The Army on Monday outlined a new “space vision” for multi-domain operations, emphasizing an “urgent need to invest more in space capabilities and formations.”
The two-page document specifically highlights a need to get after the integration of a range of space capabilities to support priorities such as deep sensing as well as improving the ability to “interdict adversary space capabilities by delivering necessary fires and effects at echelon.”
“According to the vision, by leveraging Army, joint and coalition space capabilities, Army space professionals will lead the effort to increase understanding and integration of these capabilities into all Army operations and activities,” the Army writes of its new space vision. “Army space professionals will also employ service-unique assets to interdict, or disrupt, adversaries use of their space capabilities, ensuring Army forces gain and maintain the initiative to fight from positions of relative advantage in all domains.”
Along with citing a need for increased investment, the Army said its space vision will prioritize education, training and getting after “expeditionary, scalable, and mobile Army space formations, empowered by flexible command relationships at echelon, should move alongside and keep pace with ground combat formations to protect forces and enable the Army to win decisively.”
“Integrating joint and Army space capabilities into the operations process must become second nature to commanders at every echelon,” Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff, said in a statement.
While the new document doesn’t detail specifics on where the Army would prioritize increased investments for space-related capabilities, it cites a need for “the right resources, kit, authorities and expertise.”
“Simply put, we will be operating under constant surveillance and must invest in the knowledge and forces to counter threat space systems and enable our own space systems,” the Army writes in the vision document.
Along with deep sensing, the Army does highlight a priority for integrating space capabilities to also support position, navigation and timing, beyond line-of-sight communications, force tracing and space domain awareness.
Gen. James Rainey, head of Army Futures Command, has previously mentioned deep sensing as a potential area of interest for a new Cross-Functional Team, which are the organizations leading the service’s modernization development (Defense Daily, Oct. 13 2023).