US Space Force electromagnetic weapons played a crucial role in US military operations in Venezuela and Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The WSJ was granted access to a US Space Force base in Colorado, where it was shown some of the Pentagon's space warfare capabilities, including systems designed to disrupt enemy satellites and detect threats to the US military.
Among the weapons demonstrated was Meadowlands, an offensive system that can jam enemy satellites and disrupt their communications.
According to the WSJ, these satellites are used for surveillance, communications, and navigation.
Meadowlands often operates alongside a defensive system known as Bounty Hunter, which scans the electromagnetic spectrum to detect and locate potential threats to US forces, the report explained. Commanders can then pinpoint the location of a specific threat and order a defensive strike.
Transportable jamming system used by US Space Force
The US Space Force has also accelerated the deployment of a newer jamming system known as the Remote Modular Terminal. The equipment can be packed into a container and transported to locations around the world, allowing US personnel to deploy electronic warfare capabilities quickly.
Over the past year, US Space Force soldiers, known as Guardians, have transported and deployed these systems to support US military operations in both Venezuela and Iran.
According to the WSJ, “In a sign of how important space systems are, Iran repeatedly targeted US space capabilities, including satellite communications terminals, to try to degrade those advantages.
“Satellites help the US detect missile launches, guide weapons, and get a clear picture of the battlefield,” taking high-resolution imagery from above.
Tech.-Sgt. Joshua Lomax, who helped counter threats during operations in Venezuela before being deployed to defend against threats from Iran, described the pressure of preparing for the missions.
“The threat is real,” Lomax told the WSJ.
He recalled having just 72 hours to pack the equipment in Venezuela, load it onto an aircraft, and depart for Iran.
“It was incredibly intense,” he told the WSJ. “Everybody was head on a swivel.”
Importance of electromagnetic waves in modern warfare
The US Space Force also highlighted the importance of electromagnetic waves, which travel at different wavelengths and frequencies and underpin many of the technologies used in modern warfare. These systems connect military assets ranging from submarines and drones to radar installations.
According to US Space Forces’ Combat Forces Command, led by Lt.-Gen. Greggory Gagnon, a key mission for the US is to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum.
“That thing you never see is incredibly important in warfare,” he said. “If we can dominate the spectrum, we can keep our systems, our satellites, our ships, our planes, all connected and working more effectively, but we can also disrupt the adversary’s ability to do it.”