By Stephanie Dwilson | 2024-12-20

The US military is increasingly relying on private companies to help protect national security in space.

These mutually beneficial partnerships help both the military and the private sector bolster their ability to respond quickly and effectively to space-based disruptions.

Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of US Space Command (SPACECOM), spoke during the Space Force Association's annual Spacepower Conference on December 11 about two key expansions to commercial partnerships that have taken place just this year.

Commercial Integration Cell (CIC)

The Commercial Integration Cell (CIC), headquartered at Vandenberg Space Force Base, is a platform that allows SPACECOM to share sensitive, classified information with select space-based companies.

It was launched in 2015 and, Whiting revealed, has been so effective that it recently expanded from 10 to 15 companies (with two additional companies in the process of joining).

The newest members are a mix of communications satellite operators and remote-sensing companies: BlackSky, Kratos, LeoLabs, Iceye US and Telesat.

"We're able now to provide them information at the highest levels about the threats that are in the domain, and then they provide us insights into how their constellations are being affected or operating in the domain," Whiting said.

This partnership also gives the military faster insight into space-based disruptions.

"Sometimes the companies are the first to give us an indication [of electromagnetic interference] because they’re seeing it through their telemetry," he said. "That's fantastic insight for us as we're operating with our own systems."

Joint Commercial Operations Cell (JCO)

The Joint Commercial Operations Cell (JCO), headquartered in Colorado, is another commercial collaboration that improves space domain awareness.

The JCO works with space defense allies in three regional cells -- America, Pacific and Meridian -- along with the commercial industry, to provide timely, non-classified warnings of potential counterspace activity.

The JCO recently expanded its mission to include tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking.

The cell is "one of the most innovative things we're doing in our space community," Whiting said on December 11.

"We recently had a breakup on orbit where it was the JCO who was the first to detect that with their commercial sensors and then tip and queue into the Space Surveillance Network," he said.

The JCO now purchases data from 15 companies, he added.

Companies interested in working with the JCO or the CIC are encouraged to reach out through the Space Systems Command Front Door.