Interview with NCI on the Space Domain

Space Forces are relatively new organisations. What challenges are you facing in the formation? What lessons learnt from other organisations are you applying? 

Space Forces are indeed relatively new, but the nations creating them have been operating in the space domain for some time, so the understanding and expertise is generally being re-branded and reorganised.  Within NATO, we have recently established a Space Centre which is based at Ramstein to inform the NATO Command Structure on the challenges and opportunities presented by the space domain.  The challenges for NATO are perhaps slightly different than for Nations; the Alliance has a long pedigree of operating SATCOM within space and well-established relationships and processes with Nations and industry manage that delivery. NATO does not retain operational command over space capabilities, which remain a National or commercially operated entity.  In order to maximise the potential of ISR in particular, then the requirement for the Alliance is one of ensuring complementary effect through leveraging the capabilities of the Alliance members, and commercial providers, to best effect.  This relationship forming with allies and vendors in space is a process which is being undertaken by NATO nations as well as the Alliance as a whole. As a technological organisation, the NCI Agency has the role of ensuring that data from space is available at the point of need. There are lessons that can be shared between all Alliance members regarding the challenges in undertaking this endeavour. There are similar lessons to be gleaned from the establishment of the cyber domain and the integration of capabilities from across the Alliance where we have had to work closely with Nations at various levels of cyber maturity.

Several nations state that space freedom is not a single nation endeavour. How does this affect procurements, operational concepts or even how we generally think about space defence and freedom?

The strength of the Alliance is the unity of the member states, and NATO provides a potential forum for Nations to come together to discuss space defence and freedom.  Within the Alliance there is a broad spectrum of experience within the space domain, so there are many lessons and expertise that can be shared to good effect.  Looking to procurement in particular, there is always a fine balance between sovereign capability and supporting the Alliance. If the members can seek to coordinate joint activities and action in addition to investment in development and procurement, then the effectiveness of the Alliance, and the data access available to the member nations, increases considerably.

Few domains are susceptible to disruptive technologies such as space. How do you ensure that Space Organisations are ready for the shockwaves new technologies could create? How do you ensure they can keep up? 

The space domain offers opportunities to embrace advances in commercial and disruptive technologies within defence structures. The challenge for defence is keeping abreast with the advances in order to not only incorporate the technology as appropriate, but to ensure that processes and procedures are adapting to ensure that disruptive technologies are effectively integrated.  Through establishing relationships with the industry leaders in disruptive technology, and having an open and honest discussion regarding ambition and intent, then defence can maximise the opportunities presented.  As the space domain is vital to many aspects of society beyond defence, the relationship should be mutually beneficial; the mutual exchange of ideas and technology is an area the NCI Agency seeks to pursue at the annual NATO Edge conference. By not seeking to develop and operate NATO space capabilities, the Alliance has the flexibility to seek out the best from the nations and their industry.

With the declaration of space as an official operational domain. How does this fit in the multi-domain concept today and in the future?

Multi Domain Operations are dependent upon data that is assured, timely, and secure.  Much of this data will travel from and/or through space, so the focus upon resilience of the space domain has to increase.  Without faith in our ability to collect and disseminate data to the point of need, then the ability to integrate the domains effectively is greatly reduced.  Ensuring that there is a data architecture to support multi domain operations is vital, and creating commonality across partners to allow for Alliance operations, is a core element of that requirement.

How will end-users rethink ISR operations in space because of this?

ISR operations need to be ever more focused upon a need to share rather than a need to know, and not just between Nations, but with commercial entities and partners. With an increasing amount of data available, then introducing and trusting data analytics to assist with the processing and exploitation segments of the Joint ISR process is a fundamental mind-set change that will become increasingly relevant.  Considering analytics within the command chain of units and trusting the output, while maintaining a person in the loop for certain areas of operations, will ensure that data is delivered in a manner that can rapidly assist decision-making.  Also, there needs to be a fundamental rethink on protective markings.  So much data is now available at unclassified levels, but the analysis derived can remain classified; how we handle and store this data to ensure maximum use, while guaranteeing the security of the analysis as appropriate, is a challenge for traditional data architectures.

Space is democratising as the private sphere increase their operations. What challenges and opportunities are appearing?

The number of actors in space presents both challenges and opportunities for the way in which we (defence) engages with these players.  Defence is notoriously slow in developing procurement strategies, which needs to change should we want to fully exploit the space domain. Relationships with industry are a vital component in how we can progress through our constraints.

What trends in the Space Industry do you applaud? What trends worry you?

In particular I applaud the introduction of analytics and direct tasking of space-based ISR.  With the automatic “cross cueing” between open sources and space based ISR, companies are tasking their satellites based on detected upsurges of activity from media or social media channels which expedites the collection management process.  The ability to task ISR collect makes the analyst also a collection manager; an important leap in timeliness and access to data which is assisted by analytics on board satellites, reducing the data transfer requirements. The trend that worries me at present is the ability of defence to keep up with technological opportunities and change at a pace that is consistently keeping us at least near to the technological edge.  Defence acquisition processes are not a concern for many of our adversaries who can potentially progress faster and with more risk acceptance.  We need to adapt our procurement mentality and risk appetite in order to progress at pace.

If you could reach out to every industry operating in space, what would be three key messages you want them to keep in mind?

Interoperability; the ability to move data onto secure networks seamlessly; and patience with our fiscal and procurement processes.  If we can keep these 3 to the forefront of thinking then the potential for strong relationships between defence and the commercial sector is strong.