The service branches aren't mandated to use the up-to $9 billion services, but the Army and Navy are getting into the game with some secret-level and wargaming-related programs, according to service documents provided to Breaking Defense.
A new "white paper" from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, obtained by Breaking Defense, stresses the foundational role of timely space domain awareness in ensuring that Space Force commanders are not caught flat-footed by adversaries.
The Pentagon achieved a minimum viable capability for its Joint All Domain Command and Control effort through the recent Global Information Dominance Experiment, Deputy CDAO Margaret Palmieri said.
“We get it [new technology] first, and we make sure it is viable in the field,” Sgt. Maj. A. told Breaking Defense.
A new report from Britain’s RUSI and America’s SCSP argues only tough, politically savvy leadership can force the armed services to scrap enough existing systems to free up funds for an AI-driven revolution in warfare.
An SDA official explained that the six "preliminary fire control" satellites in Tracking Layer Tranche 2 will carry a mix of wide-field-of-view and medium-field-of-view infrared cameras.
As well as leveraging space systems for its own operations, the Army intends to invest in capabilities to counter enemy space systems, the new vision document explains.
The Army first put out guidance two years ago on the idea of creating “data stewards” for its commands who would act as “kind of our spokesman for our supply side,” and will start codifying it in fiscal 2024, David Markowitz told Breaking Defense.
The Space Force's 75th ISR Squadron is looking at not just how to take out enemy satellites on orbit, but also the other dimensions of space systems including ground facilities and the command and control data links in between, explained Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt.
SpaceX alone was responsible for 98 of the 109 launch attempts made by the US in 2023, and 1,937 of the 2,234 US satellites successfully orbited.
A trio of Army generals recently described the service's plans for two-part Project Convergence event that will include new sensor-to-shooter integration, two formations with added robots, and a USMC autonomous watercraft.
"This is a new type of capability. It's not completely the Intelligence Community supporting the [Defense Department]. It's not completely a DoD mission without the help of the Intelligence Community. It's this combination of the two," said CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman.
"What this does today ... is that it provides the ability to bring a number of different information feeds, a number of different data sources together in one picture," Kevin Laughlin, deputy director for the program executive office for spectrum, told reporters.
SDA Director Derek Tournear said next year his organization will begin launching the Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for regional communications, which also will carry a "navigation message" embedded in their venerable Link 16 data links.
Brig. Gen. Ed Barker gave reporters a look ahead on his fiscal 2024, 2025 and 2026 priorities.