Outer Space Warfare Challenges: Theory, Doctrine, Strategies and Tactics
ORAL
Abstract
The importance of outer space satellites and their supporting systems cannot be overstated. Their use in the civil and commercial world to provide communications, weather, navigation, timing and Earth resources monitoring provides major advantages to those who employ the information generated by these systems. However, due to the global reach of these space systems, advantages are provided to both friendly and adversary militaries. Based on the author’s extensive experience in this theoretical area, he has developed essential theory, rules, doctrine, strategies and tactics by which he feels the next space war will be conducted. These are based on his unclassified analyses of past military history, and of classical Military Principles of War [2] and Sun Tzu's Art of War [1] applicability to Space Warfare (see author’s additional papers). It is very important to better understand how a future space war might be conducted to ensure favorable outcomes for the more prepared country, and for better outcomes for the world, in general, post space conflict.
I. Topics to be Discussed During Tutorial
1. History of Space Warfare:
Discussion of the 11 space wars that have occurred since the 1960’s. Also includes what attacks have been happening in space during the Ukrainian conflict.
2. Space Doctrine:
How countries with limited space capabilities can achieve localized space dominance through superior doctrine.
3. Means of Attacking Space Systems:
A discussion of the differing techniques of attacking satellites without creating space debris.
4. Which Countries Have Space Warfare Dominance:
Ranking of country abilities to conduct space warfare and their political strengths / weaknesses.
5. Principle of Space Warfare and Sun Tzu:
How classical terrestrial Principles of War and the teachings of Sun Tzu are still applicable to space warfare.
6. Space Conflict Escalation Ladder:
Techniques to monitor and control conflict escalation of space warfare linked to terrestrial conflicts.
7. “Top 40 Rules” for Space Warfare:
Based on the author’s extensive experience in this mission area, he presents what are the top conditions and issues surround outer space warfare.
8. What is the Biggest Threat From Space?:
How the threat of hypervelocity weapons delivered from space would degrade the United States to a second-rate world power.
I. Topics to be Discussed During Tutorial
1. History of Space Warfare:
Discussion of the 11 space wars that have occurred since the 1960’s. Also includes what attacks have been happening in space during the Ukrainian conflict.
2. Space Doctrine:
How countries with limited space capabilities can achieve localized space dominance through superior doctrine.
3. Means of Attacking Space Systems:
A discussion of the differing techniques of attacking satellites without creating space debris.
4. Which Countries Have Space Warfare Dominance:
Ranking of country abilities to conduct space warfare and their political strengths / weaknesses.
5. Principle of Space Warfare and Sun Tzu:
How classical terrestrial Principles of War and the teachings of Sun Tzu are still applicable to space warfare.
6. Space Conflict Escalation Ladder:
Techniques to monitor and control conflict escalation of space warfare linked to terrestrial conflicts.
7. “Top 40 Rules” for Space Warfare:
Based on the author’s extensive experience in this mission area, he presents what are the top conditions and issues surround outer space warfare.
8. What is the Biggest Threat From Space?:
How the threat of hypervelocity weapons delivered from space would degrade the United States to a second-rate world power.
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Publication: Over 185 publications and lectures in over 23 allied countries around the world.
Presenters
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Paul S Szymanski
Space Strategies Center
Authors
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Paul S Szymanski
Space Strategies Center