List of space forces, units, and formations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of space forces, units, and formations that identifies the current and historical antecedents and insignia for the military space arms of countries fielding an space component, whether an independent space force, multinational commands, joint command, or as a part of another military service.

Independent space forces[]

Country
Current 		Service
Indigenous name
Former 		Established
 United States Seal of the United States Space Force.svg United States Space Force[1] 2019

Air Force Space Command[1]

Air Force Space Command.png 1982–2019

Space Command[2]

Air Force Space Command.png 1982–1985

Strategic Air Command[3]

SAC Shield.svg 1963–1984[a]

Aerospace Defense Command[3]

USAF - Aerospace Defense Command.png 1976–1979[b]

Fourteenth Aerospace Force (Aerospace Defense Command)[3]

Fourteenth Air Force - Emblem.png 1968–1979[c]

9th Aerospace Defense Division (Air Defense Command)[3]

9th Aerospace Defense Division - Emblem.png 1961–1968

Air Defense Command[3]

Air Defense Command.png 1960–1961 [d]

Air Force Security Service[4][5]

Usafsecurityservice emblem.jpg 1955–1964 [e]

Space and Missile Systems Center (Air Force Materiel Command)[3]

Space and Missile Systems Center.png 1992–2001[f]

Space Systems Division (Air Force Systems Command)[3]

USAF - Systems Command.png 1989–1992 [g]

Space Division (Air Force Systems Command)[3]

USAF - Systems Command.png 1979–1989

Space and Missile Systems Organization (Air Force Systems Command)[3]

USAF - Systems Command.png 1967–1979

Space Systems Division (Air Force Systems Command)[3]

USAF - Systems Command.png 1961–1967

Air Force Ballistic Missile Organization (Air Research and Development Command)[3]

Air Research and Development Command - emblem.png 1957–1961

Western Development Division (Air Research and Development Command)[3]

Air Research and Development Command - emblem.png 1954–1957

Air Research and Development Command)[3]

Air Research and Development Command - emblem.png 1950–1954

Air Materiel Command[3]

USAF - Logistics Command.png 1947–1951[h]

United States Army Air Forces[3]

US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg 1945–1947[i]

Aerospace, air and space, and information warfare forces[]

Country
Current 		Service
Indigenous name
Former 		Established
 China PLASSF.svg People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department [zh][6] 2015

People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department[7]

China Emblem PLA.svg 1998–2016
 France Logo du Commandement de l'Espace.svg French Space Command (French Air and Space Force)[8] 2019

Joint Space Command (French Air Force)[9]

Roundel of France.svg 2010–2019
 Iran Roundel of Iran.svg Iranian Space Command (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force)[10] 2020
 Russia (1992–present)
 Commonwealth of Independent States (1991–1992)
 Soviet Union (1955–1991) 		The Russian Federation Space Troops collar insignia.svg Russian Space Forces (Russian Aerospace Forces)[11] 2015[j]

Russian Space Command (Russian Aerospace Defence Forces)[12]

The Russian Federation Space Troops collar insignia.svg 2011–2015[k]

Russian Space Forces[13]

The Russian Federation Space Troops collar insignia.svg 2001–2011

Russian Strategic Rocket Forces[13]

Малая эмблема Ракетных войск стратегического назначения России.png 1997–2001

Military Space Forces[13]

The Russian Federation Space Troops collar insignia.svg 1992–1997[l]

Rocket and Space Defence Troops [ru] (Russian Air Defence Forces)[13][14]

Roundel of Russia (1991–2010).svg 1992–1997[m]

Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defence Forces [ru] (Soviet Air Defense Forces)[14]

Roundel of the Soviet Union (1945–1991).svg 1967–1992

Chief Directorate of Space Assets (Soviet Ministry of Defence)[15][16]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1986–1992

Main Directorate of Space Assets (Soviet Armed Forces General Staff)[13][16]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1982–1986

Main Directorate of Space Assets (Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces)[17][16]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1970–1982

Central Directorate of Space Assets (Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces)[17]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1964–1970

3rd Department of the Main Missile Directorate of the Ministry of Defence[16]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1960–1964

Artillery of the Supreme High Command Reserve[18][16]

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg 1955–1959

Joint and multinational space commands[]

Country
Current 		Service
Indigenous name
Former 		Established
 Canada
 United States 		North American Aerospace Defense Command logo.svg North American Aerospace Defense Command[3] 1981

North American Air Defense Command[3]

North American Aerospace Defense Command logo.svg 1960–1981[n]
 India Armed forces logo.png Defence Space Agency[19] 2018
 Italy Stemma araldico e distintivo dello Stato Maggiore Difesa.svg Space Operations Command 2020
 Mexico Coat of arms of Mexico.svg Mexican Secretariat of National Defense[20] 2019
 NATO Coat of arms of the Allied Air Command.svg NATO Space Centre (Allied Air Command)[21] 2020

