US Space Force eyes global partners for national security launches

Lead official of the US Space Force for launch programmes, Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen is exploring international partnerships to expand national security launch capabilities.

“So we are looking at international partnerships as potential ways to get our satellites to orbit,” Panzenhagen said during a recent event hosted by the Mitchell Institute, Caliber.Az reports via foreign website. 

Although she emphasised that the current system is sufficient, Panzenhagen noted that talks with international partners are part of long-term planning.

“I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily near term,” she said, adding that the existing program is “meeting our needs.”

Panzenhagen, who serves in four key roles including commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and director of Launch and Range Operations, said the goal is to “increase resiliency” and ensure continued access to space. Until now, the Department of Defense has only conducted small experimental launches from foreign spaceports, primarily through the Space Test Program. National security launches currently rely on facilities in California and Florida.

However, Panzenhagen revealed early-stage discussions are underway with countries that already operate launch sites, such as Japan, New Zealand, and France. Emerging spaceport nations like Norway, the UK, and Sweden are also part of ongoing conversations. JAXA in Japan, Rocket Lab in New Zealand, and France’s Arianespace are among the potential partners. These talks aim to identify opportunities to “enhance each other’s resiliency,” she said. For nations still developing launch infrastructure, the Space Force is providing input on future designs that could support interoperability. 

“So maybe it does become more interoperable in the future, like, can we design that in,” Panzenhagen added. “So we’re at the very early stages of that,” she concluded, “but I’m really excited about building those international partnerships.”

By Naila Huseynova