U.S. European and African Commands Boosted by New Space Force Component
The standup today of the Space Forces Europe and Africa represents another step in making sure the United States and its allies have space power and operations when needed. The new component that officially begins operations is supporting two U.S. combatant commands, the U.S. Africa Command and the U.S. European Command, and is led by Col. Max Lantz.
The ceremony, held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in Hanger 3, brought reflection of the U.S. Space Force’s evolution since it began four years ago. Space Forces Europe and Africa—or SPACEFOREURAF, as it is now known—is the fourth such service component that will provide space-related warfighting, expertise, planning, coordination and Guardians to the combatant commanders, sitting squarely next to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are providing force efforts from their domains.
The new service component begins with about 30 Guardians, already stationed at Ramstein, previously as part of the air component. Their "reservice" represents the continuing presence of space operators who have been in both theaters for a number of years, said Chief of Space Operations, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, U.S. Space Force, speaking to American and German media representatives at the base before the ceremony.
“This is a historic day for the U.S. Space Force, for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command," Gen. Saltzman noted. “The activities that they support—security, cooperation, training, education of our allies and partners, and obviously, the very tight connection to ensuring that space, and all of its capabilities, are fully integrated into plans and the operations across both theaters. We are really excited to basically elevate the considerations of space to the operational level, to the service component level.”
For the two combatant commanders who spoke at the ceremony, Gen. Michael Langley, the leader of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander, U.S. European Command (EUCOM), the move gives them dedicated space power resources. Gen. Basham filled in for Gen. Christopher Cavoli, EUCOM commander.
“I'm pretty excited today because AFRICOM gets another component—the Guardians will be on the watch,” Gen. Langley said. “This is a development that holds immense significance for both U.S. European command and U.S. Africa Command. The strategic impact of space for AFRICOM is profound, particularly in the contributions to AFRICOMS’ broader objectives. Our commitment to space collaboration with African nations is expanding.”
The space domain in regard to African assets and power is an evolving landscape with 22 countries on the continent that now host their own space programs. They recognize the leadership role that the United States plays in space, Gen. Langley noted. And for the United States, space collaboration serves as a catalyst for African-led, U.S.-enabled operations and solutions that will help the stability, security and prosperity of African partners.
“We are dedicated to showing them the leadership to advise and assist to enable their own programs, in coordination with each and every one of those African partners. So this collaboration of space represents a myriad of opportunity for mutual benefit from national objectives, common values, technological advancements and strengthened partnerships, aligned with the outcomes of AFRICOM’s 3D approach,” he said, referring to the partnership that the Department of Defense has with the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.
Part of this work between AFRICOM, the Space Force and its Guardians will guide the implementation of policies in Africa that ensure safety, security and sustainability in the space domain, across international norms. “We will guide partner nations in aligning space policy, strategy and promoting responsible behavior in the space and fostering a cadre of space professionals, in our engagements with our African partners.”
Gen. Langley will lean on the Guardians from the new service component to provide this leadership and expertise.
“This is a historic moment, and I would say, in some ways, it is a long time coming, but it's arrived at the right time,” Lt. Gen. Basham said. “With the changes that we are seeing, not only inside Europe, but quite honestly, globally, we are excited about bringing on a space component that is globally aware, that is globally connected, but also regionally focused.”
This new component will provide EUCOM and AFRICOM with experts assigned to their commands, who can advocate for space based-solutions or identify requirements or gaps in current capabilities.
Having the SPACEFOREURAF component will let EUCOM look within its area of operation and make sure the command is poised with the necessary space capabilities on orbit. In addition, having the component at the command will make sure space capabilities are available “for all” related to its operations. “I would also add that, to that point. It's our allies and partners that really are beneficiaries here,” Lt. Gen. Basham noted.
The deputy commander shared that Gen. Cavoli thought it was a “profound day, a day that creates an opportunity going forward in how we can actually not only secure space, but actually we can secure regional and global peace.”
For the new commander, Col. Lantz, who spent the last year planning for and standing up the new component, SPACFOREURAF represents a dedicated access point for leaders to employ that is singularly focused on the space domain.
“With the activation of SPACEFOREURAF, both commands are taking concrete actions to formally recognize the importance of the space domain,” Col. Lantz said. “With this structural change to their commands, they have now taken deliberate steps toward ensuring critical space effects are integrated into future operations. With today’s activation, EUCOM and AFRICOM have a voice for space. SPACEFOREURAF has a diverse team of experienced space professionals, Guardians, ready to provide expert knowledge of the space domain to the joint community. Additionally, this new component will provide EUCOM and AFRICOM with experts assigned to their commands, who can advocate for space based-solutions or identify requirements or gaps in current capabilities.”
Col. Lantz said he sees the component as a conduit for streamlined interactions with the militaries of Europe and Africa on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense on space-related issues. “They will now have a dedicated access point singularly focused on the space domain,” he emphasized. “This will greatly simplify shared opportunities for space related education, training, exercises, doctrine, and other domain-specific interests.”
In addition to handling the day-to-day space-related operational and growing collaboration with its allies and partners, SPACEFOREURAF leaders will start by assessing the further space-related needs of both commands’ operations.
“One goal is to add value to EUCOM and AFRICOM as soon as possible,” the new component commander said. “We need to do a mission analysis to understand what they need and how we can support them better. We need to be successful in advocating for resources for whatever shortfalls or gaps that are out there. We are going to support current operations. We are going to do a lot of planning and strategy development. ... We’ve got a lot of writing to do to ensure that there is a space component to the support plans.”