Allied Air Command[22]

Coat of arms of the Allied Air Command.svg 2013
 Peru Seal of Peruvian Ministry of Defense.png National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (Peruvian Ministry of Defense)[23] 1974
 ROK Emblem of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea.png Agency for Defense Development (Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense)[24] 1970
 United Kingdom MinistryofDefence.svg United Kingdom Space Command (Royal Air Force)[25] 2021

United Kingdom Strategic Command[26]

MinistryofDefence.svg 2019–2021

Joint Forces Command[26]

MinistryofDefence.svg 2012–2019
 United States United States Space Command emblem 2019.png United States Space Command[27] 2019

Joint Force Space Component Command (U.S. Strategic Command)[28]

Joint Force Space Component Command.jpg 2017–2019

Joint Functional Component Command for Space (U.S. Strategic Command)[28]

JFCC SPACE Patch Final.JPG 2006–2017

Joint Space Operations (U.S. Strategic Command)[28]

Seal of the United States Strategic Command.svg 2005–2006

United States Strategic Command[28]

Seal of the United States Strategic Command.svg 2002–2005

United States Space Command[28]

United States Space Command emblem.gif 1985–2002

Aerospace Defense Command[3]

USAF - Aerospace Defense Command.png 1975–1980[o]

Continental Air Defense Command[3]

United States Department of Defense Seal.svg 1960–1975[q]

Advanced Research Projects Agency[3]

United States Department of Defense Seal.svg 1958–1959

Service space units and formations[]

Country
Current 		Service
Indigenous name
Former 		Established
 Australia Roundel of Australia.svg and No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force)[29][30]
 Brazil Comae.png Aerospace Operations Command (Brazilian Air Force)[31] 2017
 Canada Roundel of Canada.svg (Royal Canadian Air Force)[32] 2012
 Germany Bundeswehr Kreuz.svg  [de] (German Air Force)[33] 2021

 [de] (German Air Force)[34]

COA ASOC.png 2020

 [de] (German Air Force)[35]

Weltraumlagezentrum.png 2009
 Israel Roundel of Israel.svg Space Branch (Israeli Air Force)[36] 1988
 Japan Space Operation Squadron.png Space Operations Squadron (Japan Air Self Defense Force)[37] 2020
 Luxembourg Roundel of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg Army[38] 2017
 Netherlands Roundel of the Netherlands.svg Royal Netherlands Air Force[39] 2021
 Thailand Roundel of Thailand.svg Royal Thai Air Force[40] 2020
 Turkey Roundel of Turkey.svg Space Group Command (Turkish Air Force)[41] 2013
 United Kingdom RAF roundel.svg No. 23 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[42] 2021

1001 Signal Unit (Royal Air Force)[43][44]

RAF roundel.svg 1966–2003[r]
 United States United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command Logo.svg Army Space and Missile Defense Command[45] 1997

Army Space and Strategic Defense Command[46]

Mark of the United States Army.svg 1992–1997

Army Space Command[47]

Mark of the United States Army.svg 1988–2003[s]

Army Space Agency[48]

Mark of the United States Army.svg 1986–1988

Army Space Planning Group[48]

United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png 1985–1986

Army Staff Program Element at Air Force Space Command[48]

United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png 1984–1985

Army Strategic Defense Command[48]

Safeguard insignia.svg 1985–

Ballistic Missile Defense Organization[49]

Safeguard insignia.svg 1974–1985

Safeguard program[49]

Safeguard insignia.svg 1969–1974

Sentinel program[49]

USAADA-PLAQUE.svg 1967–1969

Nike–X Project Office[49]

USA - Army Field Artillery Insignia.svg 1964–1967

Nike–Zeus Project Office (Army Missile Command)[49]

US Army 50953 AMCOM Logo.jpg 1962–1964

Army Ballistic Missile Agency (Army Ordnance Missile Command)[50]

Army Ballistic Missile Agency Logo.png 1956–1961[t]

Army Ordnance Corps[50]

Ordnance Corps Regimental Insignia.gif 1950–1956

Army Ordnance Department[50]

Ordnance Corps Regimental Insignia.gif 1945–1950[u]

Army Information Systems Command[51]

9ArmySignalCommand sleeve.jpg 1984–1988[v]

Army Communications Command[51]

9ArmySignalCommand sleeve.jpg 1973–1984

Army Strategic Communications Command[52]

9ArmySignalCommand sleeve.jpg 1964–1973[w]

Army Signal Corps[49]

