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AURORA, Colo.—The Space Force is endeavoring to enhance its involvement in the extended-range engagement networks that both corporate and public sector representatives concur the U.S. will require during an extensive confrontation, senior figures announced on Feb. 24 at AFA’s Combat Conference.
Extended-range engagement networks, also known as kill webs, represent the methods through which diverse detection devices and offensive systems among the unified military branches exchange target information, in theory enabling military units to engage even without direct visual contact with the objective.
The Space Force holds a significant function within these engagement networks, both by facilitating the movement of information between detection devices and offensive systems, as well as gathering proprietary intelligence.
During a group debate, when questioned regarding the impediments jeopardizing engagement networks, Elaine Bitonti, a vice president at RTX’s Collins Aerospace, identified information transfer as a key issue.
“Should an incident of that magnitude unfold, how will we acquire all the pertinent information from the various offensive systems and diverse detection devices, and how will we rapidly transform it into actionable intelligence for decision-makers?” Bitonti queried. “This endeavor will necessitate an unprecedented operational scope, consequently, this poses a genuinely formidable challenge.”
During any forthcoming extensive confrontation, specialists anticipate that the U.S. would be compelled to execute numerous engagement sequences to engage objectives over immense expanses and within disputed territories.
Col. Jason West, who leads System Delta 85, affirmed his group is actively tackling that issue. Formed in August 2025 with the mandate to furnish instruments for celestial environment comprehension, projectile alert and tracing, projectile interception, combat coordination, and cosmic intelligence, System Delta 85 has swiftly become operational.
“Examine the current requests for proposals, and the alignment is evident,” West remarked during a distinct press briefing. “We are enhancing our methods of data conveyance, we are improving alliance integration, and we are refining our approach to combat coordination.”
Shannon Pallone, executive officer overseeing programs for combat coordination, command, control, communication systems, and cosmic intelligence, stated that mere magnitude is not the sole obstacle concerning extended-range engagement networks; rapidity is equally paramount, to diminish ambiguity with maximum possible haste for those making critical determinations.
“We are diligently examining the entire range of projects, and the industrial sector, to determine how we can achieve superior integration? How can we accelerate integration? How do we streamline the structural framework?” Pallone inquired. “These efforts collectively diminish delay within the system, and involve a systematic approach to identify initial areas for the most substantial enhancements.”
However, the cosmic realm will not merely be requisite for conveying information between disparate terrestrial locations—progressively, extended-range engagement networks will also address orbital hazards.
The Space Force continues to fortify the initial component of that sequence, said Col. Bryon McClain, Program Executive Officer for celestial combat capabilities: celestial environment comprehension.
McClain referenced the contributions of the renowned Air Force veteran and writer John Boyd, who originated the concept of the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act Loop. This OODA Loop model has been adopted throughout the armed forces as a structural approach to deliberation aimed at securing tactical superiority, and the Space Force similarly applies it.
“Regardless of the segment of an engagement network, be it a single individual within an interceptor aircraft, or if the context is tactical or strategic, that is the requisite action,” McClain stated.
Observation, which entails establishing situational comprehension, assists personnel in grasping dangers to their specific engagement sequence or methods to interfere with an opponent’s, and senior Space Force personnel have consistently advocated for improved celestial environment comprehension over recent months.
McClain, along with other officials, highlighted a recent advancement which enhances this situational comprehension: a collaborative effort with the Defense Innovation Unit seeking bids for satellites that can capture detailed photographs of vehicles in geosynchronous Earth orbit: fundamentally, a means to conduct surveillance on rival orbital assets.
The DIU has christened it the Geosynchronous High-Definition Optical Spaceborne Tactical Surveillance initiative, or GHOST-R. The objective involves swiftly deploying satellites into orbit to monitor both allied and opposing orbital craft and acquire imagery of sufficient quality to ascertain their functions.
The audio content of this article is presented by the Air & Space Forces Association, commemorating and aiding our Airmen, Guardians, and their relatives. Discover additional information at afa.org