Force Protection in An Era of Commercially Available Satellite Imagery: Space Blockade as a Possible Solution
Abstract
The recent proliferation of high-resolution commercial imagery satellites holds a potential danger for the joint force commander. At relatively little cost, a potential adversary can gain detailed imagery of U.S. troop deployments and military operations. An adversary could use this data to accurately target U.S. deployments with stand-off weaponry such as short-range ballistic missiles. In addition, by monitoring troop movements via satellite, a future adversary can maintain situational awareness, making it much more difficult for a joint force commander to achieve operational surprise. Individually, the traditional methods of denial -- diplomatic, economic, and military -- are insufficient to ensure protection from satellite imagery in this new, proliferated world. However, history provides a solution to this problem. The naval blockade was developed to deal with an adversary receiving commercial support through a neutral medium, in this case the oceans. The blockade model translates well to space, right down to the warning shot across the bow (reversible counterspace attacks). By combining diplomatic, economic, and military efforts into an internationally understood model, the space blockade provides a joint force commander with a potentially effective means of denying adversary access to commercial satellite imagery. By allowing the joint force commander to operate and deploy securely, the space blockade may become a key element in campaign plans for the twenty-first century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 04, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA400933
Entities
People
- Robert A. Fabian
Organizations
- Naval War College