US Space Force to award some 20 contracts for commercial reserve by 2026

The US Space Force plans to award up to 20 contracts for its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) by 2026, aimed at improving the military's ability to leverage commercial space capabilities during both peacetime and conflict.

Approved in 2023 by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, CASR is designed to provide a mechanism for accessing commercial space services when needed, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The Space Force aims to award five contracts in 2025 and an additional 15 in 2026. These contracts will define the capabilities required by the military in peaceful times and establish a pricing structure for additional capacity during crises.

The Space Force’s acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, began planning CASR in 2023, working with industry partners to address legal, policy, and contracting concerns. The strategy developed incorporates feedback from over 50 companies to clarify the risks and requirements of relying on commercial systems during wartime.

Vice Chief of Space Operations, General Michael Guetlein, emphasized the need for redundant, excess capacity to prepare for potential conflicts with peer adversaries like China or Russia. The Space Force acknowledges that future conflicts may be less efficient, necessitating flexibility and increased capability.

CASR’s development has raised concerns about the military’s reliance on commercial systems during wartime, particularly after SpaceX’s Elon Musk faced criticism for withholding Starlink satellite services in Ukraine in 2023, fearing escalation. The Space Force is addressing such scenarios by developing contract language to account for “denial of service” situations and studying potential wartime insurance options for participating companies.

The program will also involve companies in Defense Department war games, with the first CASR event scheduled for February 2025, allowing the Space Force to assess capacity requirements in different regions. Although initial funding has been provided, the Space Force is still determining its future financial needs for the program. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant emphasized that CASR needs should be considered early in program acquisition strategies.

By Vafa Guliyeva