possible. >> sunday night at 8:00 eastern on c-span. next, the hearing of space a national security. general john raymond who heads the air force space command testified to a house armed service subcommittee. he was joined by two other defense department officials for about 40 minutes. chairman rogers: good afternoon, this is -- welcome, everybody. this hearing of the subcommittee on strategic forces. and our hearing on the 2019 budget request for national security space programs. unfortunately, as everybody in the room now knows, we were interrupted by votes and we're an hour behind starting off.

so for the sake of not keeping you all here all night, i'm going to submit my opening statement for the record and the ranking members told me that he's going to submit his opening statement for the record, too, so we'll go straight to your opening statements and ask each of you have five minutes. your entire statement will be accepted into the record. if you summarize it, we'll get to questions and answers and finish this session and go to the classified section immediately after that. with that, thank you for being here, i know it takes a lot of time and energy to prepare for these things but it really helps us, we need to hear your thoughts at this time of year. i'll recognize general raymond. well, first let me recognize, we have general raymond with us today, betty sapp from nro, and colonel rapawana. how do you pronounce that? we'll start with general raymond for your opening statement. you're recognized. gen. raymond: thank you. general rogers, ranking member cooper, distinguished members of the subcommittee, i'm honored to appear before this committee. this time it's my first time being able to testify in front of you in my dual hat as the air force space commander, joint

forces commander, component of u.s. strategic command. i have the absolute distinct privilege of leading and representing both the air force and joint space personnel who underpin successful global operations for our joint force in our nation. as i have stated previously, i am increasingly convinced that we are at a strategic inflection point and we must accelerate our preparations to protect and defend against a conflict that begins in or extends to space. and that's exactly what we're doing. today's space capabilities are the foundation of power projection and fuel or joint force lethality. a high-end conflict may begin in our domain which will require us to fight for space superiority. as a component of united states strategic command, i would be remissecho the words of my boss, general hayden, to say our force is fully prepared to deter, and if necessary, respond and win if deterrence were to fail. as our national security strategy states, the united

states considers unfettered access to and freedom to operate in space to be a vital interest. our national defense strategy clearly articulates that the central challenge to the united states' prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term strategic competition. space is a war-fighting domain, just like air, land, and sea. this budget is aligneded with the national defense strategy to meet our war-fighting imperatives necessary to compete, deter, and win. this budget marks a bold shift toward an increased focus on space superiority in a contested environment. specifically, we are enhancing our space situational awareness and our ability to command and control. we are shifting toward more defendable architectures. we are investing in tests and training infrastructure to further enhance our readiness . and finally, we are enhancing our partnerships with intelligence community, our ally partners, and the commercial space industry.

i thank you for your support and i look forward to working with congress as we continue to focus on our national security space posture. i am privileged, absolutely privileged to be here with my distinguished colleagues on the panel this afternoon and i look forward to your questions. thank you. chairman rogers: thank you, general. chair now recognizes betty sapp, director of national reconnaissance office. ms. sapp: thank you, ranking member cooper and distinguished members of the committee. sure. it's a great pleasure to host you and your committee. your members out at the nro. it's a great honor for me to be here today. the nro has a very clear and very critical mission for the nation. we provide the space-based isr capabilities necessary to ensure an advantage. the nro is structured for success, small and streamlined with end-to-end mission responsibility. we enjoyed success in all aspects. our research and development

team developed and matured the next generation technology necessary to stay ahead of changing targets and threats. fill current mission gaps and develop new relationships. in 2017, for the ninth consecutive year, we achieved a clean independent audit opinion. demonstrating our ability to properly manage and account for the resources entrusted to us. we have four successful launches last year including our first on a spacex falcon 9. finally, most importantly, we continue to deliver critical operational capabilities with the better than 99.7% reliability. our fiscal year 2019 budget requests will build on this successful history of delivering innovative overhead intelligence systems for national security, with the resilience required for the threat environment we face.

