...as nations typically associated with space power look to maintain and update capabilities and other nations look to establish themselves by taking advantage of technology and platform advances. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, “Military Satellite Trends and Outlook,” also concludes that the fiscally constrained environment will result in more cooperation between nations on developing and sharing capabilities. “From an operational perspective, small satellites supplement the close-up view that can be provided with tactical UAVs with added situational awareness.”

Military satellites have, for some time, formed the backbone of military communication, reconnaissance and navigation capabilities. This is a fundamental capability area in what is becoming a far more contested and congested area of operation. As military satellite platforms share development with commercial ventures and defense authorities look to alternative platform sizes, the utilization of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components will also increase in prominence.

“Advances in technology have elevated the status of small satellites and we will see more utilization as they complement traditional satellite platforms,” said Asif Anwar, Director of the ADS service at Strategy Analytics. “From an operational perspective, small satellites supplement the close-up view that can be provided with tactical UAVs with added situational awareness.”

“The fiscally constrained environment will result in more cooperation between nations on developing and sharing capabilities although this will have to be balanced with maintaining sovereign capabilities,” said Eric Higham, ADS Service Director North America. “As well the pooling of resources, we will also see Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes such as the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) being used to fund future capabilities in space.”