DOCUMENTS & RESOURCES
ARTICLES
EXCERPTS FROM HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE TESTIMONY APRIL 20, 2021
GEN Dickinson on Competition with China
“We have seen the activities by our competitors, both Russia and China, as they've expanded their capabilities, in particular China. In the space domain, we see their capabilities from direct ascent, anti-satellite capabilities to on orbit activity that they've done with that capability. And we've seen the increase or proliferation of their directed energy efforts in terms of electronic warfare and jamming as well as laser technology.”
“So the pacing threat, the pacing challenge for in the space domain is like it is in the other domains, which is China and they are growing capability and capacity as we've seen over the last several years. If you look at the vast -- not just the gross number of satellites that the Chinese have today based on what they had 10 years ago. They have well over 400 [satellites] and so we know that that is a growing and campaign capability and capacity to probably be over a thousand by 2030. So they are the pacing threat for us in the space domain just as they are in other domains.”
GEN Dickinson on deterrence through cooperation with allies and partners
“One of our biggest deterrence opportunities is with our allies and partners. Since this command has stood up, we have seen a wave, if you will, of allies and partners who want to come and be part of U.S. Space Command and part of the space enterprise. One of the greatest deterrence cooperation with our allies and partners and how we can all come together in a very coordinated and synchronized manner in order to do deterrence. One example in particular was the messaging that we did last year in 2000 in response to Russian on-orbit activities and their direct ascent ASAT tests. And what I mean by that is when we developed our messaging strategy for those events, we had tremendous participation and integration with our allies and partners that we've never seen before. So one of the powers of this command or one of the strengths of this command is that we are able to do that 24 hours a day in terms of holding our adversaries and competitors accountable in the space domain. And our allies and partners provided big piece to that deterrence message.
GEN Dickinson on Space Domain Awareness
“U.S. Space Command is focused on my number one priority of enhancing existing and developing new space awareness capabilities. Space domain awareness gives us the insight into activity throughout the space domain, including potential adversary activities. But perhaps more importantly, insight into the intent of those potential adversaries to space domain awareness, provides decision quality information to combatant commanders and the national command authorities to ensure we can provide viable military options with the appropriate decision space throughout the spectrum of operations from deterrence to warfighting in order to most effectively accomplish our missions. U.S. Space Command has assessed our current capabilities and developed the requirements necessary to expand that capability where needed to meet our mission imperatives.”
GEN Dickinson on total force
“As we speak now, the reserve component is a very important part of the U.S. Space Command. Matter of fact, when we stood up or when we established about 20 months ago, one of our biggest elements or components within the command was the reserve component. It was the reserves and the National Guard, that's a very important part of the command. They bring a great deal of expertise and knowledge to the command. I see that in the future too. Space Command will always have the reserve component as an element within the command.”
GEN Dickinson on the people of U.S. Space Command
In describing the accomplishment of our nation's newest combatant command, I am pleased that nearly 18,000 military civilian and contractor personnel supporting United States Space Command. In United Space Command, our power is our people.
Our diverse force will continue balancing combat readiness and preparing for the future. We will provide our people a working environment and culture that allows them to thrive while reaching their full potential. Our ideals reflect those of our oath to the Constitution of the United States, and we remain committed to providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare and securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
GEN Dickinson on competition with Russia
Russia's published military doctrine calls for employment of weapons to hold U.S. and allied space assets at risk. For example, similar to the Russian space-based weapons test in 2017, Russia again conducted a test of a space-based antisatellite weapon. Additionally, the December 2020 test of a direct ascent anti-satellite weapon demonstrates that even as Russia aims to restrict the capabilities of the United States, they clearly have no intention of halting their own ground-based and on-orbit counter-space weapons systems. Currently, Russia has about 200 satellites on orbit and could double that by 2030.