General Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, issued a strong warning about China's rapid advancements in space technology and its growing ability to challenge U.S. dominance in orbit. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, he described the space environment as increasingly hostile, with the erosion of long-standing norms and new threats to U.S. assets.
“The adversary is quickly shrinking that gap, and we have got to change the way we approach space pretty rapidly,” Guetlein said. “Today that capability gap is in our favor, but if it goes negative on us, it’s going to be a really bad day.” He noted the disappearance of a past “gentleman’s agreement” to avoid interfering with each other’s space systems, replaced by tactics like jamming GPS signals and deploying unmanned surveillance aircraft.
“This new norm of behavior is very unsafe and unprofessional,” Guetlein stated, emphasizing the potential for escalation. China's military space program has developed anti-satellite weapons and technologies to disrupt U.S. satellites crucial for navigation, communication, and missile defense. Addressing this, Guetlein said, requires a shift in U.S. strategy, involving increased collaboration with international allies and commercial industry, a departure from Cold War-era self-reliance.
“In the past, we didn’t believe we could count on our commercial partners and international partners during times of crisis,” Guetlein explained. “That has completely changed.” This is central to the Space Force’s proposed Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) program. Private companies would contractually provide satellite services to the military during emergencies, prioritizing military needs over commercial clients. Guetlein called this a cost-effective solution.
“We’re trying, with very limited resources, to get after an enormous demand signal coming out of our joint force,” he noted. However, CASR lacks awarded contracts, and its funding and scope remain unclear. Representative Rob Wittman (R-Va.) voiced strong support for CASR at the Forum, emphasizing the need to include launch vehicles and ensuring rapid response capabilities. He underscored the urgency given China's actions, including launching numerous satellites and developing technologies with potential weapon applications.
Guetlein's warning comes as the Space Force pushes for more funding. “We must act now to ensure that the capability gap doesn’t shrink to zero — or worse, go negative,” he concluded.