Instead, the Pentagon and America’s defense experts should work on creating a dedicated Cyber Force within the Space Force.
Two influential think tanks, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), have established the “Commission on Cyber Force Generation.” Composed of former military leaders, defense industry executives, and retired civilian officials, the commission is creating the framework for a possibly new branch of the United States Armed Forces—the so-called “Cyber Force.”
It makes sense that this might happen now. After all, President Donald Trump is the man who created the United States Space Force in his first term. And there is little doubt that America’s cybersecurity and cyberwarfare strategies have not been prioritized the way many computer experts and military leaders who work in the cyber domain believe it should be. In fact, many of the arguments surrounding the creation of a Cyber Force sound similar to the arguments made about creating the Space Force in 2019.
Cyberspace as a Warfighting Domain
Like space, cyberspace is a warfighting domain. Unlike space, however, cyberspace is not a physical domain, unless one counts the various servers and physical linkages that comprise the infrastructure of cyberspace.
With this in mind, creating yet another new service branch is wasteful. Instead, the Pentagon and America’s defense experts should work on creating a dedicated Cyber Force within the Space Force. It should do the same for a separate force dedicated to defending the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum, too. But like the Cyber Force, the EM defense force should not be given its own branch; it, too, should be placed under the imprimatur of the US Space Force.
It is important to understand that the Space Force is more than just the branch that handles the defense of American assets in space. It is one of America’s technical services, along with the Air Force and Navy. Of course, the Space Force is concerned with the strategic domain of space.
But it must also pay close attention to the cyberspace domain and the EM spectrum. The weapons and systems that the Space Force uses—and defends—are vulnerable to cyberattacks and disruptions on the EM spectrum, just as much as they are to physical counterspace attacks.
Under current conditions, cyber defense, EM Spectrum defense, and space defense are all separated to one degree or another. Combining these capabilities is required to ensure a seamless defense of some of America’s most critical capabilities. Both China and Russia have already reforged their militaries into being more effective in denying America access to space, they have perfected the art and science of cyberwarfare, and they have demonstrated a remarkable ability to disrupt the EM spectrum that so many US weapons and platforms rely upon.
While the Pentagon has made efforts in all three domains to ensure that the United States’ high-end military functions are maintained in a war, bringing these three elements under the control of the Space Force is likely the best pathway forward. Having this proposed Cyber Force as part of the Space Force would ensure that the onboard operating systems of sensitive US satellites were better defended against cyberattack.
Similarly, if an EM spectrum defense group were placed under Space Force’s command, a more thorough strategy of protection could be implemented with less bureaucratic complications.
Understanding the Space Force’s Mission
Since its fairly recent inception, the Space Force has had many false starts. But its core mission—defending American assets in space and ensuring the United States continues dominating the strategic high ground—remains intact. By placing both cyber and EM spectrum-related mission sets under the Space Force’s control, the Pentagon would be streamlining the defense of some of America’s most important assets. To go an extra step, the Pentagon ought to place the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) under the Space Force’s control, too. After all, the Space Force is tasked with national missile defense and satellite reconnaissance.
In all candor, these steps are not likely to be taken. Unless a major reorganization takes place that sees the Space Force expand rapidly, this most important branch of the US military will continue being given the short shrift. Considering that space, cyberspace, and the EM spectrum are the primary battlefields of the next great war, incorporating these elements under the Space Force seems like a logical and necessary step.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Aleksandar Malivuk.
American soldier in military uniform preventing cyber attack in military intelligence center. An US officer intercepting messages to stop terrorism. Modern warfare system surveillance concept. Image: Shutterstock / Aleksandar Malivuk.
