US Army Outlines New ‘Space Vision’ for Ground Warfare

U.S. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Randy George attends a joint briefing with his Indian counterpart, Manoj Pande (not pictured), during the 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs' Conference (IPACC) in New Delhi on Sept. 26, 2023. Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Army on Monday released new guidance for its commanders and staff, emphasizing the importance of space systems to future ground warfare while calling for an “urgent need” for more funding for space capabilities and personnel training.

The two-page document—titled “Army Space Vision Supporting Multidomain Operations”—was signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, and Army Secretary Christine Wormuth.

“Successful operations in and through the space domain will be critical to our success,” the document says.

It outlines a vision for integrating space capabilities into all Army operations and activities.

“Integrating joint and Army space capabilities into the operations process must become second nature to commanders at every echelon,” said Gen. George in a statement accompanying the document. “We accomplish this by incorporating these capabilities into training, education, experiments, and exercises.”

The nature of future conflicts will be different as Army forces “will be operating under constant surveillance” from enemies’ space systems, according to the document. Consequently, the service “must invest in the knowledge and forces to counter threat space systems and enable our own space systems.”

The vision sets out the Army’s commitment to have the capabilities to interdict adversary space capabilities.

“Army space professionals, at echelon, will lead the effort to increase understanding and integration of friendly joint and coalition space capabilities into our operations and activities while simultaneously interdicting the adversary’s use of space based, and space enabled capabilities,” the document says.

It adds, “Interdict adversary space capabilities by delivering necessary fires and effects at echelon to protect friendly forces from observation and targeting by counter-satellite communications, counter-surveillance and reconnaissance, and navigation warfare operations.”

Ultimately, the goal behind disabling enemies’ space capabilities is to ensure “Army forces gain and maintain the initiative to fight from positions of relative advantage in all domains.”

The document does not specify the precise weaponry that the Army aims to acquire, merely stating that the service wants to deploy “the next generation of tactical terminals to leverage multi-orbit satellite communications services and access space-enabled tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms to meet deep sensing requirements.”

The vision also emphasizes that the Army must integrate “friendly, joint, coalition, and commercial space capabilities” to support all of its warfighting functions, such as positioning, navigation, beyond-line-of-sight communications, space domain awareness, and geospatial information.

The document emphasizes that “commanders must understand that space capabilities start and end on the ground and be fully aware of their importance in planning and operations.”

While it does not name a foreign adversary, the document warns that “rapid proliferation and tactical application of competitor space capabilities will erode the advantages that ensure U.S. land dominance.”

“To counter this challenge, current and future Army space integration and interdiction capabilities must enable multidomain operations for the Army,” it concludes.

China

Gen. George was sworn in as the 41st chief of staff of the Army on Sept. 21, 2023, after senators confirmed him for the new post after a 96–1 vote.

In advanced policy questions provided to the Senate Committee on Armed Services in July last year for his confirmation hearing, Gen. George wrote that he agreed with the 2022 National Defense Strategy’s (NDS) assessment, which identified China as the “most consequential strategic competitor and the pacing challenge for the Department [of Defense].”

“[The NDS] accurately assesses the current strategic environment, which identifies China as our pacing challenge, but outlines the acute threat posed by Russia and persistent threats posed by North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations,” he wrote.

He also commented on the importance of working closely with India, a nation “essential to our broader goal of free and open Indo-Pacific.”

“We increasingly share security priorities with India that include concerns about violent extremist organizations and encroachment by the People’s Republic of China. If confirmed, I will explore the need for enhanced security engagements with other countries in the Indian Ocean region as well,” he wrote.

The Pentagon, in its 2023 report for Congress on China’s military published in October, highlighted China’s space and counter-space capabilities.

“The PRC continues to develop counterspace capabilities—including direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, co-orbital satellites, electronic warfare, and directed-energy systems—that can contest or deny an adversary’s access to and operations in the space domain,” the report says, referring to China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

One operational space technology in China’s arsenal is a ground-based anti-satellite (ASAT) missile, according to the report.

“China probably intends to pursue additional ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit,” it states.

The report points out that China has launched two satellites—Shijian-17 and Shijian-21—each with a robotic arm, saying that the technology with this type of satellite “could be used in a future system for grappling adversary satellites.”

“The PLA routinely incorporates in its exercises jamming and anti-jamming techniques that probably are intended to deny multiple types of space-based communications, radar systems, and GPS navigation support to military movement and precision-guided munitions employment,” it reads, referring to the official name of China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.

The report also warns that China is “probably developing jammers” targeting synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. “Interfering with SAR satellites very likely protects terrestrial assets by denying imagery and targeting in any potential conflict involving the United States or its allies,” it explains.

“The PLA views space superiority, the ability to control the space-enabled information sphere and to deny adversaries their own space-based information gathering and communication capabilities, as critical components to conduct modern ‘informatized warfare,’” the report says.