Space Security Index

Space Security 2011
140
malfunctions, address issues of harmful interference, and prevent purposeful damage to
satellite communications links. 15
2010 Development
U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) reaches Full Operational Capability
On 3 November 2010, the U.S. DOD announced that USCYBERCOM had reached full
operational capability, having achieved initial operating capacity on 21 May. 16 In 2009,
the Secretary of Defense had ordered the military to set up USCYBERCOM as a unied
command to act as a central hub for U.S. cyber capabilities. After delays, USCYBERCOM
was established in October 2009 under the leadership of the director of the National Security
Agency (NSA) as an armed forces sub-unied command subordinate to U.S. STRATCOM.
USCYBERCOM, headquartered at Fort Meade, MD, plans to hire as many as 1,000 cyber
specialists in the near future. 17 e Pentagon will continue to develop policies for cyberspace
operations.
On 21 May 2010, General Keith Alexander, NSA Director since 2005, assumed command
of USCYBERCOM. e new command’s powers remain somewhat unclear; for instance,
can oensive action be authorized? 18 Senior policymakers have been debating whether to
grant USCYBERCOM such authority, which could include the destruction or disruption
of an opponent’s network to prevent an attack on a U.S. target. 19 Alexander has stated that
he envisions the protection of key commercial and civilian infrastructure such as power grids
and banks. 20 He argues that “we have to have oensive capabilities to, in real time, shut down
somebody trying to attack us.” 21
e USCYBERCOM aegis would include government-run satellite ground stations and
uplinks, but it is unclear to what extent privately owned facilities will be protected. Alexander
says that civilian business networks will not be part of his agency’s domain, but leaves that
possibility open to a “decision from the White House” 22 and has stated that “attacks and their
potential eects (do) not discriminate between military and civilian users.” 23 For instance,
the Stuxnet virus attacks against Iran, which General Alexander calls “very sophisticated,”
have highlighted the vulnerability of key systems to cyber-attacks. 24
2010 Development
Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection, and Reporting System (RAIDRS) program reaches milestones
In 2010, RAIDRS marked its fth year of continuous deployed operations, employed by the
Operation Silent Sentry of the 16th and 380th Space Control Squadrons located at Peterson
Air Force Base, CO. 25 Using RAIDRS, Operation Silent Sentry has been monitoring
critical satellite communications links for U.S. forces in support of military operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq. 26 RAIDRS, initially deployed in July 2005 as the Satellite Interference
Response System for a 120-day proof of concept, was then re-designated RAIDS Deployable
Ground Segment Zero (RDGS-0) and assigned to Operation Silent Sentry. 27
RAIDRS Block-10 (RB-10), the follow-on to RDGS-0, is a worldwide network of sensors
slated to be deployed in 2012, with full operational capability expected in 2013. 28 On 1 March,
RB-10 prime contractor Integral Systems Inc. announced that it had completed the Required
Asset Available milestone Factory Acceptance Test of the Block-10 Central Operating
Location and rst deployable system, 29 which is a basic requirement for the system’s Initial
Operating Capability. Subsequently, on 5 January 2011 it was announced that all system
requirements capable of being tested at the assembly facility have been veried. 30 is paves
the way for the Developmental Test and Evaluation, the nal on-site test prior to delivery.