Towards a Space Defense Strategy for Israel

In recent years, several countries have adopted national security space strategies to guide the development of their space capabilities. This document aims to provide a foundation for discussion on the formulation of an Israeli national security strategy for the space domain, drawing on insights from these international strategies.

The report does not address specific operational requirements, capability development, or organizational structures related to force design and employment in space. Instead, it focuses on strategic-level questions: What objectives should guide Israel’s activity in space? What constraints and opportunities characterize this domain? How should operations in space be conducted? And what principles should guide space force design?

Methodology

The study analyzes national security space strategies developed by leading countries in recent years and extracts insights relevant to Israel. The analysis considers both similarities and differences between Israel’s strategic context and those of other space powers.

The Unique Characteristics of the Space Domain

Space differs significantly from traditional operational domains. The boundaries between civilian and military activities, operational and strategic considerations, and national autonomy and international cooperation are often blurred. These characteristics require a strategic discussion that defines the principles guiding force design and employment in space before addressing specific technologies or programs.

Shaping the “Rules of the Game”

The coming years are likely to see the emergence of new norms governing activity in space. This process will be influenced by the entry of new actors, the growing importance of space capabilities, and the development of new threats. Efforts to shape these norms are already underway through international initiatives promoting “responsible behavior in space,” coordination among like-minded states, and the practical precedents created through real-world operations.

Although Israel is unlikely to play a central role in shaping global space norms, it nonetheless has important national interests in this domain. Israel should therefore define its preferred “rules of the game” and develop a strategy to promote them, leveraging its close strategic relationship with the United States and its advanced technological capabilities.

The Imperative of International Cooperation

International cooperation will remain a defining feature of activity in the space domain. Even the United States, which possesses extensive independent space capabilities, emphasizes cooperation as a core element of its strategy.

For Israel, cooperation can expand operational capabilities through joint projects, strengthen deterrence through strategic partnerships, enhance Israel’s technological and political value to allies, and improve the resilience of satellite constellations through shared commitments to their protection. At the same time, cooperation inevitably creates constraints, requiring a balance between operational requirements and the compromises inherent in shared projects.

Prioritizing Force Design and Managing Dependency

Space capabilities offer significant operational advantages, yet the range of potential applications exceeds the capacity for immediate implementation. As a result, prioritization is essential. Initial investments should focus on capabilities that provide unique or irreplaceable operational advantages.

At the same time, the growing vulnerability of space assets means that space can no longer be viewed as a secure and uncontested domain. It is therefore important to avoid excessive dependence on space-based capabilities when terrestrial alternatives can meet operational needs, even if space systems may offer advantages in flexibility or efficiency.

Synchronizing Operational, Strategic, and Civilian Considerations

Activities in the space domain require close integration between operational, strategic, and civilian considerations. Organizational frameworks must enable a comprehensive approach that balances these different perspectives. This includes reconciling the operational needs of the IDF, the strategic priorities of the political leadership, and the broader civilian and technological dimensions of space development.

Globally, national space security strategies are typically integrated within broader national space strategies that include civilian components. In Israel, however, security and civilian space strategies have traditionally been developed separately. Although coordination mechanisms exist between the defense establishment and civilian institutions such as the Israel Space Agency, future planning should assume the need for greater synchronization between the military and civilian dimensions of national space policy.