America needs resilient space-based sensing capabilities for global detection, tracking and custody of advanced ballistic and hypersonic missile threats. These capabilities must integrate into the missile defense kill chain with existing space-based and terrestrial sensing, command and control, and effectors to enable early and effective engagement of those threats.
Mixing existing investments with latest elements presents a system of systems integration challenge. Smaller satellites from the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and advanced effectors comparable to hypersonic missiles must rapidly integrate to form a resilient missile warning, tracking and custody architecture. Our nation’s missile defense must maintain pace with the fast-paced threats and disruptions from countries like China and Russia.
In 2022, the Space Force established a combined program office with the Space Systems Command, Space Development Agency and Missile Defense Agency to construct the Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, Custody force design. Since then, the integrated working group has collaborated on shared technical information and solutions toward an integrated system of satellites, battle management command, control and communications (BMC3) and effectors that may track and interact missiles moving at hypersonic speeds. Prior to this, agencies had long struggled to collaborate on an integrated architecture for space-based missile defense. In 2021, the Space Warfighting Evaluation Center (SWAC) led a review to design the long run force design needed to defend against our near-peer threats.
Cross-agency collaboration is important to rapidly integrate these capabilities into operations. The DoD needs to determine a resilient, collaborative and guarded digital ecosystem to actually advance our nation’s missile tracking and warning capabilities. The Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, Custody Combined Program Office, working collaboratively with DoD and IC stakeholders, is an excellent step in establishing unity of effort.
Because the DoD and IC collaborate on missile warning, tracking and defense solutions, leadership must establish multi-domain data integration, leverage industrial innovation to extend the speed of acquisition cycles, and champion integration to speed up end-to-end capability delivery.
- Establish Multi-domain Data Sharing
With the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control’s (CJADC2) data integration layer concept, there was an increased reliance on information sharing and data interoperability. Inside space, defense agencies are investing in non-traditional sensor capabilities and constructing interconnected satellite communication structures that underscore the importance of getting one single source or location to accommodate data.
Integrating critical information through secure industrial networks, civil networks and defense networks will ensure simpler information sharing, coordination, and collaboration amongst stakeholders across enterprises. Establishing a unified and secure data integration framework may also streamline decision-making processes and ultimately influence the effectiveness of missile tracking and warning capabilities.
- Leverage Business Innovation to Increase Speed of Acquisition Cycles
Over the past years, the U.S.’s domestic space industry has grown its capabilities and advancements at unprecedented rates. Nonetheless, while the technology has evolved, the DoD’s procurement process has remained stagnant. By prioritizing speed in today’s technology acquisition, the DoD can guarantee that it stays ahead of emerging missile threats by leveraging industrial products, processes and expertise.
Leveraging industrial innovation and best practices, comparable to low-orbit Earth satellites within the SDA’s PWSA tracking and transport layer constellations, won’t only speed up resilient missile defense advancements but in addition increase the speed of operational deployment of enhanced missile warning tracking and custody capabilities. Supported by the Space Force acquisition executive Frank Calvelli’s acquisition tenants, this mindset will enable the DoD and IC to quickly adapt to evolving threats and effectively protect national security interests.
- Champion Integration to Speed up End-to-End Capability Delivery
Accelerating end-to-end delivery requires continuous integration to rapidly deliver secure, interoperable capabilities. To attain this vision, we’d like experienced integrators applying agile, model-based systems engineering, digital transformation and mission expertise. These integrators must drive collaboration and trust amongst government and industry and across multiple warfighting domains. We want a cyber-resilient, protected digital ecosystem that connects platforms, sensors, weapons and systems to enable end-to-end system life-cycle integration. Finally, we’d like a secure, trusted, and collaborative common operating environment to enable informed and faster decision-making.
Demonstrated as a serious theme within the remarks throughout the Japan, Republic of Korea and United States trilateral partnership, space-based missile warning, tracking and defense has never been more critical to national and allied security. Our coalition of allies faces crucial inflection points in integrating a Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, Custody force design. With a view to construct a responsive and resilient missile defense architecture, the U.S. and our allies need an integrated, collaborative strategy for unity of effort.