This episode of the Prague Space Security Talks features Major General Brian Sidari, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence at the United States Space Force, in a wide-ranging discussion on the changing character of conflict and the growing importance of space to modern military operations.

Maj. Gen. Sidari examines what it means for space to become increasingly contested and congested, as the number of satellites grows and China and Russia continue to develop counterspace capabilities that could disrupt or deny the space-enabled services on which joint and allied forces depend.

The conversation explores the importance of space domain awareness – knowing what is happening in orbit and understanding the intent, capabilities, and risks associated with different actors and systems. It also addresses the critical role space plays in sensing, missile warning, communications, and global situational awareness, providing commanders with the information needed to achieve decision advantage.

The discussion goes beyond the orbital environment to consider how resilient space capabilities are built. Maj. Gen. Sidari highlights the value of proliferated and disaggregated architectures, the importance of secure supply chains, hardware, software, and data infrastructure, and the challenge of bringing commercial innovation into government at sufficient speed and scale while managing risk.

A recurring theme is that military capability is more than technology alone: it combines the system, trained personnel, processes, and procedures needed to employ it effectively.

As military operations become ever more dependent on information, the conversation ultimately raises a broader question: how should an information-age force prepare for a future in which strategic advantage will increasingly depend on sensing, understanding, and rapid decision-making?

 

🎧 Listen to the full episode here.