// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Orbital Warfare
Orbital warfare is military conflict that occurs in outer space, involving actions to attack, defend, or control satellites and other space-based assets. The goal is to disrupt an adversary's ability to use space for communication, navigation, or intelligence gathering.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Orbital warfare encompasses military operations within the space domain, involving kinetic and non-kinetic offensive and defensive counterspace (OCS/DCS) actions against adversary space assets like satellites. These operations aim to achieve space superiority by denying, degrading, or destroying an enemy's C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) capabilities while protecting friendly assets.
BACKGROUND
Military technology is the application of technology for use in warfare. It comprises the kinds of technology that are distinctly military in nature and not civilian in application, usually because they lack useful or legal civilian applications, or are dangerous to use without appropriate military training.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- space warfare
- counterspace operations
- astrowarfare
- space combat
- war in space
- orbital conflict
USAGE NOTE
This term is increasingly used in national security and defense strategy discussions to describe the potential for conflict to extend into Earth's orbit.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Orbital Warfare.
A distinct branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, responsible for organizing, training, and equipping forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. Its mission directly involves concepts of orbital warfare, including space domain awareness and defensive/offensive space control.
The primary scientific research and development center for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Its Space Vehicles Directorate develops technologies for space superiority, including advanced satellite maneuverability, resiliency, on-orbit servicing, and space domain awareness, which are foundational to orbital warfare capabilities.
A major defense contractor that develops and builds national security space systems. The company has demonstrated advanced on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations with its Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) and is developing systems for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, which have direct applications in orbital warfare and logistics.
A global aerospace and defense technology company that provides solutions for space domain awareness, satellite communications, and electronic warfare. They develop ground-based and space-based sensors for tracking objects in orbit and create resilient payloads designed to operate in contested space environments.
A leading aerospace and defense company that builds a wide range of military satellites, from GPS to missile warning systems. They are actively developing technologies for 'Joint All-Domain Operations,' which heavily integrates space assets, and are researching directed energy, cyber resiliency, and advanced satellite architectures for survivability in conflict.
A venture-backed startup focused explicitly on developing technology for space security and sustainability. The company is building the Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle (AOV) for rendezvous, proximity operations, and space domain awareness to provide military operators with the tools to respond to threats in orbit.
A global communications company with a significant defense sector focused on providing secure, resilient satellite communications (SATCOM). Their work on anti-jamming technologies, protected tactical waveforms, and cybersecurity for space networks is critical for maintaining command and control during orbital conflict.
A federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that serves as a key technical advisor to the U.S. Space Force and other government agencies. They perform research, analysis, and prototyping on advanced concepts for space warfare, threat assessment, and mission assurance in the orbital domain.