Space is now a vibrant international and commercial theater of operations for the US military, industry, intelligence, allies, and adversaries. As physical and economic wars threaten the globe, protecting national interests will not be achievable by relying solely on traditional, military-owned space systems. To secure our nation’s interests in space, enhance its utility to US assets on the ground, and protect the country from orbital threats, the United States Space Force (USSF) must fully leverage and integrate Intelligence Community (IC), civil, commercial, and international capabilities into a hybrid architecture.

As the pace of technological change in space increases, an effective hybrid architecture will provide the speed, capacity, interoperability, and resilience to deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries like China. In fact, this winning approach is the only one that is effective, feasible, and affordable.

The USSF is actively pursuing a hybrid architecture, but the effort is not as fully coordinated and integrated as required. Legal and policy barriers, both real and perceived, are slowing adoption. This leaves the United States in a riskier strategic position relative to adversaries like China, whose hybrid architecture, uninhibited by such barriers, is advancing rapidly.

This study focused on identifying, understanding, and mitigating legal and policy barriers to adopting a hybrid architecture. The findings and recommendations provide a foundation for the USSF, and the United States more broadly, to accelerate achievement of an effective hybrid architecture. The earlier the United States identifies and mitigates the risks and barriers associated with the pivot to a hybrid architecture, the faster, smoother, and more effective the transition will be.