Gen. David Goldfein’s speech on Friday represented the strongest rhetoric yet on space warfare as an area that deserves special attention from the U.S. Air Force.
Goldfein, the Air Force’s chief of staff, told a large audience of active-duty airmen that they have to start thinking about outer space the same way they think about airspace.
In a keynote speech at the Air Force Association’s air warfare symposium, the general said it is “time for us as a service, regardless of specialty badge, to embrace space superiority with the same passion and sense of ownership as we apply to air superiority today.”
I'm perhaps being unfair to note that the Air Force passion for air superiority doesn't address close air support for ground troops. I'm sure that's an unfortunate oversight rather than a statement by omission of the obvious.
But as I've said, I think the Air Force should aim high to be the Aerospace Force and leave the mission and money for close air support to the Army, much as the Marines have their own close air support aircraft.
I do want the skies and space above us controlled by American forces. Let's allow the Air Force to achieve their true passion without trying to get them to worry about the grubby unloved brown skies above the Army.
