The Space Race: How Can the Department of Defense Keep Pace in a Crowded Sky?

The Department of Defense operates many space systems—including satellites that enable communications across the globe and allow the U.S. military to respond to threats. These efforts have become increasingly important as competition to control space continues to grow.

How can DOD ensure its dominance in this new space race? Today’s WatchBlog post looks at our recent work for some answers.

Depiction of Space-Based Mesh Network

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Strengthening satellite communications

DOD currently relies on a small number of high-cost satellites and equipment that can generally only communicate with one type of satellite. And the satellites cannot always communicate with others. This linear approach limits options if a connection isn’t working.

However, within the next 5 years, DOD plans to make its satellite communications systems less vulnerable to threats and better integrate them with each other. Strengthening its satellite communications will help DOD address threats from adversaries that are expanding their space capabilities, such as China and Russia. DOD plans to shift to an enterprise approach, in which equipment can connect to different types of satellites as needed to create new networks and maintain connectivity if users run into problems.

Shift from Current Linear Satellite Communications Systems to New Integrated Systems

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DOD is starting to make progress with integrating different satellite communications systems into a network. But the shift to this approach is complex. And it relies on collaboration across many different organizations within DOD.

The hardest part—developing and integrating new user equipment and systems—still lies ahead. DOD reports to Congress on the progress of individual efforts. But reporting every year on its enterprise-wide progress would provide decision-makers with a holistic view of whether DOD is on track to meet its goal by 2030. It could also help DOD identify potential obstacles as soon as possible—providing service members with multiple options for communicating on a dynamic future battlefield.

Making satellite communications faster and more secure

As DOD works to strengthen satellite communications, it’s also aiming to make those communications faster and more secure using laser technology. The Space Development Agency, which is part of the U.S. Space Force, is developing a group of more than 300–500 satellites for low Earth orbit (up to 1,240 miles from Earth). This group of satellites would rely on new technology to transmit data within space and to Earth at higher data rates. It’s also more secure because the laser signal covers a more precise area than a radio signal, such as to aircraft in flight.

Information Flow Across a Satellite Communications Network

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The agency is developing the technology and launching the satellites in phases. But the initial group of satellites hasn’t yet shown that the laser communications technology can work in space. Even so, the Space Development Agency already awarded contracts worth nearly $10 billion for two new phases of development—each with an increasing number of satellites and complex technology.

The result? The Space Development Agency risks committing significant funds without delivering what it promised. The agency should demonstrate that the technology of the first phase of satellites works before investing in future ones.