Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/1489288
Figure 2: Canada's Current Guidance for Space Figure 3: Canada's Future Space Governance www.vanguardcanada.com DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 23 SPACE Canada's Space Niches Canada's space industry has leaders in a number of niche fields: space-based SAR, robotics (the Canadarm), SATCOM (Telesat/Kepler) and remote health care, to name but a few. It is clear that Canada has an excellent pedigree in space capabil- ity, and many opportunities for further development. We should begin by look- ing at what we already do well for future investment, and then reassess, verify and update our vision based on changes to the market and our current and future needs. We should strive to expand our expertise in our strengths, with the aim of devel- oping these into world-class capabilities. There are in fact already some key areas where Canada can focus its developmental attention, effort and resources: • As one of a handful of three-ocean na- tions, Canada should further develop and expand our space-based maritime domain awareness capability to one that provides global coverage in real time and integrates elements of artificial in- telligence and machine learning (AI/ ML); • Develop state-of-the art replacements for space-based situational awareness systems, which should leverage the ex- cellence of our Sapphire (surveillance of space satellite) project to create similar yet advanced capabilities; • Actively invest in our civil space and as- tronaut program and support industry, as they lean into the Lunar Gateway ini- tiative; • Encourage and facilitate the merging of government, civil and commercial space operations to enable effective partner- ships and resource sharing. Comparative Approaches: Critical Internal and External Capability Linkages In our current state, Canadian space ca- pabilities are siloed and generally inde- pendent of each other. Within DND, the need to consolidate capabilities, force generate space expertise, develop effec- tive, affordable and timely systems, and employ those capabilities as a system of systems has never been more important. As seen in Figure 2, current direction and guidance are not harmonized and are moving forward without an overarch- ing and collective vision. CSA focuses on shared and open architectures whereas security concerns within defence point more often to classified requirements. A national space strategy will enable a harmonized, resilient and mutually sup- portive Canadian space enterprise, with a shared understanding of need, shared op- erations (where appropriate) and shared situational awareness. As depicted in Fig- ure 3, these aspirations will only mature if they are born from a shared vision and a clear plan. We are not the first nation to recog- nize the urgency of our situation. Some of Canada's close allies have recently ad- dressed very similar issues. United Kingdom The 2021 National Space Strategy out- lines the U.K. government's civil and de- fence ambitions and goals in exploiting space and space systems and represents a centralized intergovernmental approach to achieving national objectives. It examines the benefits, strengths, opportunities and threats to the U.K.'s existing and emerg- ing space sector and systems. Key points include the need for significant private sec- tor investment in space activities, and the changing role of government from primar-