For over seven decades, the United States Air Force reigned as the undisputed master of the skies. From the dawn of the jet age to stealth fighters and precision-guided munitions, air dominance was its defining creed.

Yet as warfare expands into the final frontier, a new branch—the U.S. Space Force—has assumed the mission of protecting American interests beyond Earth.

This shift has raised a pressing question: is the Air Force being overshadowed, or is this simply the next evolution in America’s integrated military power?

The Air Force’s Legacy in Space

Though the Space Force was formally established in 2019, the Air Force has long been central to America’s space operations. From launching reconnaissance satellites during the Cold War to operating the GPS constellation that now guides both military and civilian systems worldwide, the Air Force essentially managed the nation’s military space domain for decades. Airmen oversaw missile warning networks, satellite communications, and orbital surveillance—capabilities without which modern warfare would grind to a halt.

The creation of the Space Force did not erase this legacy but instead institutionalized it. Roughly 16,000 personnel were transferred from the Air Force to the new service, along with a multibillion-dollar budget. In many ways, the Space Force can be seen as the Air Force’s “offspring”—a specialized branch designed to sharpen focus on an increasingly contested domain.

Why the Space Force Emerged

The rationale for carving out a new branch was not bureaucratic vanity but strategic necessity. Space has transformed from a benign high ground into a contested warfighting domain. China and Russia have developed anti-satellite weapons, electronic jammers, and cyber tools aimed at blinding U.S. satellites. China’s Shijian satellites have demonstrated the ability to rendezvous with and potentially disable other spacecraft. Russia has tested “co-orbital” systems capable of releasing projectiles in space.

Against this backdrop, U.S. leaders concluded that space warfare was too important to remain a subordinate mission within the Air Force. Just as naval aviation eventually grew into an independent Air Force after World War II, military space power demanded its own doctrine, culture, and leadership. The Space Force now serves as the focal point for organizing, training, and equipping forces to fight and win in orbit.

Is the Air Force Being Diminished?

The rise of the Space Force naturally raises concerns that the Air Force’s stature is being diluted. Once the sole guardian of both air and space, the Air Force now shares its prestige—and some of its budget—with a younger sibling that has captured the imagination of policymakers and the public. Space Force uniforms, insignia, and even pop-culture references (helped along by Netflix satire) have given the new branch outsized visibility.

From a practical perspective, the Air Force has lost direct control over missions it once commanded. Space operations centers, satellite constellations, and launch facilities no longer fall under the blue uniform but under the Space Force’s banner. Some within the Air Force worry this reduces their relevance in the Pentagon’s hierarchy at a time when budgets are tight and modernization costs for systems like the B-21 Raider bomber and Next Generation Air Dominance fighter are skyrocketing.

Interdependence, Not Rivalry

Yet framing this as a zero-sum rivalry overlooks how closely intertwined the two services remain. The Air Force and Space Force share a Department—the Department of the Air Force—just as the Marine Corps shares a department with the Navy. The Secretary of the Air Force oversees both, ensuring coordination in strategy and funding.

Moreover, their missions are complementary. Air dominance and space superiority are mutually reinforcing. Modern fighter jets, bombers, and drones depend on GPS for navigation, satellites for communications, and space-based sensors for early warning. Conversely, defending satellites often requires Air Force assets, from ground-based radar to cyber defense units. In a future conflict, joint space-air campaigns would be essential, with one service enabling the other.

Strategic Implications

The real question is not whether the Space Force overshadows the Air Force, but whether the U.S. military as a whole can adapt to an era where the boundaries between air and space blur. Hypersonic weapons, for example, travel through both domains, requiring integration of atmospheric and orbital defense systems. Missile warning satellites, space-based radar, and airborne interceptors will need to function as part of a single architecture.

This integration also extends to allied cooperation. Just as NATO partners train together in air defense, new coalitions are emerging for space operations, such as the U.S.-led Combined Space Operations initiative, which includes the U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and others. The Air Force’s experience in coalition warfare provides valuable lessons as the Space Force builds its own international frameworks.

Looking Ahead

In the long run, the question of overshadowing may be irrelevant. Both air and space domains are indispensable to modern conflict, and neither can achieve superiority without the other. The Air Force will continue to dominate the skies with cutting-edge fighters, bombers, and drones, while the Space Force will secure the orbital infrastructure that makes those platforms effective.

If anything, the creation of the Space Force could liberate the Air Force to focus more intensely on its core mission of airpower, while ensuring that space is not treated as an afterthought. Instead of being diminished, the Air Force may find itself strengthened by the clarity of roles.

Conclusion

The rise of the Space Force does not signal the eclipse of the Air Force but the maturation of America’s military posture in a new era. Just as the invention of airpower did not render naval power obsolete, the expansion of space warfare will not make air dominance irrelevant. Rather, both services will define U.S. power projection in the 21st century.

In that sense, the Air Force is not being overshadowed—it is gaining a partner. Together, they form a layered shield and sword, ensuring that whether in the skies above Earth or the orbits beyond, America retains the high ground.