we're specifically focused on investments that will deliver and assure the space-based capabilities we'll needs in a future fight. more resilience, more capability and capacity, and more speed. greater resilience continues to be a top priority. processes to protect our current orbit systems are being refined and tested and our people are being trained to use them to full advantage. new systems will have resiliency features built in as an inherent part of the design. in a future conflict, resilience must backstop and work in concert with resilient air assets. focus on achieving the capacity and capabilities required by the icd and dod. we are increasing persistence in the look rate from space, reducing the gaps currently exploited by our adversaries. finally, we require for capacities and capabilities in space. they must be combined to deliver the critical information directly to war fighters, at the tactical edge and in the fight,

and must be delivered when they need it. enabled by advances in artificial intelligence, automatic target recognition, machine learning and emerging technology, the nro plans to do tactical edge and in the fight, exactly that. everyone at the nro is focused on our mission, delivering innovative overhead intelligence systems for national security. the current and projected threat environment doesn't change our mission. it just makes it more challenging. the men and women of the nro are more than up to that challenge. thank you for your support and i look forward to your questions. chairman rogers: thank you very much. chair now recognizes kenneth rapawano, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security. thank you. mr. rapawano: thank you, chairman rogers, ranking member cooper, distinguished members of the subcommittee. it's an honor to appear before you today. and the u.s. strategic command joint force component commander, ms. betty sapp, director of the national reconnaissance office. just as in land, air, cyber space, the department of defense must be prepared to address any and all threats to our national

security. space systems provide our joint force an unmatched ability to project power globally, respond to crises rapidly, strike swiftly and precisely, and command forces in multiple theaters of operations simultaneously. our national security strategy and the national defense strategy prominently recognize the criticality of space acknowledge the potential for conflict to extend into space. new national defense strategy charts the course for how dod will contribute to each of the national security strategies for national interests. under the new nds, long-term strategic competition with china and russia are the priorities for the department. addressing the challenges posed to our preeminence in space power is fundamental to that effort. today's potential adversaries and competitors have studied how the u.s. joint force operates and they are rapidly developing

capabilities designed to challenge our freedom of action across all domains. those potential adversaries view space is an area where they can weaken our advantage and cause impacts on the sea, air, land, rely onr systems that our space capabilities. component of their strategy. the department is making critical investments in capabilities necessary to protect and defend the space to ensure the mission to compete, deter, and win in the face of growing challenges. prioritizesequest remedies to address the space threat and improves on the performance of our space systems. our aim remains to deliver the space effects to delivery of the edge of our fighters must have. we recognize the need for the mosttment to be organized

effectively to deliver on her duty to protect the nation and its interests. the department must accelerate its response to the changing dynamics of space. the deputy secretary has heard congress's concerns and consistent with the nda has taken action through interim guidance and looks forward to completing the studies and changes that may be required. the partnership with congress is and will remain critical to our success. to that end, i remain grateful for this subcommittee's support and interest in this area and cy todvocate dissuade aggression in space. i look forward to your questions. thank you.

>> i recognize myself for questions. launch industry is innovating in incredible ways that could reduce costs. this, how does this air force plan to integrate reasonability into its program and is the lsa contemplate reusability? gen. raymond: i have gone on record saying i support reasonability. we would be stupid not to go down that path. it saves us money. we fully intend to capitalize on the advantages the industry has with reusability. >> great, given president trump's recent enforcement of the space force, it is consistent what we have called for.

president isthe focused on outcomes. he has prioritized space and recognized the threats that have evolved and he recognizes it as a war fighting domain. he is interested in ensuring the toartment is best organized achieve our missions in space and he is interested in any options that can provide that enhanced capability. the deputy secretary is leading the management review for the department, assessment of the one of thoses options that is getting attention, among others. he is going to be recommending

that set of options to ensure lasting u.s. leadership and success in space. president cares about outcomes. look at his words, we should have a space force. we will have a space force. deputy secretary shanahan is charged with designing that. i was hoping you could show us what it looks like. apparently that is not going to happen. general raymond, yesterday we had some testimony about how if ,he air force really wanted between where we are now and the establishment of this new space force, which will not be in the immediate future, the air force with lot of challenges national security space and some of the threats we face. hearingroposed in the

if the air force wanted to , theytrate they get it would raise the profile of space in the department and put a significantly larger amount of money against that challenge. i don't expect you to have the numbers today. i would ask at your convenience, after think about it, to get back to me and let me know what the number might be so you have the resources you need. i would be happy to do that. the profile of space is high in the air force. this budget this year represents , $7 billion, and i will be happy to focus on that and come back to you. chairman recognizes my friend from tennessee, jim cooper. mr. chairman.

