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Research Article

Cyber and quantum threats to space systems – A study of the restructuring of a modern armed forces

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Published online: 30 Apr 2024
 

Abstract

The following article is a study of the impact of non-kinetic attacks and emerging technologies on space systems. Space-based assets are a part of a critical infrastructure and are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and signal jamming. Quantum technology, which is at a nascent stage, can in the future have offensive and defensive applications. It can help nullify the threat of cyber-attacks which are carried out by state and non-state actors. Major powers have been undertaking a restructuring of their armed forces and are developing strategic technologies and doctrines to respond to these emerging threats.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

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9 Jen Judson, “Multidomain Operations Task Force Cuts Teeth in Pacific”, Defense News, August 28, 2018, https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/08/28/multidomain-operations-task-force-cuts-teeth-in-pacific/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

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18 Alex Horton, “Russia Tests Secretive Weapon to Target SpaceX’s Starlink in Ukraine”, Washington Post, April 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/04/18/discord-leaks-starlink-ukraine/. (accessed May 1, 2023).

19 Kartik Bommakanti, “Strengthening the C4ISR Capabilities of India’s Armed Forces: The Role of Small Satellites”, ORF, June 15, 2020, https://www.orfonline.org/research/strengthening-the-c4isr-capabilities-of-indias-armed-forces-the-role-of-small-satellites-67842/. (accessed May 1, 2023).

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21 David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, and Julian E. Barnes, “As Understanding of Russian Hacking Grows, So Does Alarm”, The New York Times, May 28, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/02/us/politics/russian-hacking-government.html. (accessed May 1, 2023).

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25 “Communications Sector”. (accessed February 14, 2024).

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29 Matthew Scholl and Theresa Suloway, “Introduction to Cybersecurity for Commercial Satellite Operations” (Gaithersburg: National Institute of Standards and Technology Interagency or Internal Report 8270, U.S. Department of Commerce, February 2022).

30 John Shin, “Why Space Is the Next Frontier for Cybersecurity”, Forbes, August 20, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/08/20/why-space-is-the-next-frontier-for-cybersecurity/. (accessed May 2, 2023).

31 Brad D. Williams, “Amid Space Race, Cybersecurity and Resiliency Remain Concerns: Experts”, Breaking Defense, August 16, 2021, https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2021/08/amid-space-race-cybersecurity-and-resiliency-remain-concerns-experts/. (accessed May 2, 2023).

32 “Our Mission and Vision”, U.S Cyber Command, https://www.cybercom.mil/About/Mission-and-Vision/. (accessed January 11, 2024).

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34 “Mission and Combat Support”, National Security Agency, https://www.nsa.gov/About/Mission-Combat-Support/. (accessed January 11, 2024).

35 Kanika Grover, Alvin Lim, and Qing Yang, “Jamming and Anti-Jamming Techniques in Wireless Networks: A Survey”, International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing 17, no. 4 (2014): 197–215, https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAHUC.2014.066419.

36 Grover, Lim, and Yang.

37 Tariq Malik, “Elon Musk Says SpaceX Focusing on Cyber Defense after Starlink Signals Jammed near Ukraine Conflict Areas, Space.com, March 5, 2022, https://www.space.com/elon-musk-spacex-starlink-cyber-defense-ukraine-invasion. (accessed May 2, 2023).

38 Dan Swinhoe, “SpaceX’s Starlink Service Facing Signal Jamming in Ukraine, Musk Claims”, Data Center Dynamics, March 7, 2022, https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/spacexs-starlink-service-facing-signal-jamming-in-ukraine-claims-musk/. (accessed May 2, 2023).

39 Kim Zetter, “Russian Spy Gang Hijacks Satellite Links to Steal Data”, Wired, September 9, 2015, https://www.wired.com/2015/09/turla-russian-espionage-gang-hijacks-satellite-connections-to-steal-data/#. (accessed May 2, 2023).

40 Ibid.

41 Joe Miller, “Israeli Iron Dome Firms “Infiltrated by Chinese Hackers”, BBC News, July 31, 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28583283. (accessed May 2, 2023).

42 Michael Peck, “Will China Soon Deploy Israel’s Iron Dome Rocket Defense?”, The National Interest, April 21, 2021, https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/will-china-soon-deploy-israel%E2%80%99s-iron-dome-rocket-defense-183337. (accessed May 2, 2023).

