Asia-Pacific Rebalance 2025 by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781442259171
Publisher: Center for Strategic & International Studies

SPACE

U.S. assets orbiting Earth include a positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation, communications satellites, and a range of intelligence collection platforms. These assets amplify U.S. military superiority by providing the capability to collect and disseminate information rapidly, to use that information to strike an adversary accurately at great distance, and to quickly counter or adjust position in the face of a possible threat. The United States has developed these space-based communication and observation architectures over the past five decades.

Capabilities

PACOM is particularly reliant upon space-based assets. Space systems allow commanders to link dispersed forces together over the region’s large distances. Space systems would also play a key role in defeating adversary A2/AD systems because of their ability to monitor force dispositions and guide precision munitions to their targets. The challenges that are currently facing U.S. space dominance are thus deeply concerning.

The constellation of 31 GPS satellites operated by the USAF provide extremely accurate PNT data to U.S. forces, a key contributor to effective PGMs. It is also important for battle management on the ground, in the air, and at sea, and provides safe navigation information to U.S. ships and aircraft.564 Space situational awareness (SSA)—the ability to view, understand, and predict the physical location of natural and manmade objects in orbit around the Earth—is provided by Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) and the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP), as well as ground-based programs.565 Ground-based discriminating radars, such as the Space Fence, also contribute to SSA, as will the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) planned for Alaska.

Continuous availability of communications regardless of location enables the global reach of U.S. forces. Satellite communications allow the remote piloting of UAS as well as the capture and dissemination of real-time information from ISR assets. Without satellites or a reliable alternative, U.S. advantages in UAS and ISR would be seriously eroded. These issues are discussed in greater detail in the section on ISR.

Finally, space-based assets provide the United States with the ability to observe any part of the globe. The United States maintains a robust observation and sensing capability in space, including visible and non-visible spectrum sensors to monitor military developments and to provide warning of missile-launch and WMD-related events. These sensors also provide the ability to detect, track, and potentially discriminate missiles from decoys, although some risk is incurred by vulnerabilities to countermeasures.566 Early warning satellites include the legacy Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites, the geostationary Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), and others in highly elliptical orbit.567 MDA currently operates two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstrators in an 840-mile orbit. An experimental and temporary space sensor layer, the STSS satellites detect and track objects by viewing them from the side, against the cold background of space.568 Integrating additional space sensors into MDA’s command, control, battle management, and communications (C2BMC) is critical to earlier engagement, especially launch and engage-on-remote.569

Potential kinetic and non-kinetic threats to space-based assets have multiplied, holding at risk virtually every satellite in orbit, as well as in-theater ground, launch, communication, and supply-chain segments.

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