The United States Space Force has released a new guide that explains how it plans to prepare for war in space. This guide is called the “Space Warfighting Framework.”
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It is the first official plan that describes how the Space Force will train its members and use its technology to fight if a conflict ever happens in Earth’s orbit.
This framework gives a clear explanation of how space battles might happen. It talks about how the Space Force will protect American satellites and stop enemy spacecraft from causing harm. The goal is to have “space superiority.” This means having the ability to control space during a conflict, just like air forces want air superiority during battles on Earth.
To achieve space superiority, the Space Force may use both offensive and defensive actions. That means they might stop attacks on U.S. satellites or even go after enemy spacecraft if needed. The guide also explains that the tools and systems used in space are different from those on Earth because space is huge, crowded, and fast-moving.
The Three Kinds of Space War
The Space Force has said that any war in space could happen in three different ways. These three areas are:
Orbital Warfare
This type of space war happens between satellites or spacecraft flying above the Earth. If one country wants to hurt another’s space systems, it might send a spacecraft to interfere with, damage, or destroy an enemy satellite. The new framework says the Space Force must be ready to respond to this kind of attack and take action if needed.
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Electromagnetic Warfare
This kind of conflict doesn’t involve hitting satellites. Instead, it involves controlling the signals and energy used to talk to them. Most satellites use radio signals to send and receive data. If an enemy jams or blocks these signals, it can stop the satellite from working correctly. The Space Force says it needs to be able to both defend against these attacks and possibly use similar methods to stop an enemy’s satellites.
Cyberspace Warfare
This kind of war happens inside computers. Space systems, like satellites and ground stations, use computer networks to work. A cyberattack might try to hack into these networks and cause confusion or stop them from working. The Space Force says defending these computer systems is just as important as protecting the satellites themselves.
All three types of space war can happen at the same time. This means the Space Force has to be prepared to handle many challenges all at once—from physical attacks in orbit to invisible threats like radio jamming or hacking.
Training for the Unknown
The new framework talks a lot about how different space war is from wars on land, sea, or in the air. One big difference is that spacecraft move very fast and fly high above Earth in orbits. Because of this, space battles might need to be done using automated systems—machines that act without waiting for humans to give every command.
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The document says these automated systems must be built in a way that still allows humans to understand what they are doing. It also says the Space Force must train its teams to know when to let the machines act and when to step in. Since many satellites fly close to each other in space, quick decisions are often needed to avoid accidents or enemy action.
This training also includes learning a new language of space warfare. The document introduces common terms and phrases so that everyone in the Space Force understands what is being talked about during a mission or battle. This shared language helps all team members work better together.
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One of the final points in the framework is that there are no fixed rules when it comes to war in space. The Space Force believes that its members must fully understand the principles of spacepower. But they must also be ready to think in new ways and sometimes break traditional rules in order to protect U.S. assets and win in space.
The U.S. Space Force now has a full plan for training its people and using its tools if a space war ever becomes real. The focus is on keeping American satellites safe, stopping enemy attacks, and being ready for anything—from laser weapons and jammers to hackers and collisions. This plan shows that space is no longer just a place for exploration, but also a place where conflicts could happen.
