\u201cWhen Thomas Paine published his original work in January 1775\u2026he initially planned to call his pamphlet The Plain Truth but his editor, Benjamin Rush\u2026persuaded the author to name the work Common Sense, because the phrase fit Paine\u2019s most important notions: that Americans should trust their feelings, rather than get bogged down in abstract political debates.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Patrick Kiger, How Thomas Paine\u2019s Common Sense Helped Inspire the American Revolution<\/i> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, as the U.S. Department of Defense increasingly relies on critical space assets\u2014from satellite communications to reconnaissance platforms\u2014officials should heed Paine\u2019s timeless advice: apply common sense. Entrusting national security capabilities to a single commercial provider contradicts that wisdom, creating vulnerabilities where strategic stability depends on private agendas or individual personalities. Avoiding single-source dependency is not just a strategic choice\u2014it\u2019s a national security imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The High Cost of Over-Reliance<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
History offers cautionary lessons on the pitfalls of vendor lock-in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These cases highlight a clear lesson: over-reliance on a single provider sacrifices the resilience and agility needed to stay ahead of evolving threats\u2014affecting far more than budgets, directly undermining our military readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Strategic Imperative for Competition<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Competition is more than a market principle; it is a defense strategy. As adversaries rapidly advance space capabilities, the U.S. must foster multiple providers delivering overlapping, complementary services. Competition drives innovation, enhances resilience, and ensures cost efficiency. While recent commercial advancements have reshaped the launch landscape, reliance on any single provider risks repeating past mistakes. When vital systems are vulnerable to personality-driven decision-making or political backlash, routine disagreements can escalate rapidly into operational threats. A resilient defense posture demands redundancy and competition\u2014not dependence on one commercial gatekeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early Capacity Reservation: A Smart Bet<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Securing space capabilities in advance through early capacity reservations<\/b> proactively prevents bottlenecks. Commercial sectors like aviation and maritime already reserve satellite bandwidth to ensure timely access. For the DoD, early capacity reservations ensure availability and shape future capabilities. By reserving capacity with multiple providers, the DoD can influence industry roadmaps, align technology development with national security priorities, incentivize innovation, and reduce vendor lock-in. Early commitments also clearly signal defense needs, embedding military requirements into new system designs from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Policy Recommendations<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Congress and the Pentagon must take decisive action to avoid repeating past mistakes. Incorporating language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to encourage early capacity reservations with multiple providers would secure access to space capabilities, foster competition, and mitigate single-source risks. Additionally, promoting flexible, non-traditional acquisition strategies such as Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) will help rapidly integrate emerging technologies and innovative solutions. Prioritizing commercial solutions where feasible allows the government to benefit from private-sector efficiency and advancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Time to Act is Now<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
As adversaries challenge U.S. dominance in space, the DoD faces a critical choice: cling to outdated procurement models or risk dependency driven by convenience and short-term thinking. Recent tensions illustrate the dangers when vital capabilities lie beyond direct military control and become subject to private-sector politics or personal disagreements. Championing competition and avoiding vendor lock-in ensures warfighters have the capabilities they need\u2014when and where they need them. America\u2019s national security demands strength through competition\u2014not vulnerability through dependence\u2026and that is Common Sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n