Leveraging Commercial Space-Based Assets to Illuminate Chinese Military Activity in the Indo-Pacific Region

• Moderator: Kari Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)
• Panelists:
  • Corey Johnston, Executive Vice President, Strider Technologies
  • Kimberly Lehn, Senior Director, Pacific Forum
  • Ray Powell, Founder & Director, SeaLight
  • Rear Admiral Mike Studeman, USN (Ret.), Former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence

Objective: To explore advanced strategic responses to China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on utilizing intelligence gathered from space-based assets and remote sensing and addressing the challenges in policy and budget.

Key Talking Points:

1. Advantages of Commercial Space-Derived Intelligence for Military Operations and to Support Regional Partners:

• Explore the integration of commercial space-derived intelligence in defense planning and broader maritime domain awareness, detailing how these insights enhance the ability of the US and regional partner nations to monitor and counteract Chinese military activities.

2. Policy and Budgetary Constraints Affecting Commercial Space Assets Utilization:

• Discuss the fiscal and regulatory hurdles that impact the deployment and effective use of space-based technologies in operational contexts. What are the essential policy reforms needed to facilitate better integration and maximize the effectiveness of these technologies?

3. Balancing Strategic Composition with Commercial Space Assets to Gain Regional Situational Awareness:

• Analyze the strategic deployment of diverse space-based assets versus concentrating on specific strategic advantages to enhance military effectiveness and readiness in confronting regional threats.

4. Enhancing Coalition Efforts through Shared Commercial Space-Based Intelligence:

• Examine the role of international partnerships in maintaining regional security and how sharing intelligence derived from commercial space assets can strengthen these alliances, particularly in scenarios involving efforts to bolster partner ability to track, monitor and respond to Chinese threat activities.

If interested in being invited, contact [email protected], and we will forward your request to the sponsor.

By Invitation Only