Ron Gurantz
Satellites play a major role in US military operations and have significantly enhanced the United States’ military effectiveness. The United States uses satellites for observation, communication, and navigation. Satellites support nuclear operations and are a critical source of intelligence. They have become deeply integrated into conventional warfare, where they enable precision strikes, drone operations, missile warnings, and more. But space-enabled conventional warfare is no longer exclusive to the United States. China, Russia, and others have incorporated satellites into their military operations. States may also disrupt the use of satellites in future conflicts, as they have developed methods for disabling or destroying satellites and their associated systems.
The Russia-Ukraine War provides an opportunity to evaluate these developments and their implications. No war has seen both sides of a conflict use space and counterspace systems to such an extent.1 In this monograph, I examine lessons that can be drawn from the war about the military use of satellites. First, I analyze how satellites and anti-satellite systems have influenced war fighting in Ukraine. Much of this analysis draws on observations and insights that are already being discussed and influencing national security decisions. Second, I analyze the limits that governments and private firms have adhered to when using satellites and anti-satellite systems. These limits have not been widely discussed, but they are arguably just as important for future conflicts.
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