Prominent Security Risks Stemming from Space Hybrid Operations

To date, discussions concerning hybrid threats have been almost exclusively focused on the terrestrial and maritime domains, and space has been largely excluded from such international exchanges. This is despite the fact that, for the most part, the same actors, mindsets, and techniques are presently in play in the space domain as well. Moreover, hybrid operations conducted by adversaries in any of these domains have the potential to negate critical space systems. This chapter seeks to provide a better understanding of this complex new issue area for space and help identify and implement a more informed security policy framework. It suggests that strengthened resilience and deterrence, including through cross-domain response options, is required to protect against these space hybrid operations and the critical benefits and capabilities they target.