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Private Sector’s Role in Readying for the 2027 Fight

An official with the U.S. Space Command calls for industry partners to bring their ideas forward to help in the conflict between China and Taiwan.

Richard Yu, director of the digital superiority directorate and chief information officer, U.S. Space Command, delivers his keynote speech at TechNet Indo-Pacific on October 24, 2024. Credit: Tony Grillo.

U.S. Space Command personnel are emphasizing the importance of capability creators outside of the public sector to offer their services or submit ideas that they think will help for the fight of 2027.

That’s when Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to have his army fully prepared to pursue annexation of Taiwan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

During his keynote speech at TechNet Indo-Pacific 2024, Richard Yu, director of the digital superiority directorate and chief information officer, U.S. Space Command, stressed the need for crews in the private sector to propose technologies to ensure that the U.S. will be ready for the “fight tonight.”

“Whatever we have, even if a broomstick is the only thing we have, we’re going to fight tonight with a broomstick,” Yu said. “So, what that really means to our partners in the industry is that if you have a capability, come talk to us. But we’re not a developer; we’re not an acquisition organization, but we do have some plans to bring in capability through our partners so that we can go fight tonight. If it’s not fight tonight, I will direct you back to our mission partners who do develop capabilities.”

On the third day of TechNet Indo-Pacific, Richard Yu talks U.S. Space Command and the digital terrain.

Officials are looking for capabilities in the realms of expertise, skill sets and nonmaterial and material solutions, according to Yu. He is encouraging crews to bring their ideas forward to help in the conflict between China and Taiwan.

“So, if you have a capability we can actually [use] instead of using a broomstick to go fight tonight, if you have something better, as long as it doesn’t blow up in my face, I would love [it],” Yu said.

“We have to fight tonight so we can win," Yu added. “It really sucks to be coming in second."

TechNet Indo-Pacific is organized by AFCEA International and the AFCEA Hawaii Chapter. SIGNAL Media is the official media of AFCEA International.