i will defer questions to the theed session in view of vagueness of the hour--. hour.eness of the >> i will have some questions for the closed hearing. i appreciate the conversations we've had recently. the $350 million in unfunded priorities, there is a $7 billion increase. we have to draw the line somewhere when we are doing budgets. if you could have that extra $350 million, what would we be able to get from that and what are we losing? the way the air force did the unfunded priority we have prioritized to

those activities we could not fit into the budget. $7 billion is a significant increase and a bold shift toward war fighting and being able to protect those assets in a contested domain. i will be happy to talk specifically about the items, but they give congress options and a priority order to accelerate what we have in the program. >> ok, we can continue that discussion. theuld like to ask about increased need for war fighting, space were fighting training now that everyone is recognizing space is contested and it is a war fighting domain. we need to have the personnel who have the training necessary to excel in that domain. what are your thoughts on that? gen. raymond: that is a key

focus for us. the professional development and training. we've made some strides toward that. we have implemented the space mission force to enhance the training of our cruise and we agse implemented spacefli to focus on that as well. it is not just about space training. it is about multi-domain training, making sure we have space operators that are smart and we have war fighters that are smart in space because it is that multi-domain strength that will carry us to where we need to be in the future. $175 million to get additional trainers and sizes. >> that is good to see. can we do af you,

better job of partnering with the commercial sector, private industry, to accomplish our goals? if so, how? >> i don't want to monopolize this. i and passionate about this. withe working very closely our commercial customers and this will provide us an advantage going forward. one thing we have done in our budget is focus on building open standards and a consortium approach to energize and focus on these issues. it is a key priority for us going forward and you will see that in the budget. >> that is great. either one of you. ro has been an industry, contracts. .e've been a close partner new providers are coming in and we will look to team with them

and leverage their capabilities. mr. rapuano: this is an intense deputy secretary of defense who is leading the reform efforts. complainta big focused on acquisition. he's all about leveraging the commercial sector more effectively and we will see a number of reforms in that area. excellent things. thank you for the work you are doing. i will pause for a little housekeeping i overlooked. i would like to ask unanimous that they be able to participate. >> thank you, chairman. general raymond, for your budget, it alters -- let me back up page. comments that have

started from this, trying to get caught up and take advantage, private industry and others. the air force wants to move fast and get capabilities deployed which is why section 1610 of the agrees thatnference the united states air force operationalize existing commercial space capabilities, not later than may 30. tot is the plan operationalize the capabilities by this deadline? this has been ongoing. gen. raymond: it has been. we have leveraged them significantly. if you look at the system today, the mission system, they are leveraged significantly. coloradotood up in

springs where we are bringing commercial applications to test and then we will roll them into center to facilitate their integration into our inrations and then finally the enterprise space battle management command and control, we are trying to have not just one company be a winner and a bunch of losers. we are trying to develop open standards and have a consortium-based approach where everybody can play. we will have a prototype done by get2021 and i'm eager to all of the commercial industry wrapped around those standards. >> let me follow up. the commander of the joint forces command talked about this and said our capabilities were at a three.

why aren't we doing this quicker? taking vantage of what we have now and build up to that? we are taking advantage of that. we will continue to. building system we are the entire system off of that , open standard. we are leveraging those today and will continue to as we look to fill some of the gaps we have. the closedait for session when we can get into more detail. >> the chair recognizes the gentleman from georgia. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i am not sure this question goes to and i have some others foreclosed session. does the dod need to be more assertive about potential acquisitions of the u.s. companies by china in the space

industry to ensure security here? is a key issue. thank you for raising it. this is an issue be secretary and deputy secretary have raised, looking at supply cha in, looking at foreign investment and capabilities that are critical or eccentric to national security. i believe you are familiar with the process in which these transactions are assessed by an accessingy committee intelligence and other sources of information to make assessments on the risk associated with these transactions. i think we are definitely focused in the department on the ways in which adversaries can easily acquire capabilities or uswledge making use against

