Page 54 - Military Technology 12/2018

52 · MT 12/2018 Space Forum

The US Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)
communications satellite, encapsulated
in a 5m payload fairing lifts off.
MUOS satellites will bring advanced,
new global communications
capabilities to mobile military forces.
(Photo: United Launch Alliance)

Peter Donaldson

Space Forces

Evaluating the space forces of the leading military space nations is It also picked out Russia and China: “We assess that, if a future con-
not an easy task. This is only in part because of the high levels of flict were to occur involving Russia or China, either country would justify
secrecy that apply to cutting edge military capabilities; the compli­ attacks against US and allied satellites as necessary to offset any per-
cated and in some cases opaque and fluid nature of their organisa­ ceived US military advantage derived from military, civil, or commercial
tions and lines of responsibility add further uncertainty. space systems.”
The DNI said that both countries continue to pursue anti-satellite (ASAT)
weapons and that they aim to have both non-destructive and destruc-
There has been some superficial convergence in the approach to struc- tive counter-space weapons, with destructive weapons expected to reach
turing space forces, with both Russia and China bringing them under initial operational capability in both countries in the next few years, also
new umbrella organisations from 2015, although in different groupings. In noting that organisational changes point in this direction.
Russia, the space forces are grouped with the Air Force and the Aerospace
Defence Forces under the auspices of the Russian Aerospace Forces. In Establishing Operational Forces
China the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) space forces are part of the
new Strategic Support Force that also includes electronic and cyber war- “Military reforms in both countries in the past few years indicate an in-
fare capabilities. creased focus on establishing operational forces designed to integrate
While there is no doubt that the US retains clear military superiority attacks against space systems and services with military operations in
in space today, its capabilities remain in a state of organisational flux, other domains,” the report continued.
as the recent Congressional decision not to create a dedicated Space Focusing on China, the DNI said that the PLA has formed military units
Corps within USAF has not removed the political pressure to do so, par- and has begun initial operational training with counter-space capabilities
ticularly from the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). While the such as ground-launched ASAT missiles, adding that Russia probably has
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2018, which became law a similar kind of system in development. The DNI also voiced concern that
on 12 December 2017, rejected the request, it agreed to further long-term both countries are also working on directed energy weapons that could
study of the idea while supporting the USAF’s contention that space is a damage or blind satellite optical sensors.
war-fighting domain in its own right. Another worry is that ostensibly non-aggressive capabilities could also
be weaponised.
US Threat Assessment

This comes in a period of increased tensions between the three major Weaponising Peaceful Systems
space powers, a history of sporadic space weapon demonstrations and a “Of particular concern, Russia and China continue to launch ‘exper-
blurring of the lines between civilian and military, and routine servicing and imental’ satellites that conduct sophisticated on-orbit activities, at least
potentially aggressive capabilities. some of which are intended to advance counter-space capabilities. Some
On 13 February, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence technologies with peaceful applications – such as satellite inspection,
(DNI – currently Daniel R Coast) published the unclassified version of its refuelling, and repair – can also be used against adversary spacecraft.”
2018 Worldwide Threat Assessment from the US Intelligence Community. Such systems, the report said, would not be addressed by proposed
The assessment noted that continued expansion of the global space international agreements on the non-weaponisation of space and ‘no first
industry, characterised by growing private sector investment, will provide placement’ of weapons in space.
nation-state, non-state and commercial actors with bigger and better It is against this background that the HASC made its recommendation
space-derived information services, including imagery, weather and com- for the formation of a dedicated Space Corps, although not in light of the
munications alongside positioning, navigation and timing for intelligence, DNI report, which came out later. At this point it is worth reviewing what the
military, scientific and business purposes. HASC said it wanted from such a force.