US Army Signal Corps Coat of Arms.svg 1958–1964[x]
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg Marine Corps Forces Space Command[53] 2020

Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command[53]

Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg 2002–2020
Emblem of the U.S. Navy Space Command.png Navy Space Command / Tenth Fleet[54] 2020

Fleet Cyber Command / Tenth Fleet[55]

United States Tenth Fleet.png 2010–2020

Naval Network Warfare Command[56]

Naval Netwarcom logo.gif 2002–2010[y]

Naval Space Command[56]

Naval Space Command (US Navy) insignia 1983.png 1983–2002

Naval Astronautics Group[57]

Naval Space Command (US Navy) insignia 1983.png 1962–1983[z]

Naval Space Surveillance Center[57]

Naval Space Command (US Navy) insignia 1983.png 1960–1983[aa]
NAVWAR Logo png.png Naval Information Warfare Systems Command[57] 2019

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command[57]

SPAWAR logo.gif 1985–2019

Naval Electronic Systems Command[57]

Emblem of the United States Navy.svg 1966–1985

Naval Air Systems Command[57]

Seal of Naval Air Systems Command.png 1964–1974[ab]

Naval Material Command[57]

Emblem of the United States Navy.svg 1966–1974[ac]

Bureau of Naval Weapons[57]

Emblem of the United States Navy.svg 1962–1965[ad]

Bureau of Ships[57]

Emblem of the United States Navy.svg 1961–1964[ae]

Project Vanguard (Naval Research Laboratory)[57]

Naval Research Laboratory.png 1955–1958[af]

Naval Research Laboratory[57]

Naval Research Laboratory.png 1944–1955[ag]
1st Air Force.png First Air Force (Air Combat Command)[58] 2021
Rdc logo.jpg United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center[59] 2018

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Established as an Air Force major command in 1946. Gained Defense Meteorological Satellite Program in 1963 and Aerospace Defense Command's space forces in 1979. Transferred space forces to Space Command from 1982 to 1984
  2. ^ Missile warning and space surveillance activities moved into Strategic Air Command in 1979
  3. ^ Fourteenth Aerospace Force inactivated in 1976 and space responsibilities centralized directly under Aerospace Defense Command
  4. ^ Established as an Air Force major command in 1946. Gained space and missile warning responsibility in 1960
  5. ^ Transferred missile surveillance radars to Air Defense Command in 1964–1966
  6. ^ Transferred to Air Force Space Command in 2001
  7. ^ Launch mission transferred to Air Force Space Command in 1990
  8. ^ Space and missile program transferred to Air Research and Development Command in 1950
  9. ^ Space and missile program started in 1945 and space mission claimed in 1946
  10. ^ Missile interceptors moved into the Aerospace Forces' Air and Missile Defense Forces
  11. ^ Aerospace Defence Forces merged air defense and the Space Force's missile defense and space assets into one service
  12. ^ Merged into the Strategic Rocket Forces in 1997
  13. ^ Rocket and Space Defence Troops moved into the Strategic Rocket Forces, while aviation and air defense forces merged into the Russian Air Force in 1997
  14. ^ Established as an command in 1958. Gained space and missile warning responsibility in 1960
  15. ^ Specified combatant command for space from 1975 to 1980
  16. ^ Established as an combatant command in 1954. Gained space and missile warning responsibility in 1960
  17. ^ [p]
  18. ^ Skynet operations assumed by Airbus Defence and Space
  19. ^ Subordinated to Army Space and Strategic Defense Command in 1992
  20. ^ Space and rocket program transferred to NASA becoming the Marshall Space Flight Center
  21. ^ Ballistic missile program started in 1945
  22. ^ Defense Satellite Communications System transferred to Army Space Command
  23. ^ Activated to run the Defense Satellite Communications System
  24. ^ Communication and weather satellite projects started in 1958
  25. ^ Subordinated to Fleet Cyber Command/Tenth Fleet
  26. ^ Subordinated to Naval Space Command in 1983. Renamed the Naval Satellite Operations Center in 1990
  27. ^ Subordinated to Naval Space Command in 1983. Later transferred to Air Force Space Command's 20th Space Control Squadron in 2004
  28. ^ Astronautics programs transferred to Naval Electronic Systems Command in 1974
  29. ^ Astronautics programs transferred to Naval Electronic Systems Command in 1974
  30. ^ Range operations transferred to Navy Material Command and astronautics programs transferred to Naval Air Systems Command in 1966
  31. ^ Assumed responsibility for satellite communications in 1961; responsibilities transferred to Naval Air Systems Command in 1964
  32. ^ Turned over to NASA in 1958 and became the core of Goddard Space Flight Center
  33. ^ Space science and rocketry program started in 1944

References[]

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