-- they can use against us. i am glad to hear that. are you saying the dod is responsible or authorized to block these kinds of acquisitions? mr. rapuano: the dod is involved in the process that makes conclusions on transactions that --e concerning >> they have influence in the decision. mr. rapuano: we are a significant voter in the process. >> one quick question and then i will defer. during a red flag event or some training event, are there services taken into account the possibility of a partial loss of our satellite communications? gen. raymond: absolutely. we embed our space operators .nto those exercises

we exercise that routinely. >> great. all of your offices are involved in crafting those exercises? gen. raymond: that falls under my responsibility. we work that routinely. >> very good. i yield back. >> the chair recognizes the gentleman from washington state. >> i would like to yield my time. >> the chairman yields. >> thank you, mr. larson. general raymond, china has conducted test launches of several effective anti-satellite missiles. the development alters strategic balance between great has continued to

evolve in favor of china. public reports indicate china would be a will to destroy a staggering number of u.s. satellites in the opening days of a potential conflict, disabling the services like gps and more. i will be following up on this buthe classified setting, can you give us an overview of what the strategy is to counter those capabilities? and echoing the other questions, are we committing enough development this that could alter the strategic balance? sapp talkedms. ai.t china has made a commitment to be the world leader. you have never heard such a commitment from us. i'm concerned that we are falling behind and this is a place where, because of the

implications, we have to lead. war raymond: space is a fighting domain. it has become contested. everything from low-end reversible jamming, to the high-end which you highlighted in your question. we have a strategy which we share between the department of defense. we have a vision. we took that and wrapped a concept around it called the .pace were fighting can apps there are several lines of effort we are doing. warou are responsible for fighting, you have to have domain awareness. we are enhancing that in the budget. you have to command and control. ourre investing in capabilities. you have to have defendable architecture. we have made a shift toward having those architectures that

we are able to defend. you have to have partnerships, just like we have. interrupt, that is wonderful. the question is are those investment significant enough to compete with our great adversaries who have stuck their flag in the sand and said this is where we will be in 2020? gen. raymond: my view is we have the best space debility's in the world. we have competitors that are moving quick and we need to pick up the pace to stay ahead of that threat. i am comfortable that the $7 billion we have invested across this is going to shift and provide us the capabilities we need to stay ahead of that threat as we continue down the path. ,> director sapp, mr. rapuano would you like to add to that? ms. sapp: i think we have programs in place to defend

against the weapons you're talking about. we could give you some more in a classified briefing. we have made target recognition for quite some time and have made progress. it is in operations today. mr. rapuano: i think it is well covered. just to reiterate, the emphasis is that we are going to be able of thosel in all domains critical to our national security and achieving our object is. -- objectives. >> the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the gentleman from colorado. >> i will follow up with these questions in the classified setting. it is my understanding traditional expendable launch , providers are contracted under federal

.egulations new entrants are contracted under far 12. it is my understanding it is a more commercial way of doing business than far 15. can you explain the difference between them? does dod have the same insight on cost as well as oversight on mission insurance when using both of these contracting methods? is one more stringent than the other? gen. raymond: it is good to see you. i'm not an acquisition background guy. i don't know the answer to your question. i will be happy to take it back and talk to her professionals and get an answer. >> ok. space war fighting readiness, our construct must

adapt to the threats we face today. future.he it is evident the air force recognizes this. , the nextart program generation, overhead persistent infrared, is not clear. it is not clear how the alternative is substantially a different approach. the budget request is not more resilient. improvenot necessarily missions or deterrence. could you comment on that? gen. raymond: it is more resilient. tcomm torequired strayvom do it. i will be happy to talk about it in the closed session. >> the chair recognizes the

gentleman from california for five minutes. pass and hopefully get to the classified asap. >> we have no for the republicans. furtherve next -- republicans. do we have next? you, mr. chairman, and to our witnesses for being here. general raymond, there is an urgent need to rapidly reconstitute and replenish critical space capabilities to preserve continuity of operations. can you speak to the investments and low-cost responsive launch options you would recommend the department pursue to fulfill this need? gen. raymond: it is great to see you again.

