The United States Space Force as they deal with mounting risks from adversarial satellites amid ever-growing hostilities in space. The U.S. Army’s space vice chief Gen. Michael Guetlein has called it a “cat and mouse game.” This same dynamic plays out between American spacecraft and Russian and Chinese spacecraft. When Russia’s anti-satellite (ASAT) test in 2022 produced a massive cloud of supersonic debris in low-Earth orbit, the world witnessed the immediacy of this escalating threat. At the same time, China is racing ahead in developing its own ISR technologies and has made notable progress toward orbital warfare capabilities. Guetlein touches on the immediate need for the Space Force to recalibrate its approach. This shift represents an important step to defending the nation’s satellites more efficiently and effectively.
Guetlein has previously warned about the erosion of old norms in space. He goes on to argue that foreign powers are becoming more and more brazen in their willingness to violate international norms of conduct.
“Unfortunately, our current adversaries are willing to go against international norms of behavior […]” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
Both Russia and China, to a lesser extent, have increased their shows of orbital warfare capabilities in recent years. It’s this unprecedented shift in dynamics that’s caused the Space Force to start shoring up its infrastructure and introducing redundancies wherever they can. While Guetlein recognizes these positive initiatives, she warns that greater action is needed to address the adversarial takeover.
Now, commercial space sectors and our international allies are flying ahead in leaps and bounds. Guetlein is acutely aware of this change. He continues by urging the Space Force to go beyond maintaining access to ground-based defense infrastructure and really focus on outpacing the on-orbit weaponry adversaries are developing.
“We no longer have the corner on technology. Commercial has it, as well as our allies. All of us operating together are better than the sum of the parts,” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
The Space Force is meeting these challenges with great urgency. They are building multi-layered defense systems, including an ambitious project, dubbed Golden Dome. This inter-agency program seeks to connect pneumatic pieces of equipment that were never before studied, networked or matched.
“The magic of Golden Dome, in my mind, is going to be the integration of capabilities that were never meant to be networked or integrated before,” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
Guetlein insists on ensuring that the US remains on top, to the extent possible, as advanced new technologies and capabilities in orbital warfare come online. The Space Force’s work to establish programs such as Golden Dome are steps in the right direction to prepare for these new threats.
China’s progress in ISR technologies should be of serious concern to the US. Guetlein, a constant theme in the Chinese pace of advancing ISR capabilities. This positive change highlights the critical moment for the US to shift away from piecemeal or punitive strategies in space.
Now the actions of foreign powers have made a case for a larger strategic pivot within the Space Force.
“There was a gentleman’s agreement until recent [sic] that we didn’t mess with each other’s space systems,” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
Yet that deal is now beginning to fall apart at the seams. Our adversaries are already building new contras that tow or capture satellites. They’re even rehearsing dogfighting with these satellites.
“We’re seeing grappling arms in space capable of towing another satellite or holding it hostage,” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
“We’re also now starting to see our near peers focusing on practicing dogfighting in space with satellites,” – Gen. Michael Guetlein
