WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is accelerating investments in space-based technologies in an effort to outpace threats from adversaries like Russia and China, officials said Oct. 15.
Speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference, Col. Peter Atkinson highlighted key priorities, including new satellite navigation receivers designed to resist jamming, as well as multi-orbit communication systems and increased use of commercial satellite imagery.
Atkinson, who is Army Space Division chief at the Pentagon, said secure GPS receivers, which incorporate M-code anti-jamming tech and additional sensor data, will be rolled out across Army units by 2025.
These advanced receivers, manufactured by BAE Systems, are designed to work with the GPS M-code signal, a military-grade system with enhanced security.
Another priority for the Army are hybrid satellite communication terminals that give users access to geostationary, medium, and low-Earth orbit satellites, enhancing connectivity. Atkinson said commercial multi-orbit systems were tested during a recent pilot program, the results of which will inform future procurement decisions.
A focus on space technologies has been accelerated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces have deployed sophisticated jammers to disrupt Ukraine’s use of GPS-guided weapons and drones. This real-world scenario has underscored the critical importance of resilient space-based technologies in modern warfare, officials said at the conference.
Focus on ‘multi-domain’ operations
The Army’s emphasis on space is part of a broader Pentagon strategy known as “multi-domain operations,” which envisions seamless coordination across land, sea, air, and space.
To support this vision, the service plans to invest an estimated $1.5 billion over the next five years in ground stations developed by data analytics firm Palantir. These stations, known as Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN), will leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to process data from satellites, high-altitude aerial platforms, and terrestrial sensors, providing soldiers with real-time, actionable intelligence.
Army officials insist that space-based capabilities are no longer seen as mere support functions but as essential tools for warfighters. The service’s space push also includes a boost in human capital, with plans to add nine companies and 27 platoons specializing in space-based systems and capabilities, Atkinson said.
Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Tucker, the top enlisted leader of the Colorado-based Army 1st Space Brigade, said space expertise is needed to improve combat readiness. “You would assume that they’re sitting in a nice building behind a computer, but my personnel are forward in the fight,” Tucker said.
“We train and certify the Colorado National Guard to do space operations,” he said. “Our primary focus, on top of building this exquisite space capability, is building soldiers able to shoot, move and communicate,” he added. “We are your ‘boots in the dirt’ when it comes to the Army’s role in space.”
While the U.S. Space Force has the lead in military space programs, officials stressed that the two branches work in partnership.
“We’re not trying to replicate what Space Force does,” Tucker said, emphasizing that the Army’s goal is to better understand how space technologies can be leveraged to support ground operations.