By Fu Bo
傅 波
An NSDC staff member is analyzing and processing data.美国家太空防御中心的工作人员在分析处理数据。
June has seen intensive media coverage in the US on the dynamics of the US Space Force (USSF) to strengthen presence, saying that the USSF is taking multiple measures to boost its operational capabilities, especially the capacity to engage in forward operations.
进入6月份以来，美国媒体密集报道了美国太空军建设的有关动态，称美太空军正以提高前沿作战能力为牵引，多措并举加快作战力量建设，相关情况值得关注。
It was reported that the US military recently announced the permanent locations for new units and headquarters, including Space Deltas 10, 11, 12, and 15, the 74th and 75th ISR Squadrons, signaling the growing combat power of the USSF. Now, National Space Defense Center (NSDC), as well as the Space Deltas 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 15, and many other Space Force units are located in Colorado Springs.
报道称，美军最近公布了第10、第11、第12、第15 “德尔塔部队”太空部队，第74、第75情报、监视和侦察中队等多支新组建部队和多个指挥机构的驻地方案，反映出美太空军作战力量的持续扩张。美国媒体称，科罗拉多州已成为名副其实的“太空城”，目前，这里驻扎了太空作战司令部、国家太空防御中心，以及第2、3、6、7、8、9、12、15，德尔塔部队”等多个太空军指挥机构和多支作战力量。
To improve its forward operational capabilities, the USSF has focused on making efforts in the following two aspects:
为提升前沿作战能力，美太空军近期主要从两个方面着手推进相关工作。
On the one hand, it optimizes functional tasks. According to the new version of the Unified Command Plan (UCP), the US Space Operations Command will take over responsibility for missile defense operations from the US Strategic Command. General James H. Dickinson, Commander of the US Space Command, remarked that this transfer was the culmination of a comprehensive study on the roles, responsibilities and authorities associated with the Missile Defense enterprise.
一方面，优化职能任务。根据新版《统一指挥计划》，美太空作战司令部将从美战略司令部手中接管导弹防御职能。美太空作战司令部司令詹姆斯·迪金森表示，此次职能移交是对导弹防御部门的角色、责任和权力全面研究的结果。
As Dickinson further pointed out, "Integration of systems and fighting doctrine is critical to modern warfare. By bringing the three mission areas of missile warning, missile defense and space domain awareness under one command as the global sensor manager, Space Command can more effectively integrate and fuse the sensor data for rapid detection, characterization, tracking and dissemination to ensure theaters can defeat any threat."
迪金森进一步指出：“武器系统和作战部队的整合，对现代战争至关重要。通过统管导弹预警、导弹防御和太空作战感知等三大任务，美太空作战司令部可以更有效地集成和融合传感器数据，快速跟踪和识别目标，以确保能够击退任何威胁。”
On the other hand, it moves to develop cutting-edge technologies. Reports said that the USSF will focus on strengthening the practical application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in the future. Among them, the primary application technology for the troops is data integration, a common priority for the US Department of Defense as well as the Air Force, Navy Force, and other military services. The second one is situational awareness, that is, the ability to continuously improve the authentication in space and other operational environments.
另一方面，发展前沿技术。报道称，美太空军未来将重点强化人工智能和机器学习等前沿技术的实践应用。其中，美太空部队的首要应用技术是“数据集成”，这是美国防部，以及空军和海军等军种的共同优先事项。其次是“态势感知”，即不断强化对太空及其他作战环境中个体的识别能力。
Cyber defense is also a priority. An official with the Space Command mentioned that the department is developing innovative ways to transmit and process communication data by resorting to machine learning technology to improve efficiency and reliability. It is learned that the USSF has established a new Joint Task Force-Space Defense based on the Cyber Mission Force to elevate the cyber attack and defense capacities of the USSF.
“网络防御”也是一个优先发展方向。美太空作战司令部官员表示，该部门正利用机器学习技术，来开发传输和处理通信数据的创新方法，提高效率和可靠性。据悉，美太空军已在“网络防御小组”的基础上，新建了“太空网络防御关联小组”，强化美太空军的网络攻防能力。
In addition, the USSF also hopes to apply cutting-edge technologies to activities such as intelligent platforms and weapon launches. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been determined as priority technologies for securing the US "freedom of action in space" and serving multi-domain and full-spectrum combat operations, according to Lisa Costa, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of the USSF.
此外，美太空军还希望将前沿技术应用于智能化平台和武器发射等活动。美太空军首席技术与创新官丽莎·科斯塔已明确将人工智能、机器学习，列为确保美“太空行动自由”和服务多域及全域作战的优先发展技术。
In general, the US military's recent substantial investment in space force building mainly aims at guaranteeing its preemptive competitiveness over other military powers in the arms race. Next, there are two major trends worth noting as to the USSF’s efforts to build capacities.
总的来看，美军近期在太空作战力量建设上的大幅投入，主要是为争夺“第五空间”优势，确保在与其他军事强国的军备竞赛中占得先机。下一步，美太空军建设有两大趋势值得关注。
On the one hand, the investment in space forces has increased. The 2024FY budget request of the USSF reached USD $30 billion, with an increase of up to 15%. It hit a record high in the military service's history and continues the steep increase tendency of recent years - increasing 13% and 46% respectively for 2022FY and 2023FY. Looking forward, the US military may stick to improving the power projection, combat command, intelligence collection, reconnaissance warning, and target attack capabilities of space operations forces by relying on high military expenditure, in a bid to further increase the operational advantages over potential adversaries.
一方面，太空力量投入加大。美太空军2024财年预算申请为300亿美元，涨幅高达15%。这是该军种有史以来最大一笔预算申请，同时延续了近年来其预算连续大幅攀升的势头——是该军种财年和2023财年的预算涨幅分别达13%和46%。展望未来，美军或将以高额军费为依托，不断提升太空作战部队的力量投送、作战指挥、情报搜集、侦察预警和目标攻击能力，进一步增加对潜在对手的作战优势。
On the other hand, the space gaming has intensified. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently discussed with relevant military personnel whether to develop a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" (FOBS) and space-to-earth weaponry system. And the US think tank Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies also released a report to vigorously advocate the development of weapons capable of disrupting, blocking, or destroying space assets of adversaries. In this case, the gaming between the US and other military powers in the "fifth space" may be further intensified, thus bringing negative impacts on global security and stability.
另一方面，“第五空间”博弈加剧。美国防部长奥斯汀近日组织军方相关人员，讨论是否要研制“部分轨道轰炸系统”和“天对地武器系统”。美国智库米歇尔航空航天研究所近期也发布报告，大力鼓吹发展能够干扰、阻断或摧毁对手太空资产的武器。在此情况下，美国与其他军事强国在“第五空间”的博弈或将进一步激化，给全球安全稳定带来负面影响。
