The era of occult maneuvers and troop movements under the cover of darkness is over. Today, every move on the global chessboard of war is visible in real-time, not just to elite spy agencies, but to anyone with a credit card and an internet connection. Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations for the US Space Force, warns that the military must accept that „invisibility” is now a relic of the past.
Total Transparency: An Unavoidable Reality
In a world dominated by digital flows and private satellite constellations, the battlefield has become transparent. While 60 years ago the presence of commercial firms in conflict zones was negligible, today they are central actors. Military leaders suggest that trying to ignore this evolution or dictating to private firms what they can publish is a losing battle. „It’s just the way
it is,” officials admit, emphasizing that adaptation is the only viable strategy in a security environment where nothing can be hidden.
The Strategic Paradox: From Ukraine to the Middle East
The duality of this technology has become glaringly apparent in recent global conflicts. In 2022, commercial imagery was celebrated as a critical tool to support Ukraine, used to unmask Russian aggression before the eyes of the world. However, in the current Middle Eastern theater, the situation has reversed.
While no formal gag orders have been issued, the U.S. government has reportedly applied quiet pressure on private firms to limit public access to imagery from high-tension zones. This highlights a major vulnerability: while imagery can deter an adversary, it can also be leveraged by hostile actors to target allied personnel and civilians with surgical precision.
Self-Censorship and the Limits of Control
Under the weight of operational security needs, industry giants like Planet and Vantor have begun implementing „proactive measures.” Planet has instituted a 14-day delay on releasing imagery of Iran and surrounding conflict zones, attempting to balance its transparency mission with the need to prevent tactical misuse. Vantor has similarly tightened access to high-resolution data through its news bureau.
However, Washington’s influence stops at the border. European firms like Airbus continue to provide data under their own regulations, while Chinese entities like MizarVision are flooding social media with AI-powered analyses of U.S. aircraft and naval buildups. This global spread of technology means that even if domestic firms are silenced, the „eye in the sky” remains wide open.
The New Wargame: Fighting in a Glass House
The conclusion for the future of warfare is stark: the military must begin simulating scenarios where the adversary uses off-the-shelf satellite data to guide its missiles. Historically, wargames have largely ignored this variable, but the „new world” of the battlespace no longer allows for such oversight.
Preparing for a war where you are constantly monitored by private entities is no longer a choice—it is a condition for survival. The Pentagon’s challenge is no longer just fighting the enemy, but learning to operate in an era where the battlefield is always under the spotlight.
