The U.S. Space Force is intensifying its collaboration with the commercial sector to accelerate the development of technologies designed to shorten the response time against threats in space. This initiative, focused on what the military calls "collapsing the space kill chain," aims to integrate advanced commercial innovations into national defense frameworks more rapidly.
A recent virtual event brought together key figures from the Space Force and private industry to discuss new strategies. The focus was on leveraging unclassified technology and agile development to enhance the nation's ability to detect, track, and respond to potential aggressions in the orbital domain.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Space Force is actively partnering with commercial companies to shorten its defensive response time in space.
- The strategy involves integrating advanced sensors, data analytics, and workflow automation from the private sector.
- A major goal is to move new technologies from experimental labs to scalable, operational programs of record more quickly.
- Officials highlighted the importance of unclassified technology cohorts to foster faster innovation and integration.
The Need for Speed in Space Defense
As the space domain becomes more contested, the ability to respond to threats quickly is paramount. The traditional military procurement process, often lasting years, is seen as too slow to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in the commercial space industry.
The concept of "collapsing the kill chain" refers to drastically reducing the time between identifying a threat and neutralizing it. In the context of space, this involves a complex sequence of events: detecting an object or action, identifying it as hostile, tracking its movement, deciding on a course of action, and executing that action.
Lt. Col. Collin Greiser, the System Program Manager for Advanced Space Battle Management, emphasized the need for a new approach during a recent virtual panel. The goal is to create a system where data from various sources can be processed and acted upon in near real-time.
What is a 'Kill Chain'?
The term "kill chain" is a military concept that outlines the structure of an attack. It consists of several stages: find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess (F2T2EA). "Collapsing" this chain means using technology and streamlined processes to execute these steps faster than an adversary, thereby gaining a decisive advantage.
Leveraging Commercial Innovation
A central theme of the new strategy is the deep integration of commercial technology. The Space Force is looking beyond traditional defense contractors to tap into the innovation happening in smaller, more agile tech companies.
Maj. Sean Allen, Chief of the SDA TAP Lab, spoke about the role of unclassified technology cohorts. These initiatives bring together companies to work on specific defense challenges in an open environment, allowing for faster development cycles without the bureaucratic hurdles of classified programs.
Siamak Hesar, CEO of Kayhan Space, a company specializing in space situational awareness, represented the industry perspective. He noted that commercial firms are already developing sophisticated tools for tracking satellites and predicting collisions, which can be adapted for defense purposes.
"The innovation happening in the commercial sector is a force multiplier. By creating clear pathways for integration, we can adopt cutting-edge solutions for sensors, analytics, and automation to achieve a faster decision advantage," a sentiment echoed by several industry experts.
Key Technology Areas
The partnership focuses on several critical technology areas:
- Advanced Sensors: Utilizing commercial satellite constellations and ground-based sensors to provide a more comprehensive and persistent view of the space domain.
- Data Analytics and AI: Applying artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to sift through vast amounts of data, identify anomalies, and predict potential threats automatically.
- Workflow Automation: Developing software that automates routine tasks and presents clear, actionable information to human operators, allowing them to make faster, more informed decisions.
The goal is to transition these technologies from lab-based experiments to fully operational, scalable programs of record. This shift marks a significant change from past acquisition models, aiming for continuous integration rather than static, long-term programs.
From Lab to Scalable Programs
One of the biggest challenges for the Department of Defense has been bridging the "valley of death"—the gap between a promising new technology and its deployment as a fully funded program. The Space Force's new initiatives are designed specifically to address this issue.
According to Tim Bode, a Senior Space Solutions Architect at Leidos, the key is to build systems with an open architecture. This allows new tools and capabilities from different vendors to be plugged in and integrated with relative ease, avoiding vendor lock-in and enabling continuous upgrades.
The SDA TAP Lab, led by Maj. Allen, serves as a prime example of this new model. The lab acts as an accelerator, identifying promising commercial technologies and providing them with a pathway to integrate into larger Space Force systems. This approach not only speeds up acquisition but also provides the military with access to a wider pool of talent and innovation.
The recent discussions signal a clear strategic shift. The U.S. Space Force is moving away from a model of developing most of its technology in-house towards one where it acts as a smart integrator of the best available commercial solutions. This public-private partnership is seen as essential for maintaining the nation's strategic edge in an increasingly complex and competitive space environment.