Gunsmoke-J experimental satellite, Army image
WASHINGTON: The Army is negotiating with the Intelligence Community and Space Force about ensuring operational control of any future Army-built ISR payloads hosted on DoD, IC and/or commercial satellites, says Willie Nelson, the de facto head of Army space programs.
“This is a watershed,” said Doug Loverro, former head of DoD space policy and a long-time player in space intelligence operations. “It represents the increased importance of tactical overhead support to Army forces for long range fires.”
Why? If the service wins even a modicum of control over where future IC ISR birds are ‘pointed’ a prerogative the IC traditionally has zealously guarded it would represent a major break with the past.
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Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond made the case Friday for the growing armed service as it faces a flat defense budget while in need of additional personnel and platforms to fend off Russian and Chinese threats in space. But some experts say the latest service s cry of fiscal poverty is overblown.
Hardly 18 months old, Space Force has just 5,200 Guardians and some 16,000 total personnel, including administratively assigned Air Force space professionals. While managing satellite launch sites in Florida and California, Space Operations Command in Colorado, and Space Systems Command in California, some 60 space-related departments are still housed within the Navy and Army. Bringing those over will cost money, as will developing and deploying the offensive and defense measures to protect America s space architecture.
It’s imperative America preserve its space power advantage Matthew Donovan 2 hours ago U.S. airmen assigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., transition into the U.S. Space Force during a ceremony at the 621st Contingency Response Wing on Feb. 12, 2021. (Nicholas Pilch/U.S. Air Force) A few weeks ago, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines released the 2021 edition of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s “Annual Threat Assessment” a document that is considered to be one of the most authoritative assessments of the global security environment. According to the report, Russian and Chinese space capabilities stand as top dangers facing the United States and its allies. Given this reality, it is critical to set U.S. Space Command and the Space Force up for success to defend our space architecture. This will be a team effort.