optique) reconnaissanceCERES SIGINT satellite constellationYODA active defense demonstratorSPIRALE / ARES missile warning
DE

German Space Command (Weltraumkommando)

Germany
Established:July 13, 2021
Personnel:~80 (initial cadre, growing)
Budget:Part of Bundeswehr modernization budget
Parent:Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces)
Commander:Brigadier General Michael Traut (initial)
HQ:Uedem, North Rhine-Westphalia
Key Programs
SATCOMBw satellite communicationsSAR-Lupe / SARah radar reconnaissanceSpace Situational Awareness Center (GSSAC)NATO Space Centre contribution
IN

Defence Space Agency (DSA)

India
Established:April 2019
Personnel:~200 (initial)
Budget:Part of Indian defence budget (est. ~$1.5B space allocation)
Parent:Indian Armed Forces
Commander:Under Chief of Defence Staff
HQ:Bengaluru, India
Key Programs
GSAT-7 / GSAT-7A military SATCOMEMISAT SIGINT satelliteRISAT radar imaging constellationMission Shakti ASAT capability (tested 2019)Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)
CN

PLA Strategic Support Force (Space Systems Department)

China
Established:December 31, 2015 (SSF); Restructured April 2024
Personnel:Estimated ~100,000+ (full SSF, including cyber and EW)
Budget:Not publicly disclosed (est. ~$15B+ for military space)
Parent:People's Liberation Army
Commander:Classified (SSF Commander)
HQ:Beijing
Key Programs
BeiDou-3 navigation constellationYaogan reconnaissance satellite seriesShijian technology demonstrator seriesTiangong space station (dual-use)SJ-21 / debris cleanup / RPO capable spacecraftSC-19 / DN-series ASAT missiles
RU

Russian Space Forces (VKS Space Troops)

Russia
Established:1992 (various forms); Current structure 2015
Personnel:Estimated ~10,000-15,000
Budget:Not fully disclosed (est. ~$3-5B for military space)
Parent:Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS)
Commander:Under VKS Commander-in-Chief
HQ:Moscow
Key Programs
GLONASS navigation constellationTundra missile early warning satellites (EKS)Persona / Razdan optical reconnaissanceLiana SIGINT constellation (Lotos-S / Pion-NKS)Nudol / PL-19 direct-ascent ASAT systemBurevestnik co-orbital inspector satellites (Cosmos series)
JP

Japan Space Operations Squadron

Japan
Established:May 18, 2020
Personnel:~70 (initial cadre, expanding)
Budget:Part of JSDF increased defence budget (~$2B+ space over 5 years)
Parent:Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Commander:Under JASDF
HQ:Fuchu Air Base, Tokyo
Key Programs
Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) augmentationSpace Situational Awareness (SSA) systemIGS reconnaissance satellite seriesX-band defense communications satellite
AU

Defence Space Command

Australia
Established:January 2022
Personnel:~100+ (growing)
Budget:Part of AUD 100B+ AUKUS/defence investment (space component est. ~AUD 2-3B)
Parent:Australian Defence Force
Commander:Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts (initial head)
HQ:Canberra, ACT
Key Programs
JP 9360 Resilient Multi-Mission Space (RMMS)C-band space surveillance radarAUKUS space cooperationBuccaneer risk-mitigation satelliteGround-based SSA sensors

U.S. Space Force Organizational Structure

The USSF is organized under the Department of the Air Force and structured around three field commands. Space Operations Command (SpOC) is responsible for operating space forces; Space Systems Command (SSC) handles acquisition and launch; and Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) oversees training, testing, and doctrine development.

Space Operations Command (SpOC)

Peterson SFB, CO. Operates the nation's military space forces including GPS, missile warning, space surveillance, and satellite communications operations. Houses the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC).

Space Systems Command (SSC)

Los Angeles AFB, CA. Responsible for developing, acquiring, and sustaining lethal and resilient space capabilities. Manages NSSL, GPS, SBIRS/Next-Gen OPIR, WGS, AEHF/ESS, and other programs.

Space Training & Readiness Command (STARCOM)

Peterson SFB, CO. Responsible for training, testing, and developing tactics, techniques, and procedures for space operations. Operates the National Space Test and Training Complex.

About This Module

All information on this page is compiled exclusively from publicly available, unclassified sources including official government publications, congressional budget documents, academic research, and established open-source intelligence organizations. This module is intended for educational and industry awareness purposes. Budget figures represent requested amounts unless otherwise noted and may differ from final enacted appropriations. Capability assessments represent best available open-source analysis and should not be considered authoritative intelligence assessments.