A new Pentagon strategy for integrating commercial and military space capabilities calls for greater protection for private sector satellites targeted by hostile nations. The Commercial Space Integration Strategy, released April 2, calls for improved norms and standards to make space safer for private sector operators, threat information sharing, and financial protection for companies that support military space missions. The strategy mentions that the U.S. could use force to defend those systems in appropriate circumstances. The Space Force is set to release its own commercial strategy soon, focusing on integrating commercial capabilities across its mission areas.
The Pentagon strategy also commits to working with the State Department and the international community to establish norms of responsible behavior in space. It aims to provide financial protections for commercial companies that may have their satellites and ground systems destroyed or damaged. Today, companies supporting military operations in the air and at sea have access to government insurance, but such protection is not available for space firms.
The strategy emphasizes the need for the military to integrate commercial space capabilities before conflict arises, involving companies in wargames and training exercises. It categorizes different space mission areas as mostly government efforts, mostly commercial, or opportunities for a hybrid commercial-government approach. Examples of primarily government missions include command and control, electronic warfare, and missile warning, while space mobility and logistics is identified as primarily commercial. Opportunities for hybrid architectures include cyber and spacecraft operations, satellite communications, and more.