43 John Leyden, “Hamas Hacks Israeli TV Sat Channel to Broadcast Pics of Gaza Wounded”, The Register, July 15, 2014, https://www.theregister.com/2014/07/15/hamas_hack_israeli_sat_tv/. (accessed May 2, 2023).

44 “DSIAC TECHNICAL INQUIRY (TI) RESPONSE REPORT Technologies and Strategies to Protect Satellites from Electronic and Cyberwarfare”, (Department of Defense Information Analysis Center, 2019).

45 “DSIAC TECHNICAL INQUIRY (TI) RESPONSE REPORT Technologies and Strategies to Protect Satellites from Electronic and Cyberwarfare”.

46 “A Profile for U.S. Federal Cryptographic Key Management Systems”, NIST Special Publication (National Institute of Standards and Technology U.S. Department of Commerce, 2015).

47 Gerard O’Dwyer, “Finland, Norway Press Russia on Suspected GPS Jamming during NATO Drill”, Defense News, November 16, 2018, https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/11/16/finland-norway-press-russia-on-suspected-gps-jamming-during-nato-drill/.

48 Keir Giles, “Russia Hit Multiple Targets with Zapad-2017”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 25, 2018, https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/01/25/russia-hit-multiple-targets-with-zapad-2017-pub-75278. (accessed May 4, 2023).

49 Gerard O’Dwyer, “Finland, Norway Press Russia on Suspected GPS Jamming during NATO Drill”, Defense News, November 16, 2018, https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/11/16/finland-norway-press-russia-on-suspected-gps-jamming-during-nato-drill/. (accessed May 4, 2023).

50 Air Force Staff Sgt. Megan Friedl, “U.S. Joins NATO’s Trident Juncture Exercise”, U.S. Department of Defense, October 18, 2018, https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1666272/us-joins-natos-trident-juncture-exercise/https%3A//www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1666272/us-joins-natos-trident-juncture-exercise/. (accessed May 4, 2023).

51 Roger McDermott, “Russia’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities as a Threat to GPS”, The Jamestown Foundation, March 10, 2021, https://jamestown.org/program/russias-electronic-warfare-capabilities-as-a-threat-to-gps/.

52 Lara Seligman, “Russian Jamming Poses a Growing Threat to U.S. Troops in Syria”, Foreign Policy, July 30, 2018, https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/07/30/russian-jamming-poses-a-growing-threat-to-u-s-troops-in-syria/. (accessed May 4, 2023).

53 Brooks Tigner, “Electronic Jamming between Russia and NATO Is Par for the Course in the Future, but It Has Its Risky Limits”, Atlantic Council, November 15, 2018, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/electronic-jamming-between-russia-and-nato-is-par-for-the-course-in-the-future-but-it-has-its-risky-limits/. (accessed May 4, 2023).

54 “Memorandum on Space Policy Directive 7”, The White House, January 15, 2021, 7, https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-space-policy-directive-7/.

55 Jay Hilotin, “GPS Gets an Upgrade: How It Affects You, What Happens Next”, Gulf News, February 27, 2023, https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/gps-gets-an-upgrade-how-it-affects-you-what-happens-next-1.1677504010941. (accessed August 2, 2023).

56 “Satellite Jamming in Iran: A War Over Airwaves”, (A Small Media Report, 2012), 17, https://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/SatelliteJammingInIranSmallMedia.pdf. (accessed February 16, 2024).

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58 Leigh Holmwood and Saeed Kamali Dehghan, “Iran Widens Jamming of BBC as Revolutionary Guard Cautions Bloggers”, The Guardian, June 17, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/17/iran-bbc-jamming-bloggers-revolutionary-guard. (accessed May 5, 2023).

59 Daphne Leprince-Ringuet, “What Is the Quantum Internet? Everything You Need to Know about the Weird Future of Quantum Networks”, ZDNET, September 3, 2020, https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-the-quantum-internet-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-weird-future-of-quantum-networks/. (accessed May 7, 2023).

60 “Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Cryptography (QC)”, National Security Agency/Central Security Service, https://www.nsa.gov/Cybersecurity/Quantum-Key-Distribution-QKD-and-Quantum-Cryptography-QC/. (accessed January 29, 2024).

61 “H.R.7535 - Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act”, 2022, U.S. Government Publishing Office, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7535/text.

62 “H.R.7535 - Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act”.

