Schriever Wargame 2010 - Air Force Space Command

Senior Leader Perspective
Beyond Schriever Wargame 2010
Brig Gen Perry Matte, CF
Director General Integrated Force Development
National Defence Headquarters
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Space Development
Canada, like all developed countries today, is dependant
on support from space-derived capabilities for critical
public services ranging from financial transactions synchronized
via GPS timing signals to weather forecasting using satellite
imaging. Further to those basic public and commercial
demands for satellite services, Canada has a vested interest in
developing space capabilities to address the sovereignty and security
challenges presented by its unique geographic and demographic
characteristics. By area, Canada is the second largest
country in the world and has the world’s longest coastline bordered
by three ocean approaches, 1 yet 80 percent of its population
of 35 million is within 100 miles of the nearly 4,000 mile
southern border with the US. 2 This vast country, including its
Arctic archipelago, presents a significant challenge for providing
wide-area surveillance of its air and maritime approaches
as well as connecting its people through communication links
across great distances. It is, therefore, not surprising that spacebased
capabilities have become critical to all elements of our
national power.
In addition to addressing the challenges inherent in national
sovereignty and security, space systems provide essential support
to a myriad of Canadian military operations and global
deployments. As is the case for other modern militaries, space
is no longer viewed as merely a force multiplier for the Canadian
Forces (CF), but rather as a critical force enabler for
operations. This is especially true for applications that enhance
a commander’s situational awareness and provide for assured
command and control (C2) functions.
This combination of demanding national and global operational
requirements has led to Canadian initiatives across the
full spectrum of civil and military space capabilities, including
partnering agreements with key allies where there is a common,
shared interest. Most notably, Canada has developed the
Sapphire satellite as a contribution to shared space situational
awareness; has partnered with the US in the advanced extremely
high frequency satellite program; has invested in space based
synthetic aperture radar technology as evidenced by RADAR-
SAT 1 and 2; and the next generation of Canadian space based
radars, the RADARSAT Constellation Mission.
In concert with this growing reliance on space capabilities,
space is becoming relatively more affordable and accessible especially
with the advances being made in micro and nano satellites.
While this trend supports expansion of Canada’s space
presence, it also opens the door for an increasing number of
new state and non-state actors. The result, of course, is the
expression that space has become a congested, contested, and
competitive environment that is no longer a sanctuary. It is
also clear that no single country has the capacity to develop and
sustain all of its space-based needs, not only leading to the recognition
that partnerships are required but also forming one of
the underlying principles behind allied participation in recent
Schriever Wargames.
To provide a cohesive framework for addressing the increasing
importance and use of space in light of the increased risks
faced, the Canadian Department of National Defence and the
Canadian Forces (DND/CF) is drafting a new national defense
space policy and a national defense space strategy. Our draft
space policy has identified three strategic DND/CF goals: assured
access to space and its unhampered exploitation; effectively
integrate the unique capabilities that are attainable from
space to fulfill Canada’s defense commitments; and protect national
space systems and allied space assets critical to national
defense from all threats, including those located in or passing
through space. Together our space policy and space strategy
documents will guide, define, and inform future investment decisions
for space capabilities as part of a more comprehensive
and sustainable Canadian National Defence Space Program.
Central to this program will remain the need for strong collaboration
with other Canadian government departments and
agencies, industry, and allies.
Canada in Schriever Wargame 2010
Since 2003, a key element of our DND/CF international involvement
in shaping our requirements for space development
has been our participation in the Schriever Wargame series.
Wargames provide a controlled forum to investigate, modify,
and validate capabilities, constructs, concepts, and strategies
by playing them against “what if” scenarios designed to provide
gauged but often uncertain outcomes based on decisions
made or actions taken. The outcomes can then be assessed for
further exploration or “real-world” application. By providing
such a forum for game playing, the Schriever Wargames have
presented Canada with a unique opportunity to work with, and
leverage, a broad military space community in gaining insight
Together our space policy and space strategy documents will guide, define, and inform
future investment decisions for space capabilities as part of a more comprehensive and
sustainable Canadian National Defence Space Program.
High Frontier 22