Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of space operations and a 2021 Wash100 Award winner, said the U.S. Space Force, which was created in December 2019, is accelerating efforts to meet its near-term priorities, the Air Force reported Friday.

“We have set conditions to outpace emerging and dynamic threats and create new military options, working with the joint force, interagency, industry, and our partners and allies. 

These partnerships will allow us to move at speed without breaking our national treasury,” Raymond told members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee during a virtual hearing Friday.

He said there has been a “critical elevation of capability” since the establishment of the Space Force. He also cited emerging threats that make space into a more challenging domain. 

“These threats include robust jamming of GPS and communications satellites; directed energy systems that can blind, disrupt or damage our satellites; anti-satellite weapons in space or from the ground that are designed to destroy U.S. satellites; and cyber capabilities that can deny our access to the domain,” Raymond said.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown and John Roth, acting secretary of the Air Force, joined Raymond during the virtual House hearing to discuss their service branch’s priorities, such as the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program and continued deployment of F-35 and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft into the fleet.

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