Executive Summary
This thesis identifies a combat capability assessment gap within the U.S. Navy's Surface Force due to inconsistent training and certification of tactical Space capabilities. It proposes formalizing Space Warfare as a stand-alone warfare area within the Surface Force Training and Readiness Manual (SFTRM) to enhance readiness and integrate Space-derived effects into maritime operations. The recommendation focuses on addressing current gaps in Space Domain Awareness and Space-based sensing/targeting without requiring new hardware.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it outlines a strategy to enhance the U.S. Navy's combat readiness in the critical domain of space warfare, directly impacting naval operations and joint force capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Navy's Surface Force has a combat capability assessment gap in space warfare due to insufficient training and certification of existing space-enabled capabilities.
Source evidence · PDF page 18
The Surface Force can immediately remedy the assessment gap to increase combat capability and mitigate war time risk by formally adding Space Warfare as a stand-alone warfare area [1], [2].
- Key tactical space functions like Space Domain Awareness and the use of space-based sensing/targeting products are not adequately integrated into current readiness systems.
Source evidence · PDF page 18
Other tactically relevant functions, however, especially Space Domain Awareness and the end-to-end employment of Space-based sensing and targeting products, are only partially expressed or are absent from the readiness system as certifiable unit outputs [1].
- Formalizing Space Warfare as a distinct area within the Surface Force Training and Readiness Manual (SFTRM) is recommended to create auditable, repeatable readiness standards without new hardware.
Source evidence · PDF page 63
The proposed Space warfare area should instead focus on tactical gap behaviors that are currently absent, fragmented, or non-auditable, particularly Space Domain Awareness and the end-to-end employment of Space-derived sensing and targeting products.
Strategic Relevance
Improving the Surface Force's space warfare readiness is strategically vital for maintaining a competitive edge in a contested space domain, enabling more effective distributed maritime operations and enhancing overall joint force combat power.