Following similar moves by the United States, Britain, and Australia, Canada now has its own ‘Space Force.’ Specifically, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) established 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD) on July 22, 2022, which has evolved out of the RCAF’s Director General Space (DG Space) organization.
At a projected size of approximately 175 military and civilian personnel within the next few years, 3 Space Division will be twice the size of its predecessor. The new division, which is based at National Defence Headquarters Carling in Ottawa, is managing and enhancing space-based capabilities used by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in areas such as command and control, communications, navigation, situational awareness, and weather.
“Recognition of the increasingly critical importance of space-based capabilities and enablers in all of the military’s operations is driving the steady growth and evolution of the organization,” said Major Jill Lawrence, 3 CSD’s Public Affairs Officer. “Degradation, or loss, of access to the space domain would affect the CAF’s ability to execute its operations, activities, and training; and would significantly impact national civilian, commercial, and economic activity and services.”
“Current technological capabilities and tactics being utilized by numerous nations in the space domain also indicate that conflict in the domain is a future possibility,” she added. “The establishment of a space division will streamline the organization and improve our ability to deliver space effects for the Canadian Armed Forces. It is an important step forward in protecting Canadian interests in space.”
This being said, 3 CSD will not be launching its own fleet of unmanned satellites and/or manned spacecraft. Nor will it be directly controlling specific satellites currently being used by the Department of National Defence (DND). In contrast, the US Space Force launches and controls numerous satellites plus two Boeing X-37B unmanned space planes.
Instead, 3 CSD “will be responsible for the ongoing coordination, monitoring, and provision of space capabilities such as those that provide satellite communications; space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and space domain awareness in support of CAF operations,” Major Lawrence said. “One example of such a system/mission is the Sapphire satellite, which is owned by DND but operated under contract by MDA Ltd. on behalf of the CAF. The concept of support, maintenance, and operations varies by system.”
Like DG Space before it, 3 CSD will maintain close working relationships with other federal government departments such as the Canadian Space Agency, along with international allies and partners. “The combination of Canadian and allied capabilities and information optimizes collective self-defence,” Major Lawrence told SpaceQ. “An example of this commitment is the Combined Space Operations Initiative, an agreement between Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which provides opportunities to enhance cooperation on defence space activities.”
Given the growing importance of space-based assets to military operations, and the possibility of space becoming a battle zone in its own right, the creation of 3 CSD is a natural ‘next step’ for the CAF. Time (and future wars) will tell if it is the last one.