Navigating Space: A Vision for Space in Defense

The space domain is becoming more congested and contested. New technologies are rapidly emerging. Barriers to entry are falling. New players - both governmental and commercial - are vying for advantage. At the same time, humanity's reliance on space activity is becoming more ingrained every day. Once supreme in the space domain, the defense sector is being forced to reassess the role they play in this increasingly critical domain.

To better understand how the domain and the ecosystem are evolving, KPMG International and the Space Foundation partnered to talk to nearly two dozen industry and defense leaders at the highest levels of the space domain.

Using their perspectives as guideposts, this paper offers key predictions on how the sector will likely evolve, identifying important new capabilities, commercial opportunities, partnership initiatives and sovereignty considerations along the way. Included are a number of considerations and recommendations to help defense and industry players ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of operations in space.

Against this background, we offer the following four key predictions on the likely future of defense in space.

1.  Space will define the future of national security.
2.  The pace of innovation will continue to quicken.
3.  Partnerships will be crucial to long-term success.
4.  Alignment on norms will unlock advancement.

As such, we hope this paper serves to inform the ongoing development of the space domain and acts as a catalyst for diplomacy and collaboration in the field.

To learn more about how the predictions raised here might impact your organization, we encourage you to contact your local KPMG member firm or any of the contacts listed at the end of this paper.