Australia and the United States have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to strengthen their collaboration in military space operations, marking another step in the defense relationship between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on June 3, 2026 in Canberra by Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Australia’s Chief of Space and Cyber, and General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force.
It outlines the intent of both nations to deepen cooperation in space, recognizing that space-based capabilities are foundational to modern conflict and critical to maintaining a resilient, secure, and operationally effective space domain.
“Both nations understand the importance of building a trusted and integrated partnership in the space domain,” Lieutenant General Coyle said. “The agreement reflects our collective commitment to advancing military space collaboration and ensuring our forces are ready to operate effectively in the space domain.”
First-ever space training graduates
General Saltzman’s visit to Canberra also coincided with the graduation of the Australian Defence Force’s inaugural Space Initial Employment Training course. The graduates, from both the space operations officer and space operations specialist tracks, are the first ADF members to complete this training.
“This marks a significant milestone in the development of a skilled, professional and interoperable space workforce,” Lieutenant General Coyle said. “These graduates are setting the standard for space operations within the ADF and strengthening our ability to operate alongside trusted partners in an increasingly complex and contested space domain.”
Saltzman’s visit to Australia
During his time in Australia, General Saltzman took part in a ceremonial welcome at Russell Offices in Canberra, visited the Australian War Memorial for a Last Post ceremony, and attended an AFL game. The visit reinforced the shared commitment of both countries to building collective capability, resilience, and operational effectiveness in space.