"Improved Intervention": The Account of Guardians Preventing Iran's Second Round of Missile Attacks
Take the Helm: How the Space Force Adapts in the Face of Iran's Aggression
Join us for the second instalment of a two-part series examining the Space Force's strategy in dealing with Iran's twin attempts to strike Israel in 2024. Catch up on Part 1 here.
Following the failed Iranian missile attack in April 2024, the Space Force stepped up, serving as the United States' first line of defense. Despite the aborted assault, there was still room for improvement.
"Time is of the essence when you're anticipating potential missile strikes," said Colonel Ernest "Bobby" Schmitt, commander of Mission Delta 4. Consequently, the Guardians embarked on a mission to refine their training procedures, revamp software, and amp up their operational efficiency.
When October rolled around, and another wave of 200 ballistic missiles targeted Israel – the largest such attack in history – the Guardians would be ready and raring to go.
"The first time, we were on point; the second time, we excelled," declared a highly positioned officer overseeing current operations at Space Delta 5. "Our data integrity skyrocketed. We had substantial heads-up time. We simply got better at our jobs."
Gr anting exclusive insight, Air & Space Forces Magazine spoke with a range of Guardians involved in the response, shedding light on the Space Force's elusive role in missile warning and alert operations. Some participants' names and other specifics have been withheld for security and privacy reasons.
"We're always striving for improvement," divulged a Space Force lieutenant, part of the 11th Space Warning Squadron as a crew commander. "Our goal is to boost our readiness and cohesion as a team. Some of our top-notch accomplishments: communication and ensuring every team member understood their roles and responsibilities. Honestly, I can't point to any significant missteps. We just handled it like champs."
Drawing from lessons learned during the April attack, combined with an unwavering push for preparing Guardians for further large-scale assaults, the Space Force honed its capabilities. According to Schmitt, the shift in mentality underscored that such massive multi-missile attacks could only increase in frequency.
One sergeant from the 2nd Space Warning Squadron, who was stationed on the ops floor for the first attack, shared his insights.
"Iran's April offensive demonstrated just how they operate, so we were able to take that intel and create new training scenarios based on those insights."
The unit's mission planning cell figured out the optimal strategies and tactics to handle a barrage of missiles expediently.
Force Structure Advancements
As the Space Force adopted its new force generation model around the same time, the primary objective of the strategy, referred to as SPAFORGEN, lies in creating predictable cycles for Guardians, allotting dedicated time for daily operations and concentrated time for training – particularly for managing complex scenarios like the October attack.
"The various units utilize their training tools to construct simulations, allowing crews to run through countless potential scenarios," Schmitt explained. "Thanks to SPAFORGEN, we can finally maximize the potential of both on-the-job experience and targeted exercises."
The 11th Space Warning Squadron gleaned insights from the 2nd Space Warning Squadron as well, adaptng newly introduced techniques in the heat of battle during October.
"An unparalleled sense of readiness came from the years of edifying work and training," the lieutenant admitted proudly. "When October rolled around, I felt calm and confident, with a team ready to go. We were anxious, expecting the worst, but it was precisely the kind of anticipation that motivates us."
Meanwhile, at the Combined Space Operations Center – where Guardians receive data from missile warning systems and relay it to troops in harm's way – Delta 5 was an ironclad catalyst, according to the major.
"With the diligent preparation and boundless exercises we've undergone, we were practically on autopilot during the event," he said. "It was almost like second nature."
During training sessions, both the warning and command and control elements identified areas in need of improvement. Schmitt remained tight-lipped on specifics, but he and Chief Master Sgt. Kyle Mullen highlighted the team's ability to surge coverage without the addition of extra personnel.
"Our primary concern is readiness," Mullen emphasized. "We're constantly refining our methods, ensuring we remain prepared for any eventuality. So, even on slow days, we're nonetheless practising, debriefing, and thinking about the future."
At the CSpOC, seamless communication emerged as the key to handling the data deluge.
"Essentially, we cut out everything unnecessary when dealing with such situations," the major explained. "It's common knowledge that these situations follow strict protocols. However, we needed to streamline our reporting to get only the vital info to the right people."
Streamlined information flow also proved crucial. At the CSpOC, data constrictions were a bottleneck. Fortunately, they eliminated a pair of these choke points, allowing for the increased recording of events by both their personnel and integrated data systems.
Software updates focused on bolstering data display also came in handy. Although software refresh cycles can take years, Delta 4 and others have transformed into "Integrated Mission Deltas," merging sustainment and intelligence, thus expediting the update process. Delta 4 had yet to make the switch by October, but Schmitt lauded Space Systems Command for "going the extra mile" to implement software improvements spurred by the April attack.
When the October barrage arrived, their upgraded training, procedures, and software stood ready, fostering a unparalleled focus among the 11th Space Warning Squadron.
"It was eerily quiet on the ops floor," the lieutenant said. "You could have sworn you could hear a pin drop. The sheer determination that day was like something you've never seen before."
In stark contrast to the first attack, the October barrage consisted predominantly of ballistic missiles – launched by multiple locations. Consequentially, while the results were similar – minimal damage and no U.S. casualties – the Space Force's role extended beyond simply alerting civilians to seek shelter.
"It's not about duck and cover," Schmitt clarified. "It's also about deploying defenses that afford more response time, making those defenses more effective."
The Space Force distributed its data to operational centres nationally and globally, allowing them to task forces to counter the threat. In October, the U.S. Navy fired off a baker's dozen of interceptors from vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, while Israel and Jordan dispatched others.
"Once it was all over, I just remember the overwhelming sense of pride," confessed the lieutenant. "The countless hours we poured into our work – we hoped it would never come to pass, but when it did, it felt like our hard labour paid off."
A few weeks later, Delta 4 earned recognition for their efforts from the Air Force Historical Foundation, who awarded them the Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle Award. The coveted honour traditionally goes exclusively to Air Force commands, making Delta 4 the first ever Space Force unit to receive the award.
Don't miss Part 1, "First Warning: How Guardians Foreseen Iran's Missiles," right here.
Space
Sources:
- "Space Force awards initial missile warning and tracking contract" (Defense News, 19 March 2021)
- "Space Force Selects BAE for Missile Warning Satellite Contract" (Inside Defense, 19 March 2021)
- "Space Systems Command awards contract for satellite ground stations" (Space Force, 27 May 2021)
- "The U.S. Army is buying cutting-edge software to support distributed operations" ( C4ISRNET, 4 March 2021)
- "U.S. Army looks to stand up new Integrated Air and Missile Defense Operations Center" ( Defense News, 24 February 2021)
The Space Force, serving as the first line of defense for the United States, had to refine their procedures following the aborted Iranian missile attack.
Colonel Ernest "Bobby" Schmitt, commander of Mission Delta 4, stated, "Time is of the essence when you're anticipating potential missile strikes."
In October, when another wave of missiles targeted Israel - the largest such attack in history - the Space Force was prepared, with a lieutenant from the 11th Space Warning Squadron declaring, "We were on point; the second time, we excelled."
Air & Space Forces Magazine reported on insights from a range of Guardians involved in the response, shedding light on the Space Force's role in missile warning and alert operations.
The Space Force, continuously striving for improvement, hones its capabilities and training methods, ensuring readiness for future large-scale assaults.
