# Army Expands Space Operations Branch

The U.S. Army is expanding its Space Operations Branch and related formations as demand for space-enabled support to joint operations grows. More than 600 soldiers have reclassified into the 40D specialty from over 2,000 applicants; the Army projects nearly 700 officers and 1,000 enlisted soldiers in the branch by the end of FY2027, with a longer-term goal of several thousand personnel. A space control company at the 4th Multi-Domain Task Force and a Theater Strike Effects Group in the Pacific signal expanding mission requirements. No solicitation, contract award, or funding amount is identified.

- Contractors can assess whether their capabilities align with the areas identified in the signals: space control, electronic warfare, stratospheric platforms, command-and-control experimentation, and virtual training.
- The personnel and formation growth indicates a developing Army mission area, but does not itself establish a funded procurement or a near-term solicitation.
- Companies should use the Army’s evolving space formations and equipment requirements as the basis for identifying relevant offerings; the signals provide no procurement contact or proposal deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 15, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)
- U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)

### Sources
- [Army looking to expand its new space operations branch amid increasing demand for capabilities | DefenseScoop](https://defensescoop.com/2026/10/14/army-space-operations-branch-soldiers-capabilities) - DefenseScoop
- [
        Army builds out its new space operations branch - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/army/2026/10/army-builds-out-its-new-space-operations-branch) - Federal News Network