The head of intelligence for the Space Force has revealed that the service is intensively monitoring approximately 1,000 satellites, comprising both adversary-owned satellites and certain US satellites that may be vulnerable to threats from adversaries. This surveillance is made possible through a significantly expanded network of radars and telescopes deployed worldwide.
Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence, disclosed during a session at the Mitchell Institute that the Space Force’s capabilities for space domain awareness (SDA) have undergone substantial growth since its establishment in December 2019.
Initially, US Space Command operated only a few dozen government-related sensors, primarily optical telescopes or radars developed for missile tracking rather than satellite monitoring. However, the Space Force has now scaled up its surveillance efforts, orchestrating the collection of data on 1,000 priority targets in space, out of the 9,500 satellites orbiting Earth, utilizing 600 sensor systems deployed globally.
Gagnon emphasized that these priority targets encompass both adversary satellites and specific US military satellites. He highlighted the importance of monitoring US satellites to detect any potential threats or anomalies.
Moreover, the Space Force is leveraging sensor systems owned by commercial and allied partners to enhance its surveillance capabilities further. These systems contribute valuable data to the Space Force’s Unified Data Library, which is accessible not only to US government agencies but also to coalition partners.
The increased number of sensors has led to a significant rise in the volume of data to be processed. For instance, the Space Force is now issuing approximately 11,000 maneuver alerts per month, a substantial increase from the initial rate of six or seven alerts per month.
These enhanced space domain awareness capabilities play a crucial role in informing Space Force intelligence officers, enabling them to provide valuable insights to commanders regarding potential threats and vulnerabilities. The data gathered is also utilized by the service’s targeting squadron to conduct target systems analysis and identify critical vulnerabilities in adversary space systems, facilitating informed decision-making and multidomain targeting options.
The strides made in space domain awareness underscore the Space Force’s commitment to protecting US interests and ensuring the security and resilience of space-based assets in an increasingly contested environment.
