Air Force Secretary: Space Force Essential for Addressing Future Threats from China and Russia

During his last think tank discussion before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump next week, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall elaborated on his vision for the Department of the Air Force in 2050, stressing the vital role of the Space Force in combating future threats posed by China and Russia.

Kendall mentioned that the report, which has not yet been fully published, foresees a vastly enlarged and more capable Space Force by 2050. The Air Force did not respond to The Epoch Times’ inquiry about when the report would be released.

During the event, Kendall highlighted the necessity for a “much larger, much more capable, much more powerful Space Force” that would transition from its current support-oriented role to a more combat-ready stance.

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Kendall foresees the Space Force, which was officially established as the sixth military branch under the first Trump administration in 2019, enhancing its military capabilities and adopting a more proactive role in space operations, comparable to how a navy differs from a commercial merchant fleet in warfare preparedness.

Highlighted capabilities for the future Space Force include improved counter-space operations, automated space domain awareness, enhanced surveillance and targeting capabilities, as well as more resilient missile warning and tracking systems. Kendall also underscored the importance of exploiting commercial partnerships in areas such as communication and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.

When discussing the Air Force, Kendall laid out several priorities for 2050, such as maintaining two legs of the nuclear triad under the Air Force’s jurisdiction, boosting global conventional strike abilities, and enhancing the survivability of tactical air power. He stressed the necessity for next-generation aerial refueling and the integration of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) into existing force structures.

Throughout his address, Kendall highlighted the urgency of addressing the threats posed by China.

“China, China, China remains a major issue,” he remarked, adding that Russia also “doesn’t fade away as a significant threat,” even though China “is increasingly central to the narrative… [as] a strategic competitor to the United States.”

The secretary also discussed the challenges of integrating artificial intelligence and autonomous systems into military operations.

“By 2025, we will find ourselves in a world where decisions won’t be made at human speed—they will be dictated by machine speed,” Kendall indicated. “Humans will need to oversee these processes, ensuring alignment with our values, but time is a fundamental factor on the battlefield… fractions of a second are critical, and human beings can process only so much data simultaneously.”

Kendall raised concerns about future nuclear stability in a world where China, Russia, and the United States each possess substantial nuclear arsenals. He called for enhanced dialogue among nations to alleviate risks associated with nuclear brinksmanship.

As Kendall prepares to transition leadership to the Trump administration, he highlighted several crucial decisions that require immediate attention.

These decisions include finalizing the budget negotiations for fiscal year 2025 with Congress and preparing the budget for 2026 for submission.

Kendall also pointed out the essential decision regarding the future of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, noting that the incoming administration will need to decide whether to continue with the present concept or consider alternatives.

Moreover, he emphasized the necessity of reviewing the Air Force’s global posture and deployments in relation to the emphasis on China as a pacing challenge. Kendall encouraged the incoming team to be ready for the intricacies and urgency of these decisions, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the issues and prompt action to maintain the Air Force’s competitive advantage.

So far, Trump has not announced his nominee to succeed Kendall as secretary of the Air Force.