HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The leader of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command explained how the command is the Army's premier force provider and executor of global missile defense and space operations during the Association of the U.S. Army's Global Force Symposium and Exposition March 16.
Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, USASMDC/ARSTRAT commanding general, gave a presentation on how the command enhances operations, supports the Warfighter, explores new technologies and looks at the future of integrated air and missile defense, or IAMD, and global space operations.
"I'm sure everyone here is aware of the threats posed by our adversaries and the growing sophistication of their systems," Mann said. "They are more difficult to detect, more ambiguous than ever before and continuing to grow in complexity. There is not an Army, Air Force, or Navy in the world who can take us on head-to-head and win.
"Our adversaries know this and are seeking inexpensive ways to exploit any perceived vulnerabilities," he added.
Mann discussed various SMDC initiatives in the area of missile defense and the proliferation of missile technology, including cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, maneuvering hypersonic systems and intercontinental ballistic missiles. He then detailed concerns about threats to U.S. space assets and capabilities such as: direct assent anti-satellite weapons, lasers, jammers and a growing cyber threat.
He discussed how SMDC, in collaboration with the Missile Defense Agency and the integrated air and missile defense community, continues to modernize current active defense systems focusing on Patriot missile modernization, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities through all phases of flight (boost, mid-course and terminal), and integration of allied capabilities.
Mann said working with partners and allies is imperative, and the U.S. must better integrate their capabilities in every theater, resolving foreign disclosure and interoperability issues, as well as policy concerns.
"The bottom line is we're pursuing future opportunities to further integrate our partners into our ballistic missile defense system architecture, and we must find new ways to incorporate allies to the fullest extent possible," Mann said.
Turning to space, and specifically space support to the Warfighter, Mann reiterated that the Army is the biggest user of space assets, and SMDC provides effective satellite communication, or SATCOM, as a key mission area. The command directly supports the Warfighter via Regional Satellite Support Centers and Wideband SATCOM Operations Centers.
He said SMDC is supporting U.S. Strategic Command in the stand-up of the Joint Interagency Coalition Space Operations Center, or JICSpOC, in order to improve space operations by better integrating the efforts of multiple agencies, coalition partners and the intelligence community to test, validate and integrate new space system tactics, techniques and procedures.
"This will allow for better integration and coordination across all services, agencies and amongst our allies," Mann said.
Mann said SMDC is looking at new space technologies and is especially focused on developing the next generation of nanosatellites through the SMDC/ARSTRAT Nanosatellite Program, or SNaP.
"SNaP is a way to demonstrate a low-cost solution for providing communications down to the squad-level and a great way to provide tactical satellite communications to users in remote locations," he said. "Additionally, they will allow tactical leaders to better synchronize actions and seize the initiative while maintaining situational awareness.
"We're also completing work on two different designs for our Kestrel Eye electro-optical nanosatellite," Mann added. "Kestrel Eye will provide Warfighters with persistent, real-time, on-demand tactical imagery data in remote locations."
As SMDC looks to the future of Army space, training becomes more essential and the command is focused on providing Soldiers the ability to identify and work through a contested space environment and ultimately be able to complete the mission, Mann said.
"As we look to counter the ever-growing space and missile threat, we have made significant progress," Mann said. "But, as always, it will require resources and the right people to continue to make it happen."
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