WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army’s top leadership has unveiled new guidance underscoring the vital role of space systems in modern ground warfare and calling for greater investment in space capabilities.
The memo, released Jan. 8, was signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. It outlines a vision for enhanced integration of space capabilities across all Army operations and activities.
The memo also contains the Army’s explicit commitment to develop capabilities to interdict, or disrupt, adversaries’ use of space capabilities if necessary to defend U.S. and coalition forces. This means having capabilities to deny enemy forces the use of critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms orbiting above the battlefield — through electronic warfare or even potential kinetic attacks.
Whereas space has traditionally been seen as playing a supporting role to ground, air, and naval forces, the Army’s latest guidance envisions the potential for space systems themselves to become targets. By developing means to deactivate or disrupt adversary satellites, U.S. forces could undercut rivals’ efforts to monitor and target American assets.
The memo warns that rival militaries have increased the use of space-based surveillance capabilities allowing them to continuously monitor U.S. and allied forces’ movements. As a result, Army units must assume they are perpetually being watched from above and take measures to conceal their activities.
According to the guidance:
- The Army will integrate joint and coalition space capabilities and interdict adversary space capabilities in support of ground force commanders.
- Successful operations in and through the space domain will be critical to our success.
- Commanders must understand that space capabilities start and end on the ground and be fully aware of their importance in planning and…
Read the full article here