The Eyes Above: Space Intelligence & the Evolution of Modern Warfare

Modern war involves machines in space called satellites. These orbital platforms take pictures of the ground, listen to electronic signals, guide weapons to their targets, and maintain military communications even when normal systems are damaged. Satellites orbit Earth high above, continuously observing events below. The war in Ukraine showed these space assets are essential in how modern wars are planned, fought, and won.

The Evolution from Balloons to Satellites

In the early 1900s, armies used balloons and small planes to watch battlefields from above. These tools helped locate enemy trenches and guide artillery but were slow, fragile, and easy to target.

Today’s satellites are a significant upgrade. They fly in space and provide clear, fast, and global views of activity on the ground. These orbital systems operate continuously, day or night, in all weather conditions. Satellites combine multiple capabilities in one system, similar to how smartphones replaced single-purpose devices.

Core Functions of Satellites in War

Satellites help military forces see, hear, and act with precision. Their three most important roles are:

• Earth Observation: Satellites carry powerful cameras that take high-resolution pictures of Earth’s surface. These images help identify troop positions, roads, bridges, vehicles, and environmental changes.
• Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): This involves gathering information by intercepting electronic signals such as radio waves and radar. SIGINT satellites help track enemy communications, detect radar installations, and locate hidden activity.
• Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT): PNT allows accurate location and time coordination. It uses satellite systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) from the United States and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) from Russia. These networks support guided weapons, troop movements, and synchronized military actions.

Together, these capabilities provide commanders with essential information to detect threats, target enemies, and coordinate operations across all warfare domains.

Ukraine’s Use of Space Capabilities Without Ownership

Ukraine does not operate its own military satellites. Instead, it relied on partnerships with private space companies to access space-based services. These partnerships gave Ukraine the tools needed to observe, communicate, and strike effectively.

• Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs are commercial Earth imaging companies that provided detailed photos of Russian troop locations and movements.
• ICEYE, a Finnish private company, builds radar satellites using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). SAR allows satellites to produce clear images through clouds, smoke, or darkness by bouncing radar signals off the ground.
• Starlink, created by SpaceX, is a global satellite internet network. It provided high-speed communication to Ukraine’s military forces when ground networks were cut or destroyed.

In June 2022, Ukraine combined radar data from ICEYE and GPS guidance to launch a precision strike using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). HIMARS is a mobile missile launcher that fires guided rockets. The strike successfully hit a Russian ammunition depot and forced a change in Russian logistics.

Russia’s Military Satellite Systems and Limitations

Russia entered the war with a larger military satellite fleet and used several systems for navigation, observation, and signal monitoring:

• GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System): Russia’s satellite navigation system, similar to the U.S. GPS. It provides accurate coordinates for weapons and vehicles.
• Persona and Bars-M satellites: Optical imaging systems that take photographs of terrain, roads, and military positions.
• SAR satellites: Radar satellites that allow Russia to see through clouds and during nighttime.
• Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) satellites: These detect and collect radio and radar emissions from enemy forces. ELINT helps understand enemy radar systems, communication patterns, and electronic movements.

Despite these capabilities, Russia faced challenges:

• Many satellites were outdated and slow to deliver data.
• Western commercial providers stopped sharing imagery with Russia after the war began.
• Russia relied on Chinese radar providers to fill gaps.
• On the first day of the invasion, Russia launched a cyberattack on Viasat, a European satellite internet provider, cutting off Ukrainian satellite internet access in key regions.

The Strategic Importance of Satellites

Satellites are vital for military coordination, communication, and precision. If damaged or lost, entire operations may suffer:

• Reduced accuracy: Guided weapons and navigation tools may fail.
• Lost communication: Units may not send or receive commands.
• Reduced awareness: Enemy activity may go undetected.
• Slowed decisions: Without information, military responses may be delayed.

Satellites are not just support tools but central elements that connect and enable all parts of modern warfare.

Artificial Intelligence in Space-Based Warfare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to smart computer systems that learn and make decisions. In warfare, AI analyzes satellite data faster and more accurately than humans. AI supports operations by:

• Detecting patterns and changes in satellite images, such as sudden vehicle movements or destruction.
• Translating intercepted foreign messages instantly.
• Operating loitering munitions, small drones that hover over a target area and strike at the right moment.
• Predicting enemy movements based on past behavior and new information.

By linking sensors directly to decision-making systems, AI reduces the time from threat detection to action.

Threats to Satellite Operations

Satellites are powerful but vulnerable. Militaries must protect space systems from growing threats:

• Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASAT): Missiles designed to destroy satellites. Russia’s 2021 ASAT test shattered one of its own satellites into thousands of pieces, creating long-lasting debris that threatens other satellites.
• Cyberattacks: Hacker intrusions that may disable satellites, steal data, or send false signals.
• Signal jamming: Disrupting GPS or radio signals, causing weapons to miss or units to lose contact.
• Dual-use systems: Satellites serving both civilian and military purposes. Attacks on these may disrupt peaceful services like weather forecasting or emergency response.

Protecting space assets is now as critical as defending ground bases.

Integrated Military Strategy Across All Domains

Modern warfare spans five domains: land, air, sea, space, and cyber. Cyber includes computers, networks, and digital communication systems. Cyber warfare involves hacking, electronic attacks, and defense against digital threats.

To succeed, militaries employ two key strategies:

• Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2): A U.S. military approach linking all forces, including ships, planes, drones, satellites, and ground troops, into a single connected system. This enables instant information sharing and coordinated real-time responses.
• Multi-Domain Operations (MDO): A method combining land, air, sea, space, and cyber tools simultaneously to overwhelm and outmaneuver enemies. It increases speed and flexibility through integrated use of all military assets.

Ukraine’s use of drones, AI, commercial satellites, and satellite internet shows how these strategies may be applied even without owning a dedicated space fleet.

Conclusion

Satellites are no longer just support tools. They form the central nervous system of modern warfare. They provide visibility, timing, connection, and control across every domain. Ukraine demonstrated that even without owning satellites, a country may fight smarter by using commercial systems, AI, and coordination. Just as airplanes redefined warfare in the early 20th century, satellites are shaping how future battles are planned, fought, and won. The power to see first, act faster, and connect everything from land to space now defines military strength.