in this budgetd significantly in small launch options. it is important for replenishment. we have gone through this before. we did this in the early 1990's when we first launched satellites. there is a constellation of smaller satellites and a lot of companies did the replenishment launches. i think it will be important and we have invested that in this budget. the next question is important to me. any of you could answer. nearly all the u.s. national security satellites are launched from fixed coastal sites that could easily be disrupted. these sites provide pretty -- predictable locations from which adversaries could discern u.s. capabilities. if the department of defense developing more launch sites using commercial capabilities to

address these weaknesses and support a rapid responsive and resilient capability? guama representative from and there has been inquiries about space capabilities in our territory from commercial investors. very recent tour these visits and they are very ambitious to begin operations. could any of you comment on this? are raymond: yes, there commercial launch sites that are available today. we've got them on our fixed in newnd we have them mexico, alaska, florida, virginia. >> is guam on the list? gen. raymond: we would be happy to put it on the list. one of the big things that has happened over the last year which is significant is the move

to thomas flight termination -- s flight terminations. we can protect populations, low up a rocket if it were to go astray. we have radars and command distract and tennis and a bunch of contractors working that. thomast is all done the autoumonusly. >> are there any other comments from the other witnesses? are you aware of the inquiries that have made of guam? they have looked at the air force base and the international airport. is anyone aware of that? commercial providers are going to do their own

assessment as to what makes sense for their business. we will use those providers. --we will go >> they were very interested in anderson air force base. i have no further questions. mr. chairman. >> no further questions. oh, he showed up. slipped out on me and came back. the gentleman from the great state of alabama. >> i did show up. [laughter] keep you a few more minutes, my questions pertain to personnel. we talk about space, we like to talk about the technological stuff. it is the people that matter. do you think you have the proper number of service members to do this? do you believe you are efficiently manned to shift from peacetime to war fighting?

are we utilizing their skills to capitalize on the talents? gen. raymond: thanks for the question. it gives me a chance to brag on the airman i lead. they are doing spectacular work. the air force has more mission than it does resources. part of that issue, looking forward to a contested environment, there is room for growth. the secretary of the air force has asked me to conduct a study to look at the structure, size, scale, the development aspects of those airmen. think you can shift with your present number from a peacetime scenario to a wartime scenario? gen. raymond: we operategen. raymond: 24.7, 265. it is global operations all the time. >> you would be unusual if you

weren't like everyone else, the rapidly changing need for skills development because technology is moving so fast. do you feel you have the resources you need to provide the training these folks need? gen. raymond: i do. one of my priorities is professional development and developing operators to operate in the contested environment. we have transformed how we train ,ur operators and have invested you might have been out of it, $175 million in training. >> i am a strong supporter of what you are doing. iran the workforce training huntsville,abama, and keeping the civilian folks coming into that was part of my portfolio. i was amazed how rapidly things were moving. i know you've got down on

steroids and i want to express my support four-way you are doing. if you need more resources, let us know. thank you. i yield back. >> >> we will go into recess and reconvene in 10 minutes. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> c-span, where history unfolds daily. in 1979, c-span was created as a public service by america's cable television companies, and today, we continue to bring unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the supreme eventsand public policy

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"1968: america in turmoil." eastern,y at 8:30 a.m. and on c-span3. on thursday, veterans affairs secretary david chilton was on capitol hill to testify on the president's request and top priorities straight he also reported that the president may want to replace him for unelected ethics violation report. in a recent -- this is just under two hours. >> i am pleased to gavel the sub committee to order on our first hearing