US Space Force bets big on the use of AI to improve its capabilities

The US Space Force (USSF) has been paying great attention to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve its inventory and access more capable equipment. According to the branch, AI and ML technologies can provide tactical and operational advantages, and it has been working on diverse AI/ML-related efforts.

AI and ML algorithms have been deployed to enhance adaptability and resilience for space solutions, provide faster and more secure and reliable communications, improve ISR systems and accelerate data analysis, information sharing and targeting, in addition to shortening the decision-making process.

One of those initiatives is the Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR). It addresses the branch’s requirements for an increased 10-fold communications capacity for satellites in geosynchronous orbit through transportable, electronically steerable-phased array antennas.

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Selected as the SCAR supplier in 2022 under a US$1.4 billion other transaction agreement, BlueHalo has been providing the force with its Broad Area Deployable Ground terminal Enabling Resilient communication (BADGER).

The project covers initial design, full-rate production and delivery of a fleet of transportable, ground-based phased-array antennas, as well as electronics and software to provide robust, flexible command and control capabilities.

Built upon the manufacturer’s Multi-band Software Defined Antenna (MSDA) technology, BADGER is a deployable multi-beam, multi-band ground terminal engineered to enable resilient operations.

The solution uses AI to power its communications system that can be used across multiple mission areas, enabling communications between multiple spatial, spectral and temporal diverse targets.

Speaking to Shephard, BlueHalo CEO Jonathan Moneymaker explained that the platform resulted from the demands of the “very rapidly” evolving space environment and would “fundamentally change” the USSF operational concept for global coverage, as well as how the service fights in and from space.

From his perspective, the number of satellites on orbit should increase worldwide in the coming years making the operation with the current structure more challenging.

“As we are launching more constellations, there is really no alternative,” Moneymaker noted.

In April, the company demonstrated its integrated backend mission services to guardian operators at the 2024 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Inside a mobile command centre, it showcased the BADGER’s capacity to support mobile communications operations.

In its FY2025 budget proposal, the service planned a more than $550 million investment in programmes of record that involve the use of AI and ML.

Aiming at developing future technologies to understand and control the future space environment, the Space Survivability & Surveillance project should receive $23.7 million to support the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernisation programme.

This initiative involves the use of AI and ML to extend and improve software radio techniques to monitor the space domain and improve the efficiency of other systems.

Another $15.5 million was earmarked to the Missile Warning and Tactical Sensing project, which develops advanced infrared device technologies for hardened space detector arrays with improved detection, acquisition, tracking, and discrimination of space objects and missile warning.

Under this initiative, over the next fiscal year, the Space Force plans to continue the development of trusted AI and ML models for autonomous classification and identification of moving targets in support of multi-domain battlefield operations.

Meanwhile, the service requested $28.5 million for the Space Communication/Positioning, Navigation and Timing Technologies project. This effort was designed to identify and develop technologies that enable access to new communication, positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) satellite capabilities or enhancement of existing US inventory.

Its activities in FY2025 will include exploring AI and ML to enhance the US PNT architecture and reduce the time required to react to a PNT-based threat.

In the case of the Electro-Optic Space Domain Awareness and Satellite Security, it develops advanced, long-range, electro-optical technologies to enable ground-based optical space domain awareness and quantum-based optical communications.

More than $30 million was proposed for the project over the next fiscal year in order to enable the development of AI algorithms to better estimate the position and orientation of uncooperative space objects.

Investments in the Space Data Fusion project, in turn, have been planned to be close to $82 million. This effort develops and upgrades space domain awareness and data exploitation capabilities. It works on AI and ML to develop and deploy advanced data analytics for rapid indication and warning.

The service will also invest more than $31 million in technology maturation efforts, which will include deepening the use of AI and ML in multi-orbit, higher-volume sensor constellations.