The significance of space for multi-domain defence operations

Future defence and security operations will demand informed decision making at pace across all the moving parts of the modern battlespace to support integrated and multi-domain operations. Leveraging valuable insights from the ever growing pool of rich data will be imperative to achieve this and enable decision advantage. However, to be effective, the intelligence must be trusted, shared in near real-time, and done in a way that doesn’t over-burden the end user.

A layered approach is required to capture and disseminate information and, in turn, intelligence. It must be pragmatic, scalable and affordable – and benefit from the rich services provided by commercial organisations to support ongoing strategic operations, whilst ensuring sufficient capability can be provided to deliver successful mission outcomes in highly contested environments. Such a capability must support tactical commanders on the ground, as well as those making strategic and more orchestrated decisions back at base, through secure and resilient communications.

The exploitation of space is an essential component in this process, and is a reason why it has fast become the fifth military domain.

Strengthening multi-domain operations using space innovation

Space affords us reach and a degree of resilience to physical attack, but it has been susceptible to cyber and electronic warfare (EW) advances. Today, though, a highly dynamic space-based data network can be created using a combination of technologies which can also be extended into terrestrial networks – embracing legacy systems and accelerating the pace of transformation to multi-domain operations.

The use of cyber and EW resilient command and control links and data devices, more commonly known as ‘software defined radios’, is key. These tools have a capacity for processing and configurability, enabling the provision and exploitation of a truly flexible data fabric. Each device is capable of imparting intelligence to the system, being reconfigured for its role, and being upgraded and adapted remotely or collaborating with other devices in the network. Just as the term “phone” no longer defines our mobile phones, the word “radio” no longer defines the new generation of software defined radios.

Edge operations are supported, mission networks enabled and security can be raised to reflect a change in national posture, or to suit a particular mission risk profile.

Tailored local situational awareness can also be developed and maintained, intelligence functions can be employed across the network and sub-networks to counter spoofing, and third-party co-operative engagements can be supported. And thanks to the use of modern analytical tools, all of this can be achieved without over-burdening the user – allowing technologies such as machine learning to work in the background to maintain an “always relevant, always available” situational awareness. This is all significant in the context of multi-domain integration, where intelligence derived from data collected from multiple sources must be delivered quickly and securely to where it is needed most.

The impact of low earth orbit satellites

The other breakthrough has been in the democratisation and affordability of space by low earth orbit satellites (LEO). For example, Azalea™, our LEO satellite cluster scheduled to launch in early 2025, is designed to enable sustainable innovation in space by taking a software-driven approach. This enables new software to be uploaded to the reprogrammable satellites that can be used for different purposes while still in orbit.

LEO satellites may have limited payload capacities, but when equipped with intelligent data devices, such assets can share data and collaborate to analyse high quality imagery and deliver near real-time intelligence, crucial to defence and the multi-domain battlespace. They can work as teams to carry the load, they can support national resilience such as in the case of denied GNSS and they can collaborate with more than just space assets, building a layered approach to resilience.

Most importantly perhaps, this resilient and secure data network must be a living thing. When fielded, each intelligent data node must be reprogrammable. For the UK to be truly competitive; the capability must also be open in order to drive innovation and support a more diverse space industry.

From theory to action

To make this a reality, national skills need to be nurtured and scaled, as do supply chains. To help expedite pace and build momentum, there are ways of bringing specialist skills to bear in highly classified environments, without the need for individuals to be security vetted or operate from List X facilities – facilities where classified information is held.

Ground stations and hubs, fixed and deployed, can be secured with multi-level security devices produced in line with National Cyber Security Centre patterns, safely importing third-party data from partners and commercial providers. Sovereign command and control links, sovereign encryption and sovereign waveforms assure resilient operations. And, whilst the hardware devices and platforms don’t need to be sovereign capability, they do need to support the flexibility and waveforms required.

Ultimately, we must protect our space assets. Space Domain Awareness systems will provide data to inform our overall situational awareness picture, extending it beyond the traditional terrestrial environment. They’ll be able to exploit analytics to predict and prioritise threats, and then also to support the recommendation of mitigations to be employed in multi-domain operational management.

Such a flexible and programmable data fabric is likely to prove to be one of the most significant enablers of high tempo military operations.

Is it science fiction? Certainly not. Technology is not holding us back, nor apparently is budget. Confidence perhaps? Process? The key is to find a way for Industry and MOD to pick up the pace, embrace a culture of collaboration and evolution and get the UK back at the front of the field.