63 Daniel Oberhaus, “NASA’s Plan to Turn the ISS Into a Quantum Laser Lab”, Wired, April 22, 2020, https://www.wired.com/story/nasas-plan-to-turn-the-iss-into-a-quantum-laser-lab/. (accessed May 5, 2023).

64 Ibid.

65 Scott A. Hamilton, “Overview of NASA’s National Space Quantum Laboratory Program”, 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2019, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, October 25, 2019. (accessed May 7, 2023).

66 “Laser Enhanced Mission Communications Navigation and Operational Services Pipeline (LEMNOS)”, Exploration & Space Communications NASA, https://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/projects/LEMNOS?tab=overview. (accessed August 6, 2023).

67 “European Quantum Communications Network Takes Shape”, European Space Agency, September 4, 2019, https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/European_quantum_communications_network_takes_shape. (accessed May 7, 2023).

68 PIB Delhi, “Cabinet Approves National Quantum Mission to Scale-up Scientific & Industrial R&D for Quantum Technologies”, PIB, April 19, 2023, https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1917888. (accessed May 7, 2023).

69 Ibid.

70 “H.R.6227 - National Quantum Initiative Act 115th Congress (2017-2018)”, Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6227/text. (accessed May 8, 2023).

71 “Quantum Technologies Flagship”, European Commission, January 31, 2023, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/quantum-technologies-flagship.(accessed May 8, 2023).

72 Andrew Jones, “China Is Developing a Quantum Communications Satellite Network”, SpaceNews, March 10, 2023, https://spacenews.com/china-is-developing-a-quantum-communications-satellite-network/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

73 Ibid.

74 Reuters Staff, “China’s Quantum Satellite Makes Breakthrough in Secure Communications”, Reuters, June 16, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-space-satellite-idUSKBN1970SY. (accessed May 9, 2023).

75 “Summary of National Defence Strategy - 2018 of United States of America Sharpening the American Military’s Competitive Edge”, Department of Defence United States of America, n.d., 4, https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf;.

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76 U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, “The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028”, TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1, U.S Army, February 26, 2021), iii, https://www.army.mil/article/243754/the_u_s_army_in_multi_domain_operations_2028.

77 “Fact Sheet: 2022 National Defense Strategy”, U.S Department of Defense, https://media.defense.gov/2022/Mar/28/2002964702/-1/-1/1/NDS-FACT-SHEET.PDF . (accessed May 9, 2023).

78 Melanie W. Sisson, “There Is a Lot to like in the 2022 National Defense Strategy”, Brookings, November 18, 2022, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/there-is-a-lot-to-like-in-the-2022-national-defense-strategy/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

79 Amy J. Nelson and Gerald L. Epstein, “The PLA’s Strategic Support Force and AI Innovation”, Brookings, December 23, 2022, https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/the-plas-strategic-support-force-and-ai-innovation-china-military-tech/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

80 Jack Lau, “China’s Strategic Support Force: What Do We Know about the Hi-Tech Military Branch?”, South China Morning Post, December 19, 2022, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3203702/chinas-strategic-support-force-what-do-we-know-about-hi-tech-military-branch. (accessed May 9, 2023).

81 Naoko Aoki, “Japan May Not Militarize Soon, but Abe’s Dream Lives on”, Atlantic Council, August 5, 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/japan-may-not-militarize-soon-but-abes-dream-lives-on/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

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83 “Medium Term Defense Program (FY 2019 - FY 2023)”.

84 Kevin L. Pollpeter, Michael S. Chase, and Eric Heginbotham, “The Creation of the PLA Strategic Support Force and Its Implications for Chinese Military Space Operations”, (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017), https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2058.html. (accessed May 9, 2023).

85 Vaibhav Agrawal, “India beyond Earth: India’s Status in Space Military Race”, Financial Express, July 31, 2022, https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-india-beyond-earth-indias-status-in-space-military-race-2582187/. (accessed May 9, 2023).

86 Brig Vinod Anand, “Defence Reforms and Naresh Chandra Task Force Review”, Vivekanand International Foundation, September 13, 2012, https://www.vifindia.org/article/2012/september/13/defence-reforms-and-naresh-chandra-task-force-review. (accessed May 9, 2023).

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Divy Raghuvanshi

Divy Raghuvanshi ([email protected]) is a Doctoral Candidate at the School of National Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.

Sourabh Kumar

Dr. Sourabh Kumar ([email protected]) is an Assistant Professor at School of National Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.

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