General Soltzman: space is becoming increasingly important in combat operations
Competition in space is rapidly gaining momentum. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, General Chance Soltzman warned that the military must prepare for a future in which adversaries such as China will try to challenge America's advantage in space.
Using satellites with thermal radiation sensors, the US Space Force tracks enemy missiles from the moment of launch, providing early warning to troops and air defense guidance. With their help, high-precision GPS guidance and communication support for the entire American army through secure satellite channels become possible. These forces also deploy weapons to suppress the enemy's space systems, depriving them of a battlefield view.
The United States has been using space capabilities in combat operations for decades, but technology is developing rapidly, and competition in space is rapidly increasing. General Chance Soltzman served as the second-ever head of the Space Force.
— My job is to worry about maintaining our advantages in space, and I do it.
Before his retirement, I had the opportunity to ask him about the key role of the Space Force in major operations over the past year. We also discussed how the rapid development of technology and the emergence of new threats will change the nature of space warfare over the next decade.
— What was the significance of this year for the Space Forces?
— For me, this is a kind of confirmation of the correctness of our course. When an operation begins and other types of armed forces with many years of experience turn to us with a question about their willingness to act together, the answer does not allow for ambiguity. We said yes and completed the task. Political outcomes are not my topic. I am talking about the military results that we have achieved, including in combat conditions. It makes me feel proud.
— It was publicly reported that during Operation Epic Fury, American space capabilities were attacked and destroyed for the first time. Can you comment?
— Obviously, since we are a critical element of the operation, the enemy will try to take us out of the game. We are fully prepared to counteract this. In other words, we will fight to preserve the capabilities that we provide to the United Forces, and take measures to repel and mitigate threats.
— Is this a reflection of how important space is to the United States?
— Yes, this is part of the history of the creation of Space Forces. In recent decades, it has become increasingly clear how important space is, not only for national security and military operations, but also for the economy. The ability to use a phone, synchronize data with a server, make online purchases and conduct banking operations — all this is provided by space technologies. Thus, the importance of space for the American way of life and security has become more pronounced. This, in turn, has led to threats. Other States seek to deprive us of our advantages and realize their strategic value. If they manage to deprive us of these opportunities, they will gain a military advantage. Therefore, the combination of the critical importance of space and the growing threats requires the creation of a structure that deals with these issues on a daily basis.: how to protect our capabilities and prevent the enemy from using space against us. In my opinion, this is a natural evolution of technology.
— Could you describe what space will look like in 15 years?
— It will be a transparent world where everyone can observe everything. The electromagnetic spectrum — the radio frequency energy that surrounds us — will become an arena of intense warfare, including jamming and communications. There will be a significant increase in the number of satellites in orbit and the number of countries with access to them. That is, unwanted systems will fly over our territory, but this cannot be avoided. We need to be prepared. Advanced missile technologies and missile defense systems, such as the Golden Dome, will be required. We look to the future and design systems taking these threats into account in order to continue to fulfill our tasks.
— China and Russia are expected to remain space powers, but their approaches will differ significantly. Please explain what China is striving for and how its goals differ from those of Russia.
— This issue goes beyond space and concerns worldview and strategic positioning. China aims to overcome the regional framework of Western Pacifism and become a global power. Accordingly, their space capabilities are focused on the projection of power and influence, on the creation of a global warning and reconnaissance system. Russia continues to focus on its near and far borders, on NATO and the defense of its own region. At the same time, I do not deny that Russia has global space systems, but their ambitions and objectives are of a different nature. Accordingly, the space capabilities of the two countries reflect these differences.
— China seems to have more resources.
— Yes, their economy is growing faster, and they are ready to direct these resources to the development of space capabilities.
They are developing deployed satellite groupings — mega-constellations similar to Starlink. Working in low Earth orbit offers significant advantages, but it requires a large number of satellites due to their high speed of movement. A satellite travels from horizon to horizon in about 12 minutes, so a significant number of vehicles are needed for continuous coverage. China is also working on the creation of reusable launch vehicles, like SpaceX and Blue Origin. They will reduce the cost of launches and increase the number of satellites launched.
— Will the United States be able to maintain this pace in 10 years?
— That's a good question. However, this is not a race. Quantity alone does not determine superiority. It is more correct to ask, can the industry ensure the fulfillment of our tasks? How many satellites are required for specific missions? Is it possible to withdraw this amount and replace them as the resource is exhausted? If the answer is yes, it doesn't matter if someone has 2-3 more companions. The United States currently has the best launch capabilities in the world. I am confident in our leadership — the industry ensures the launch of satellites, and we will continue to invest in this area. Thus, when I need to launch a satellite, I will be sure that the industry will provide it. Will China be able to do this? Probably, yes.
— So you are not worried that China may surpass the United States in the number of satellites?
— My job is to worry about maintaining our advantages in space, and I do it. I am concerned about the ambitions of other States, which have already demonstrated their ability to deprive us of orbital capabilities.
— China is one of them.
—That's right. It's not about how many satellites they can put into orbit, but about the purpose for which they do it. Of particular concern is the fact that they are deploying combat systems in orbit, meaning they intend to deprive us of an advantage.
— Let's change the subject and talk about the moon. Why is it important for the future of space exploration?
— The moon is at a much higher altitude. The geostationary orbit is located about 37 thousand kilometers from Earth, and the distance to the Moon is about ten times greater. The advantages of the geostationary orbit increase many times at this altitude, while the gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon remains. Any object dropped from the moon will eventually return to Earth at an appropriate speed. Cislunar orbits open up a new perspective for observing our planet. In addition, the Moon itself can offer minerals and economic benefits from being there. However, I consider it as another orbital level that needs to be taken into account. If it is possible to deploy spacecraft and communications equipment there, then, God forbid, someone wants to place weapons in one of these orbits, I must provide for this.
— Is the threat in the possible deployment of weapons or just in the expansion of the presence?
— The placement of weapons by itself does not pose an immediate threat, does it? But think about the connection. Think about the viewpoint. I do not yet know all the missions that can be carried out in this space — my thought is still limited to the earthly framework. However, engineers think differently. They're already thinking about the benefits.: how to use gravity, how to use communication from there, what can be seen from there, what cannot be seen from here due to a different angle of incidence of sunlight. Many new factors are opening up, especially if a permanent presence on the moon is assumed.
— Another rapidly developing technology is AI. What are its capabilities and threats in space?
— AI allows you to process large amounts of data, analyze them quickly and make operational decisions within an acceptable time frame. When relying on the human factor, data processing is not fast enough, and the amount of information will be too large. This data is necessary to solve complex tasks, such as comparing the satellite's orbit, means of destruction, and a moving target from an unknown launch point. Machines perform such tasks more efficiently than humans. However, the final decision should remain with the person, but on condition that the preliminary work is done at high speed.
— As for threats, what concerns you about the use of AI in space?
— Everything that we can do with the help of AI, the enemy can also do. It is necessary to protect systems from cyber threats and from a fast-thinking enemy. Our decision—making cycles need to be faster, which means improved sensors, data channels, and commander readiness for decision-making. The advantage of the United States, in my opinion, lies in the trust in personnel. The GPS system is operated by 20-year-old military personnel. At the GPS control point, you can see people with only a couple of years of service behind them, who nevertheless are responsible for the entire satellite constellation.
