
Space Force
Sixth US military branch; provides space and electromagnetic support throughout Operation Epic Fury.
Last refreshed: 4 April 2026
Is Space Force the silent backbone making every Epic Fury precision strike possible?
Latest on Space Force
- What is the US Space Force doing in the Iran war?
- Guardians are integrated throughout Operation Epic Fury, providing pre-strike jamming, real-time missile warning, GPS, and satellite comms for all US strike operations.Source: Background
- When was the US Space Force created?
- 20 December 2019, as the sixth branch of the US armed forces under the National Defence Authorisation Act signed by President Trump.Source: Background
- Who leads the US Space Force?
- General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, who confirmed Guardian integration into Epic Fury on 3 April 2026.Source: Background
- What are US Space Force Guardians?
- Guardians is the official term for Space Force enlisted personnel and officers, equivalent to soldiers, sailors, or airmen in the other five US military branches.Source: Background
Background
The United States Space Force confirmed its integration into Operation Epic Fury when Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman stated that Guardians are "integrated throughout" the campaign, covering pre-strike jamming and real-time missile warning. The disclosure came as a 40-nation summit convened by the UK on 3 April produced no concrete steps, underlining that space-based enablement is the backbone of the US operational edge.
Established as the sixth branch of the US armed forces on 20 December 2019, Space Force is the world's first independent space military service. Its Guardians operate satellite communications, GPS, missile warning, and electronic warfare. Epic Fury is the first large-scale US combat operation in which the service has functioned as a mature branch, providing satellite targeting feeds for the opening strikes on Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah.
Space Force's role reflects a structural shift in US warfighting. Every Epic Fury precision strike depends on GPS accuracy maintained by Space Force satellites; every Iranian missile launch is detected first by Space Force warning systems. As the conflict trends toward a battle of endurance at roughly $900 million per day, electromagnetic warfare and intelligence-sharing with Israel are central to sustaining operational tempo.