Doug Liddle
Director, Space, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Space is unique in its capability, with applications that have far-reaching impacts across defence and other government organisations. Space provides a unique vantage point for observing and, in turn, better understanding the Earth, enabling applications that have a significant impact across defence, civil and commercial sectors.
When we think about the digital landscape both now and in the future, space-derived intelligence has never been more important. It enables everything from global coverage; to the provision of secure and rapid access to critical information from anywhere on Earth; and the ability to capture one moment in time for one location with multiple sensors.
The growing importance of space has been widely recognised. When looking at defence and aerospace, for example, our research found that 89% of decision-makers in these sectors believe space will become an essential component of national defence. A further two in five agree operationalising the space domain is the most important area of focus for defence technology exploitation.
Dual-use perspective from space
From radio frequency (RF) to synthetic aperture radar (SAR), multi-source data collection is the future of advanced space-derived intelligence. By assimilating data from a number of sources and getting it into the right hands at the speed of relevance, we can provide the clarity required for faster and more informed decision-making on Earth. Such insights will have far-reaching dual-use applications for public, private and sectors alike.
In fact, the concept of ‘dual-use’ has become an increasingly critical part of the space equation around the world, opening our eyes to many opportunities in terms of enabling new capabilities and driving market growth both in the UK and internationally.
Dual-use technologies enhance security
The UK Space Command’s 2022 Space Capability Management Plan discusses the overlap of civil Earth Observation (EO) and defence Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), highlighting a key area for dual-use solutions. In this instance, the same satellite assets and much of the same ground infrastructure could be shared by defence, security and wider government customers to deliver outcomes particular to that user.
For example, the same space technologies that are crucial for identifying and detecting illegal fishing, illegal mining, dark ships and even people smuggling, are equally as integral to national security and defence applications, including global command and control for ISR and precision navigation. These technologies can also be used for monitoring the impact of climate change on the planet — by collecting and analysing data on extreme weather conditions and natural disasters, for instance — to inform government sustainability strategies.
The role of space-derived data in modern defence
If we take a closer look at the defence sector, the reality is the modern battlefield is evolving at breakneck speed, with data at the centre. According to our research, 86% of defence leaders believe the future battlespace will be an information battlespace, with 98% agreeing that effective decision-making is increasingly reliant on the quick delivery of trusted data. What’s more, 90% highlighted an urgent need for more seamless information sharing across domains — traditionally covering land, sea, air and, more recently, cyber and space.
Modern space is much more than rockets and satellites. As the only pan-global domain, space enables integration across all components of the armed forces. It sits at the heart of achieving military advantage on the world stage, which is why it has quickly become an equally important military domain.
Arguably the most valuable component of the space domain is how it can be used to integrate different data sources and form a digital thread across the entire defence ecosystem. No other military domain has the ability to both acquire and transmit mission-critical information to where it is needed, anywhere on Earth – in near real-time.
Space and the insights it provides will
only grow in importance in years to come.
The future of sustainable innovation
Space and the insights it provides will only grow in importance in years to come and what makes all of this possible is innovative and constantly evolving technology. Ensuring this innovation is as sustainable as possible is vitally important. The space industry has traditionally relied on hardware.
To some extent that will never change; we’ll always need to build physical satellites and the rockets that transport them. However, we can use software to significantly reduce our physical space footprint, and one of the most significant contributors to space debris is single-purpose satellites.
Reprogrammable satellites enhance adaptability
Capabilities such as reprogrammable satellites and reconfigurable payloads mean space assets will soon have the ability to be updated for future missions while still in orbit, thereby providing long-term value and increasing space’s influence.
For example, constellations and clusters of re-programmable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites boasting a comprehensive set of sensors can provide a wealth of imagery and other data across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Combining this with powerful onboard data processing capability and communications links to users on the ground and on the move provides a powerful, integrated network and knowledge base.
Having the ability to update applications on board or physically upgrade and repair them while still in orbit will ensure the enduring relevance of the satellites and reduce the need to launch additional satellites. This paradigm significantly reduces our physical space footprint and the environmental impact of manufacture and launch.
Space innovation enables informed decisions
Ultimately, space innovation plays a crucial role in providing the power of perspective for faster and more informed decision-making on Earth. By rapidly bringing together the threads of space-derived intelligence, we can keep critical infrastructure running, national security protected and armed forces prepared.
