FOI-R—0765—SE January 2003 ISSN 1650-1942 User report Editor: Lars Höstbeck Translator: Sandra Lindström Space and defence Systems Technology SE-172 90 Stockholm Swedish Defence Research Agency FOI-R—0765—SE Systems Technology January 2003 SE-172 90 Stockholm ISSN 1650-1942 User report Editor: Lars Höstbeck Translator: Sandra Lindström Space and defence Space and defence FOI-R--0765--SE Executive summary The importance of space assets has increased for both civilian and military applications. As the technology matures, the number of applications has grown. On a daily basis, most people use systems that in one way or another depend on space assets. FOI has carried out this study with the aim of creating an inventory of functions and challenges related to space assets that are of interest to the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF). The study shows that space assets can be of use to the Swedish Armed Forces in a variety of ways. In Network Centric Warfare, space-based systems would seem to be important if not essential. Such systems could benefit the Swedish Armed Forces in all its four main tasks: to defend Sweden against armed attack, to uphold the territorial integrity of Sweden, to contribute to peace and safety to the world and to support Swedish society in times of crisis. Its greatest value would be in the field of international operations. In the short term, the fastest way to ensure access to space is to buy services from commercial actors. In the longer term, SwAF should develop a military space strategy. A prerequisite for such a space strategy is to increase our understanding of the threats and possibilities associated with the military applications of space technology. Three special areas of interest regarding space issues are satellite-related functions, anti-satellite systems and modification of the ionosphere. For satellite related functions there are a number of applications of military interest, for instance remote sensing, early warning of ballistic missiles, communication, navigation, NBC-indication, signal intelligence and strategic as well as tactical reconnaissance. One common factor for these applications is the need for an increase in our ability to gather and analyze information due to the fact that the amount of data available will increase with access to space-based sensor systems. There is extensive non-military knowledge about satellites today and the same is true for sensor systems that we might wish to mount on a satellite. The part that is missing is the knowledge about the combination of satellite and payload as a system for military use. Regarding anti-satellite systems there are several different threats aimed toward the satellite or its communication channels. There are not any anti-satellite 3 FOI-R--0765--SE Space and defence systems in operation right now but their existence ten years from now is possible. The possibility to interfere with the communication channel between the satellite and the ground station already exists today. Knowledge about these threats is essential to be able to appreciate threats against satellite systems and to estimate the risks of being dependent on satellite information for military needs. The ability to modify the ionosphere gives rise to a number of military applications. Basic research on this area is required to create the ability to evaluate the possibilities. There is considerable knowledge about the physics related to the ionosphere that is connected to the research about aurora borealis1 at the Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna, Sweden. There is no research regarding military applications in this area though. Given the expected value of space assets to the Swedish Armed Forces and the interest shown by other nations in space-related systems, the study suggests that a process for gathering knowledge and information about military applications of space assets should be initiated. Starting with armed forces requirements, a Swedish Armed Forces space policy should be developed so that military, civilian and commercial space assets are taken into consideration. Most important is to study how space-based systems can be used to support Swedish troops in peace support operations abroad and how to increase interoperability by knowledge about and access to space based systems owned by coalition parties. For the purpose of evaluating whether it is realistic for the Swedish Armed Forces to have their own military satellites or not, a study should be initiated to show a cost and feasibility analysis of a Swedish military satellite. A military strategy should concern Sweden’s need to use space. The question of how to acquire the capacity to launch satellites should be further studied from these needs. 1 Northern lights 4 Space and defence FOI-R--0765--SE Acknowledgements This report is an official translation of the Swedish report “Rymd och försvar” (Höstbeck, L. Rymd och försvar. Stockholm, FOI 2001, 50s. FOI-R--0188--SE, User report). The translation was carried out at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Division of Systems Technology. During 2002 a number of space related projects have been started within the Swedish Armed Forces and linked authorities. It is of interest to seek international cooperation in this area and therefore useful to have an English version of this report. RAND made a translation of this report mainly for their interest only but it was not a complete line-for-line translation. This document is put together based on their translation with some modifications and with supplementary information from the original report. FOI has a written permission to use RANDs version based on Gustav Lindstrom’s unofficial English translation, Space and Defence, January 2002, Santa Monica, CA:RAND. Copyright RAND 2002. Stockholm, Sweden 2003-01-07 Sandra Lindström 5 FOI-R--0765--SE Space and defence Table of contents 1 The mission ...........................................................................................................................7 2 Space – what, how and why? ................................................................................................9 2.1 How to map out space ..............................................................................................................9 2.2 Satellites..................................................................................................................................12 2.3 Launch and life limits.............................................................................................................13 2.4 Swedish satellites ....................................................................................................................15 2.5 Fighting systems and deterrence systems..............................................................................15 2.6 Affecting space from earth.....................................................................................................17 2.7 Space and Network Centric Warfare....................................................................................18 2.8 Laws in space..........................................................................................................................19 3 Strategies for engagements in space issues ........................................................................20 4 Military functions for and in space.....................................................................................22 4.1 Satellite related functions.......................................................................................................22 4.1.1 Remote sensing and weather satellites....................................................................................................22 4.1.2 Defence against ballistic missiles............................................................................................................23 4.1.3 Communication........................................................................................................................................26 a) Radio communication ..............................................................................................................................26 b) Optical communication............................................................................................................................27 4.1.4 Navigation ................................................................................................................................................28 4.1.5 Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Indication.........................................................................................30 4.1.6 Signal Intelligence....................................................................................................................................32 4.1.7 Using satellites for strategic and tactical reconnaissance.......................................................................34 4.1.8 Receiving and analysis of data ................................................................................................................36 4.2 Countering satellites and sensor jamming ............................................................................36 4.2.1 Direct confrontation of satellite from ground or air ...............................................................................36 4.2.2 Communication and sensor jamming......................................................................................................38 4.2.3 Electromagnetic pulse..............................................................................................................................38