Photo By Jason Cutshaw | Russell Vela, chief, Multi-Domain Technologies Division, Research Directorate,...... read more read more
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – U.S. Space Command’s deputy commander traveled to Redstone Arsenal, Feb. 24, for a visit to learn about the vital importance of Army space capabilities for the nation’s defense.
Lt. Gen. Thomas L. James, USSPACECOM deputy commander, received updates on the USASMDC Technical Center’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, the Spatially Enhanced Communications, Tracking, Reconnaissance, and Engagements transportable platform, and other capabilities.
“It is absolutely worth the time to come here because a lot of the capabilities I have known about at SMDC have matured to a level I was not tracking,” James said. “It is good to see a level of continuity from good, hard-working patriots who have learned this unique business. There is really no other way to learn about Army space other than doing it.
“It is great to see where we were, where we are now and to have a small azimuth into where we are going,” he added.
James said USSPACECOM looks at ways to integrate operators’ needs and requirements with systems that are being developed. He said we have to make sure the systems we get are not standalone one-offs and that they are integrated so they will be effective in the space domain for the future.
“The space fight will always be a joint fight,” James said. “The space endeavor from the military’s perspective will always be joint.”
After a Tech Center overview, James learned about the Reagan Test Site mission and how the test range located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands monitors space and missile operations.
Maj. Thomas Burkhart, chief of space operations for RTS, explained how SMDC’s geographically dispersed space professionals perform critical space operations to ensure the delivery of space capabilities to the joint force.
“As USSPACECOM has grown, RTS has implemented network and software solutions to increase our ability to provide timely, accurate, and relevant space domain awareness,” Burkhart said. “The RTS team looks forward to growing the breadth and depth of our capability and capacity to become the essential USSPACECOM partner in the Indo-Pacific.”
Burkhart explained to James how SMDC is both regionally aligned and geographically well postured and RTS occupies key terrain in the Marshall Islands, allowing SMDC to provide unmatched testing resources to enhance strategic deterrence for several adversary nations, as well as mission assurance for our nation’s critical defense systems.
“The location enables SMDC to work closely with U.S. Army Pacific to develop access, basing, and overflight options in support of contingency planning,” Burkhart said. “RTS provides unique space domain awareness that enables U.S. Space Command to protect and defend essential American and allied space systems.”
Prior to wrapping up the visit, Russell Vela, division chief for the Multi-Domain Technologies Division, Research Directorate, Technical Center, gave a tour of the SPECTRE transportable distributed aperture research system. SPECTRE is a distributed aperture research science and technology mobile platform for exploring applications to Army missions.
Vela said distributed aperture technologies can potentially provide the Army warfighter an electromagnetic “force multiplying” capability for critical missions. One example would be sensitive communications and satellite communications, or SATCOM, in the face of adverse weather conditions which would normally negatively impact signal strength. He added that antennas could work together to ensure the overall signal strength is sufficient to meet communication thresholds.
“As a technology demonstration system, the SPECTRE transportable asset is one example of the experimental validation capabilities and platforms being developed by the Technical Center,” Vela said. “This science and technology effort shows promise to potentially support other Army and partner missions of interest beyond SATCOM.”
Richard P. De Fatta, USASMDC deputy to commanding general, said James’ visit highlights the significant contributions USASMDC and the Technical Center make in support of the USSPACECOM mission and ultimately the support for the warfighter. He added that James is not only a critical representative of the command’s primary supported combatant command, he is also an alumnus of USASMDC and is the Army’s senior serving Functional Area-40 space operations officer.
“It is important that he has an updated understanding of how much SMDC has changed since he was a part of the command, and how well we integrate all elements – operational, technical development and capability development – to achieve success in meeting the needs of Army space and missile defense in direct support of all three functional COCOMs: USSPACECOM, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command.”
De Fatta spoke of how important it is to have USSPACECOM’s deputy commander see what the team is doing for the nation and to witness and understand the incredible operational tempo this command maintains.
“Again, Lt. Gen. James sees our support to SPACECOM up close and personal,” De Fatta said. “We are anxious to get his perspective on any support gaps we may currently have or that we should plan for in the future.
“Finally, from the perspective of his vast experience as an Army FA40, we hope to discern his recommendations going forward as we continue the goal of standing up an Army enlisted space military occupational specialty and ultimately a Space Operations Branch, in the joint context of USSPACECOM as a primary recipient of the benefits from that organizational change,” he added.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2025 08:03 |
| Story ID: | 491584 |
| Location: | REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 680 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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