To protect against threats from Russia and China, U.S. Space Command needs more advanced tools to track whatâs happening in space as well as satellites that can move freely in the domain by 2027, according to its commander, Gen. Stephen Whiting.
Those capabilities will be crucial to military operations, Whiting said, as both Russia and China have tested and built weapons that could threaten U.S. space operations in the near future. He pointed specifically to Russiaâs development of a nuclear space weapon and Chinaâs recent launch mishaps that have created a cloud of debris in low Earth orbit.
âWe must heed the clear signals from our strategic competitors,â Whiting said Wednesday in a speech at the Defence Space Conference in London. âWhen someone tells you what they are preparing to do, believe them. We must prepare accordingly to safeguard our collective interests in space.â
The Space Force, which is responsible for developing and buying capabilities to meet Space Command requirements, has a number of efforts underway to help operators better characterize and track objects in orbit â whether itâs a debris field or an adversary satellite or weapon. The service today relies on the more than 50-year-old Space Defense Operations Center for this mission but plans to replace that capability by the end of next year.
On the maneuverability side, the service is crafting a strategy for how it will build and buy the capabilities needed to support more dynamic space operations. That could mean partnering with commercial companies to refuel a spacecraft or provide a propulsion boost that allows it to travel into non-standard orbits to track an enemy satellite. Space Systems Command, the Space Forceâs primary acquisition hub, is planning a refueling demonstration in 2026.
Whiting said current space tracking systems are âinsufficientâ for future conflicts with countries who have advanced military space capabilities. And while industry has demonstrated some promising capabilities for dynamic space operations, he said the military needs such systems as soon as possible.
âWe need these systems delivered on accelerated timelines, at scale,â he said. âNow is the time for all of us to work together across our nations and organizations to identify solutions that deliver national capability by 2027.â
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNETâs space and emerging technology reporter. She has covered the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. She has reported on some of the Defense Departmentâs most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges.
Source Agencies