Space Forces and Weaponization of Space Capabilities

In the evolving landscape of future warfare, LEO constellations emerge as pivotal assets that decide the leveraging factors. Offering real-time tracking, resilient communication networks, and advanced signals intelligence SIGINT capabilities, these constellations present a dynamic force multiplier in combat scenarios, as seen in all recent geopolitical conflicts.

Specifically, the future of missile defense and missile defeat will be contingent on the development, characteristics, and fielding timeline of orbital sensing & deterrence architectures among contenders. Currently, the U.S. is leading this segment with the ambitious multi-orbital Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program.

Beyond the classic anti-satellite kinetic arms race, space is now a realm of lasers and high-powered microwaves disrupting space assets. Electronic counterspace warfare takes center stage, with uplink jammers and downlink jammers creating chaos in data transmission. Cyber operations play a stealthy game, infiltrating satellites and ground stations to monitor, intercept, or even inject false data.

These counterspace weaponization schemes are expected to evolve towards more uncertain complexities, to cause incremental damage to space assets with the least effort. This opens up a new paradigm to space assets vulnerability assessment and requirement for deterrence, among the space powers.

In December 2023, Chinese military scientists from the National University of Defence Technology, revealed details on a classified space combat simulator that would potentially be utilized to address the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) apprehension of space threats.

The 2024 U.S. Space Force budget has $19.2 billion allocated for R&D and $4.7 billion allocated for procurement. The total 2024 budget of $30 billion has grown from that of 2023 by 22%.

The French Space Command has an approved military space budget of $6.7 billion allocated for 2024-2030.

While large prime contractors continue to lead space capability deliveries, the defense sector is increasingly engaging small businesses.

The defense forces’ intent to reinforce their space-based deterrence will intensify moving forward, resulting in the next arms race being established in the space domain.