The panel, moderated by retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, underscored the dual-use capabilities and wartime architectures developed by adversaries, aimed at jeopardizing the joint force and its alliances. Highlighting the space domain's shift from a benign backdrop to a contested arena, Schiess emphasized the necessity for preparedness. "This is the domain that people are now concerned about. It is no longer this benign domain, I'm not sure it ever really was. But we have to be prepared (for) all those threats," he articulated.
Gagnon pinpointed the People's Republic of China's strategic focus on undermining USSPACECOM's ability to support joint forces from space and its ambition to match the U.S.'s space capabilities. With the U.S. boasting around 9,000 satellites, primarily for communication, Gagnon contrasted this with China's arsenal of approximately 900 satellites, over half of which are dedicated to remote sensing for military intelligence purposes.
The USSF's activation of S4S (Security, Stability, Space, and Support) aims at enhancing the force's efficiency in presenting capabilities to USSPACECOM. Schiess, serving dual roles including that of the S4S commander, outlined his mission objectives: safeguarding space systems, delivering critical space capabilities, and defending against space-enabled attacks.
To thwart adversaries' efforts to compromise U.S. space assets, Burt advocated for increasing the resilience and proliferation of space capabilities. "You impose cost upon (adversaries) to have more capability and magazine depth to try to take that capability away from the joint force," Burt noted, suggesting the diversification of satellite constellations across various orbits to enhance capabilities and resilience.
The discussion also delved into disincentivizing adversaries from attempting a decisive first strike, with Gagnon mentioning the USSF's efforts in developing advanced tactics and operations in space. This includes the X-37B spaceplane's seventh mission, which focuses on space domain awareness experiments to better understand the space environment.
Gagnon further highlighted the indispensable role of international partners in augmenting space domain awareness, asserting, "Although we have the best space domain awareness today ... we will be even better with our partners, because we are stronger together." This sentiment was echoed by Schiess, who praised the "exquisite capabilities" provided by commercial and international partners, especially through the Commercial Integration Cell at Vandenberg Space Force Base. He stressed the need for expanding commercial integration beyond the current ten companies to bolster commercial space protection and threat information sharing.
The symposium served as a clarion call for enhanced collaboration and innovation to secure the space domain against adversarial threats. As USSPACECOM and the USSF continue to forge alliances and develop cutting-edge capabilities, their efforts underscore the strategic importance of space in ensuring global security and stability. With adversaries advancing their space warfare capabilities, the United States' emphasis on partnerships and technological advancement is more critical than ever, ensuring it remains at the forefront of space defense and exploration.
Related Links
U.S. Space Force
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
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