Threatening Celestial Lines of Communication: A Naval Counterspace Concept for Deterring China's Preemptive Space Strike

Abstract

This paper submits a new space deterrence concept for future United States Space Command operations. United States Space Command's current space conflict deterrence strategy relies too heavily on integrating space capabilities across the joint services. This paper reverses this perspective and examines how United States Space Command could repurpose existing joint weapon platforms to deter aggressive space competitors. Naval surface action groups are the focal point of this deterrent concept. Surface action group's counterspace weapons are analyzed to determine if they provide a credible threat to the Peoples Republic of China's celestial lines of communication. The weapons examined include the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile model E, the AN/SLQ(V)5, and the Standard Missile-3 Blocks IB and IIA. The paper concludes with recommendations to transform the deterrence concept into a viable option for United States Space Command.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 12, 2021
Accession Number
AD1144210

Entities

People

  • Andrew Singleton

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Satellite Missiles
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Control Systems
  • Cruise Missiles
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deterrence
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Information Operations
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Space Defense
  • Space Warfare
  • Spacecraft
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space