The US government has demonstrated the capability to transfer Link 16 military data lines from room, a creation that is anticipated to improve military operations in the Indo-Pacific area. This breakthrough comes as part of efforts to counter China’s formidable Anti- Access/Area Denial ( A2/AD ) strategy, designed to keep US forces at bay in the event of a conflict, particularly over Taiwan.
Speaking at Aus Space in Sydney, Brig General Anthony Mastalir, mind of storage operations for US Indo- Pacific Command, emphasized the proper value of this new capacity. ” We’ve already demonstrated the ability to transmit Link- 16 tactical data ranges from space and we’re doing those demonstrations with]the Pacific ] Fleet in the Indo- Pacific AOR]Area of Responsibility ]”, he said. ” It’s going to be a sport change”.
As per a Breaking Defense statement, the Link 16 technology, second announced in soon November, extends communication capabilities worldwide, overcoming the preceding line- of- sight limitation of 200 to 300 nautical miles. The US ensures constant, near-real-time communication with all military services and with Nato and other allies by integrating this technology into space. This crucial component of the Joint Fire Network enables commanders to collaborate on up-to-date intelligence and automate fire control.
China’s rapid advancement in strengthening its A2/AD capabilities since 2019 has been “breathtaking”, according to Mastalir. China’s strategy includes a significant increase in satellites and long-range, high-speed missiles, such as the DF-26, to stop US intervention in the South and East China Seas. According to Mastalir,” China’s kill chain is specially designed to stop the United States from entangling and projecting power inside the second island chain.”
Despite the difficulties, Mastalir questioned whether the US could use strong partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to counteract China’s strategy. ” This is not an easy task”, he acknowledged,” but I can tell you that with the partnerships that we have in the Indo- Pacific AOR, there are going to be opportunities, and we’ll continue to pursue those”.
In addition to enhancing communication capabilities, the US Space Forces Indo- Pacific is expanding its personnel and resources. Over the past year, the organization has expanded to include civilian positions and contractor positions. Partnerships with various organizations, including Space Systems Command and the Space Development Agency, are also being strengthened.
In the near future, the US military intends to establish a US Space Forces unit in Japan, which will be modeled after the Space Forces Korea unit that was established in December 2022. This expansion is a part of a larger effort to increase space capabilities in collaboration with allies and partners throughout the Pacific AOR.
” It really is a conversation with each country in terms of your interests,” he said. What are your desires? What are your priorities and objectives”? Mastalir explained. Whether through partnering on investments or establishing sovereign space capabilities, the goal is to create customized solutions.
