The Space Enterprise and Integrated Deterrence

Michael J. Mazarr, Krista Langeland, Anthony Atler, Alexis A. Blanc, Daniel Burkhart, Jordan Logue, Jonathan Tran, Brett Zakheim

Expert InsightsPublished Dec 4, 2024

All elements of U.S. national power can play important roles in deterring conflict — and resilient, effective, credible aerospace capabilities are arguably the essential enabler for the other military components to do their job. The importance of the space enterprise to integrated deterrence emerges in a variety of specific capabilities and missions, from sensing and reconnaissance to targeting to communications.

In this paper, the authors examine in what ways space capabilities and vulnerabilities shape deterrence outcomes, specifically those laid out by the concept of integrated deterrence, and provide insight into the role that the space community plays in this national security objective.

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Mazarr, Michael J., Krista Langeland, Anthony Atler, Alexis A. Blanc, Daniel Burkhart, Jordan Logue, Jonathan Tran, and Brett Zakheim, The Space Enterprise and Integrated Deterrence, RAND Corporation, PE-A3183-1, December 2024. As of April 8, 2025: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA3183-1.html

Chicago Manual of Style

Mazarr, Michael J., Krista Langeland, Anthony Atler, Alexis A. Blanc, Daniel Burkhart, Jordan Logue, Jonathan Tran, and Brett Zakheim, The Space Enterprise and Integrated Deterrence. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2024. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA3183-1.html.
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This work was sponsored by the U.S. Space Command and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Program of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD).

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