DOD Announces the National Security Space Strategy

The Department of Defense announced today the release of the National Security Space Strategy (NSSS), signed jointly by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

The strategy is derived from the National Security Strategy and the National Space Policy and outlines necessary changes to enhance national security through DoD and intelligence community activities in space.  It is the culmination of a lengthy and detailed Space Posture Review conducted in close consultation with other agencies and allies.

 “The National Security Space Strategy represents a significant departure from past practice,” said Gates.  “It is a pragmatic approach to maintain the advantages we derive from space while confronting the new challenges we face.”

The NSSS is driven by an evolving strategic environment.  Space is crucial for military operations and intelligence collection, but it is increasingly congested with satellites, orbital debris, and radiofrequency interference; contested by countries developing counterspace capabilities; and competitive with an increasing number of spacefaring countries and companies.

In implementing the strategy, the department will promote norms of behavior to bring order to a congested domain; develop international partnerships to operate in coalitions and reinforce military space capabilities; increase resiliency and pursue cross-domain solutions to fight in a degraded space environment; and improve acquisition processes to energize the space industrial base.

The NSSS will be implemented by updating guidance, plans, doctrine, programs, and operations to reflect the new strategic approach.  The department’s fiscal 2012 budget will contain initial steps toward implementing the strategy, and the department will use the coming year to lay the foundation for changes in fiscal 2013 and beyond.  The new Defense Space Council, chaired by Secretary of the Air Force and Department of Defense Executive Agent for Space Michael Donley, will help oversee implementation.

 “The strategy provides a basis to update defense plans and programs and make the hard choices that will be required to implement the strategy,” said Gates.  “We look forward to working closely with Congress, industry, and allies to implement this new strategy for space.”

For more information about NSSS, please visit http://www.defense.gov/nsss.

This article was sponsored by Forensic Science Books.