U.S. Army in Space

What is it?

The Army is the largest user of space capabilities in the DoD – uniquely capable in and uniquely dependent upon space. Army forces, forward stationed in contested areas, are critical to enabling deterrence, theater sustainment and multi-domain operations (MDO).

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

The Army is focused on how to gain the advantage in the close and deep fights by incorporating space capabilities inside the combat formations.

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) has published the Army Space Narrative highlighting the importance of space professionals and space capabilities to the Army’s success on future battlefields. Army Space capability includes the following requirements:

• Land-Centric: GPS, communications, weather, and intelligence collection platforms are critical enablers used by the Army to plan, communicate, navigate, maneuver, maintain situational awareness, engage the enemy, provide missile warning, protect, and sustain forces
• Expeditionary, Mobile, and Responsive: supporting ground forces in contested areas; allowing commanders to integrate space capabilities into operations – Army space enables convergence
• Integrated: must be part of warfighting formations; all Army operations and the majority of Army equipment and weapons rely on space capabilities

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

As the Army moves toward a MDO-capable force, it requires continued investment in space capabilities, forces and formations to assure the Army’s ability to fight and win.

With the development of the Army of 2028, a force capable of conducting large-scale combat operations, space experts and capabilities are critical to Army operations.

To dominate adversaries, the Army will require continued investment in counter-communication, space control and electronic warfare, and navigation warfare, among other space-enabled capabilities to enable maneuver commanders at all echelons to attack our adversaries from multiple domains and directions.

As new multi-domain formations are developed and employed over the next several years, space capabilities to support tactical requirements for these units will be designed in as integrated elements of the total force.

Why is this important to the Army?

Space is ingrained into every aspect of Army ground operation. From the weapons Soldiers wield to the way forces maneuver, space plays a crucial role. Space capabilities enhance the Army’s ability to navigate, target the enemy, protect and sustain the forces and gather intelligence. Army space professionals provide not only space expertise, skills, and capabilities, but also an understanding of how the Army is organized, operates and fights.

Resources:

• U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
• SMDC top stories

Related document:

• Army Space Narrative

Related STAND-TO!:

• Army Space Today and in the Future
• The Army Astronaut Program
• Army Space Support Teams
• The Army’s Dependence on Space
• Army Space Training Strategy

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