“The Next Steps for Space and Cyberspace” and “Air Force Global Strike Command Update”

Lt. Gen. Basla, Vice Commander,
Air Force Space Command

Lt Gen Michael J. Basla, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, led a session entitled “The Next Steps for Space and Cyberspace".  

General Basla opened by discussing some of the everyday capabilities we take for granted that rely on our space and cyberspace presence, for example: GPS, RPA flights, and precision warfare. The danger in this field is when enemies interfere with our GPS abilities, thus increasing the probability of an impact on noncombatant lives. 

Cyberspace, where “minutes are an eternity”, is the newest domain the USAF seeks to tackle. As was the case with many of our speakers at AWS, Basla sees the fiscal restraints as an opportunity to explore new solutions to current tasks.

Later on in the morning, Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, gave attendees an update on Air Force Global Strike Command.

Lt. Gen. Kowalski, Commander,
Air Force Global Strike Command

While Russia is updating its triad, and China is focusing on land and marine improvements and ICMs, the US has lost some of its robustness and diversity over the past 20 years, began General Kowalski. To keep up, it’s important to modernize, reduce nukes, and manage risk. While our triad gives us options for escalation control, to avoid nuclear situations we need active deterrence. We continue to rely on the persistence of our long-range bombers, but the challenge is our aging force.

For many of the United States’ aircraft, like the UH1, the question is not IF but WHEN will we replace them. Internal upgrades for smarter weapons with a digital backbone are one solution, but we must continue to look forward for solutions.