The co-orbital ASAT threat and many others can be successfully countered, but only if DoD moves immediately to identify and begin implementation of the proper solution sets. Settling on the right approaches will be only the first step in a years-long process of formulating policy and doctrine and fielding the necessary capabilities.

Hyten’s warning is clear: DoD’s processes are not currently on track to produce adequate solutions in time. The proposed series of workshops—employing scenario analysis, and each targeted at characterizing a single specified space threat vector and comparing tailored solutions to it—would constitute a major step toward positioning the United States government to nimbly navigate the space weapon landscape of the late 2020s and beyond. DoD and outside experts might agree with the above scenario or reject it in favor of others; They might elucidate a suitable solution to this particular threat, or they might debunk the need for one. But either way, we would have the answers we need to move forward, and not a moment too soon.

Dr. Brian G. Chow is an independent policy analyst with over 160 publications. Follow him on Twitter at @briangchow. 

Brandon W. Kelley is the Director of Debate at Georgetown University and a graduate student in the Security Studies Program.