US Space Command (SPACECOM) is the primary arm of the US Forces concerned with space related matters. This is a unified command with three components: Army, Naval and Air Force Space Commands. Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) already has a considerable surveillance capability originally designed to track and catalogue man made space debris that could pose a risk to operations in space. Optical and radar systems are both used for this purpose, along with associated communications and data processing facilities. AFSPC is currently considering whether its suite of sensors could, or should be improved and shared in the search for NEOs, and this evaluation is being done at both policy and technical levels. The optical system deployed by AFSPC is a network of wide field of view telescopes, known as Ground based Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system. Access to the GEODSS network has been given to researchers under a reciprocal agreement with NASA, and as a result of a Congressional directive. Access to this technology has increased the NEO discovery rate significantly.

In May 1993 the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force directed the Air University to undertake a comprehensive study to identify capabilities, and supporting technologies, that the US would require to preserve its national security in the year 2020. This became known as the SPACECAST 2020 study. One section of the report, entitled "Preparing for Planetary Defence: Detection and Interception of Asteroids on Collision Course With Earth" clearly identifies the detection and interception of NEOs as a military task that should be investigated now. SPACECAST 2020 was followed up by the 2025 study that considered the subject of Planetary Defence in depth. The conclusion of the 2025 study was clear and unequivocal - planetary defence is the responsibility of the military establishment, and work should commence immediately, as a priority.

Despite the enthusiasm amongst serving officers in AFSPC, there is no reciprocal drive from the US government. At the moment it would appear that Planetary Defence is not a popular subject, though there is some support for the concept in Congress. However, apart from the NASA/AFSPC co-operation over projects such as NEAT and the Clementine spacecraft it seems unlikely that the US military will become deeply involved in planetary defence under the present administration. Things may change in the future.

Recent discussions with representatives of AFSPC have revealed that plans to upgrade the global GEODSS system have been funded, making the whole network suitable for NEO search programmes. Whether more of the instruments will be made available to astronomers remains in doubt, but the potential will soon exist.

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