A senior U.S. Navy Space Command official argues that the survival of naval forces in future conflicts depends on a fundamental shift in strategy, prioritizing space operations and the ability to dismantle enemy targeting systems. This perspective suggests that without control of the space domain, ships and sailors will be indefensible against advanced, long-range precision weapons.
The analysis, presented by Captain Alan Brechbill, Director of Navy Space Command, calls for a ruthless prioritization of space as a primary warfighting domain. The central argument is that an adversary's ability to detect and track naval assets from orbit—their "kill chain"—is a greater threat than their missiles alone. Therefore, disrupting this space-based surveillance and targeting network must become the Navy's first line of defense.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Navy's ability to survive in a future conflict is directly linked to its control over the space domain.
- China's satellite and sensor network, designed to target U.S. ships from thousands of miles away, is identified as a primary threat.
- The strategy calls for prioritizing Counter-C5ISRT (C-C5ISRT) to disrupt enemy surveillance and targeting capabilities, known as the "kill chain."
- A cultural shift is needed within the Navy to treat space operations as a core warfighting function, not just a support role.
- The proposal includes developing dedicated Navy Space operators, designing resilient platforms, and training the fleet to operate under the assumption of being constantly monitored from space.
The Evolving Threat from Space-Based Systems
Modern naval warfare is no longer confined to the seas. According to military strategists, the initial and most critical phase of any future maritime conflict will occur in space. Potential adversaries, particularly China, have developed sophisticated architectures to hold U.S. naval forces at risk from extreme distances.
This threat is built on a network of satellites and long-range sensors designed for persistent surveillance and targeting. This system, often referred to as a "kill web," integrates data from multiple sources to provide precise coordinates for over-the-horizon missile strikes. The core vulnerability for the U.S. Navy is not the missile itself, but the enemy's ability to find and track ships in the vastness of the ocean.
Understanding the Kill Chain
A "kill chain" is a military concept describing the structure of an attack. It consists of several stages: finding a target, fixing its location, tracking its movement, targeting it with a weapon, engaging the target, and assessing the damage. For modern naval warfare, the initial stages—finding, fixing, and tracking—rely heavily on space-based assets like satellites.
Captain Brechbill emphasizes that breaking this chain is the Navy's most crucial defensive measure. He argues that there is currently an underappreciation of this vulnerability within naval leadership. The focus has often remained on enhancing the capabilities of individual warships rather than neutralizing the systems that make them visible and vulnerable in the first place.
"A fleet that cannot hide cannot fight," states Captain Alan Brechbill, highlighting the existential need for the Navy to master operations in a contested space environment.
A Five-Point Plan for Naval Space Dominance
To address this strategic challenge, Captain Brechbill proposes five interconnected lines of effort. These points aim to fundamentally reshape the Navy's approach to space, integrating it into every aspect of naval operations.
1. Space as a Core Warfighting Domain
The first proposal is to shift the perception of space from a support function to a primary warfighting domain. This means the Navy must take direct ownership of maritime space operations rather than outsourcing this responsibility to the U.S. Space Force. According to this view, naval commanders must understand and execute space control with the same proficiency as they manage air or submarine defense. This requires training sailors to integrate space operations directly into fleet maneuvers.
2. Counter-Targeting as the First Line of Defense
The second point focuses on making Counter-C5ISRT the Navy's primary defensive layer. C5ISRT stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting. Countering these enemy capabilities involves actively blinding, jamming, or deceiving their sensor networks before any weapons are launched. This requires significant investment in offensive space capabilities, electronic warfare, and advanced deception technologies.
The Importance of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The battle for information dominance occurs within the electromagnetic spectrum. Jamming enemy satellite communications, spoofing GPS signals, and deploying electronic decoys are all tactics used to disrupt an adversary's ability to form a clear picture of the battlespace. These actions are invisible but can be decisive.
3. Designing for a Contested Environment
The third initiative, described as building for "the dark," demands that new naval platforms be designed to function when space-based support systems are degraded or unavailable. Resilience is not just about having backup systems; it's about incorporating deception, mobility, and adaptability into the core design of ships and their payloads. Future naval assets must be able to operate effectively while simultaneously denying space-based support to the enemy.
4. Training the Fleet to Disappear
The fourth line of effort involves a radical change in training philosophy. Fleet exercises must evolve to simulate conditions where U.S. space superiority is not guaranteed. This means ships must routinely practice operating under strict emissions control (EMCON), executing complex deception maneuvers, and maintaining distributed formations—all under the assumption that they are being actively hunted from orbit. The goal is to train the fleet to become effectively invisible to enemy sensors.
5. Developing a Specialized Space Cadre
Finally, the plan calls for treating manpower as a critical warfighting component. To dominate in the space domain, the Navy needs its own cadre of highly trained and certified space operators. This cannot be an auxiliary duty or a skill set borrowed from other branches. The argument is that disrupting enemy kill chains is a lethal art that requires the same level of professional dedication and rigorous training as that given to naval aviators or submariners. Investing in these specialists is presented as essential for survival.
Strategic Implications for the U.S. Navy
The call to prioritize space operations reflects a broader shift in military thinking, where information and network dominance are seen as prerequisites for victory in physical combat. The success of Admiral Lisa Franchetti's strategic priorities—often summarized as developing the force, the fleet, and the fight—is seen as dependent on this new focus.
If naval forces cannot mitigate the threat from space-based surveillance, their ability to project power and protect sea lanes will be severely compromised. The proliferation of relatively cheap and resilient sensor networks in space by potential adversaries has changed the risk calculus for surface fleets operating in contested waters, such as the Western Pacific.
The central message is one of urgency. Without a ruthless and immediate prioritization of space control and C-C5ISRT, the U.S. Navy risks being unable to protect its most valuable assets—its ships and the sailors who operate them. The ability to win the next war at sea, according to this perspective, will be decided by who controls the high ground of space.