U.S. Space Command advances work on maneuver warfare strategy
SPACE SYMPOSIUM, COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. — U.S. Space Command plans to hold exercises this year as it readies a maneuver warfare strategy for space.
“When we look at scenarios involving a protracted conflict against a peer opponent, we need a new strategy that isn’t predictable or static,” Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, told an audience here. “U.S. Space Command must collaborate across the enterprise toward a maneuver warfare strategy.”
“A satellite which is locked in a predictable orbit is fighting from a fixed position, and it’s a target,” Whiting added. “It’s a known position on a map waiting to be bypassed or neutralized. A force that can maneuver, however, and not be limited by the fuel that it was launched with and reposition as operationally needed is the one that holds the initiative.”
For the strategy, U.S. Space Command is using CAVE, its Capability Assessment and Validation Environment.
“These analysts use modeling and simulation tools to visualize this concept, and then they’re going to hand over their findings to our warfighting branch for future testing and analysis,” Whiting said.
During a press conference here later in the day, Whiting said the service is “making progress” on the modeling and simulation phase.
“We soon will turn that over to our wargaming branch, who can run tabletop exercises and then larger scale exercises that will begin to include some live-fly elements of that using actual on-orbit assets,” Whiting said, noting that he expects that next phase to begin later this year.
