The Space Force Showed Us Its Weapons Used in Iran and Venezuela | WSJ Equipped

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- [Shelby] These are Space Force weapons that the US doesn't typically show off. And over the past year, they've been crucial to US military operations. - [Lt. Gagnon] This is one of our ground-based jammers. We can deploy these

systems around the world. - [Shelby] This one, known as Meadowlands, is offensive and can jam enemy satellites to block their communications. It often operates alongside the more defensive bounty hunter, which scans the electromagnetic spectrum to detect and locate

threats to US forces. We are here at the US Space Force's electromagnetic warfare compound, and we are getting exclusive insight into what it was like for Space Force guardians to pack up space weapons like these, put them on

an airplane, and deploy into theater to support operations in both Venezuela and Iran. What was it like to be under that kind of pressure? - [Lt. Gagnon] The threat is real. - [Shelby] For decades, America's dominance of space

has given the US a major military advantage. But with adversaries racing to catch up and target US capabilities, military leaders are speaking openly for the first time about the Pentagon's array of space weapons. - [Lt. Gagnon] Today, guardians

operate on orbit weapons that can defend the joint force against space-enabled attacks. - [Shelby] To understand why these ground-based weapons are critical in combat, you first have to understand the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic waves of energy are all around

us traveling at different wavelengths or frequencies. They're what's used in x-rays, they let you turn your TV on with a remote control, and they connect your cell phone to a tower. They also serve as the foundation for modern

warfare, connecting everything from submarines and drones to radars and ground stations. That's why a key mission for the US Space Force's Combat Forces Command led by Lieutenant General Gregory Gagnon is to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. - [Lt. Gagnon]

That thing that you never see is incredibly important in warfare. That's the invisible part of warfare, because if we can dominate the spectrum, we can keep our systems, our satellites, our ships, our planes all connected and working most

effectively, but we can also disrupt the adversary's ability to do it. - [Shelby] Weapons like Meadowlands are used to disrupt the adversary by interfering with their satellites, satellites that do surveillance, enable communication, or navigation. The system works by

surging radio frequency signals at the satellite, overwhelming it with noise, and interfering with its ability to communicate with a ground station. This is called a non-kinetic effect, meaning the satellite can return to normal once the attack is over.

The Space Force recently expedited the use of a new and more nimble jammer seen in this photo, known as the remote modular terminal. We weren't allowed to film it, but this shows how it can be packed into a

container and moved around the world. - [Lt. Gagnon] They are used in combat and are in placed actually globally. - [Shelby] Do enemies know where they are? - [Lt. Gagnon] No. - [Shelby] Intentionally? - [Lt. Gagnon] Yes. -

[Shelby] These offensive systems sometimes work alongside bounty hunter in a spotter shooter capacity. Bounty hunter scans the electromagnetic spectrum and listens for disruptions. It can pinpoint signals that could jam or compromise American satellites in the same way Meadowlands

disrupts enemy satellites. Once those signals are geolocated, a commander could order a strike against that threat. The protection of US space technology is becoming more and more important since satellites help the US detect missile launches, guide weapons, and

get a clear picture of the battlefield, taking high-resolution imagery from above. In a sign of how important space systems are, Iran repeatedly targeted US space capabilities, including satellite communications terminals, to try and degrade those advantages. - [Lt. Gagnon]

That's why our adversaries are weaponizing outer space, because they want to take these advantages of the high ground away from the US military. Your United States Space Force is uniquely tasked to protect our assets in space so that

adversaries don't have advantages over our military forces. - [Sgt. Lomax] Boots clear. - [Shelby] Technical Sergeant Joshua Lomax is one of the guardians who deployed with these weapons over the past year. Hours after his team jammed satellites to

create a protective bubble around US forces capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, he was told to rapidly deploy to the Middle East, where the US would soon launch its war against Iran. - [Sgt. Lomax] So that's 72 hours to

pack the equipment, inspect the equipment, get loaded on the aircraft, and then head out. And then once we're wheels on the ground, it's 96 hours to set up and execute. - [Shelby] He couldn't reveal his exact location, but

while in the Middle East, Lomax became one of the first guardians to ever come under enemy fire. What was it like to be under that kind of pressure? - [Sgt. Lomax] The threat is real. Everybody was head on

a swivel, ensure that we can get through the day, look out for our brothers and sisters of arms. Doesn't matter if it's a guardian or an airman or a soldier or a marine, we're all in that environment together

to ensure that we can take care of each other. - [Shelby] Captain Sophia Parlock also supported the war against Iran, deploying with another electromagnetic warfare system. - [C. Parlock] We are looking out for what are the changes going

on the spectrum and we are noting those, and we're passing along that information to our tasking authority. - [Shelby] So, potential threats? Are you scanning for potential threats? - [C. Parlock] Yes, exactly. - [Shelby] Lomax and Parlock are

part of a Space Force organization known as Mission Delta 3 based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. - [Col. Fernandez] First to 10? Hold on. You count it out. Ready? Go. - [Shelby] The unit led by Colonel

Angelo Fernandez is responsible for all space electromagnetic warfare. - [Col. Fernandez] We make sure that we're always ready and fit to fight anywhere around the globe because that's what we do. We have used these systems and others across

operations around the globe. So, if you think of Operation Midnight Hammer, Operation Absolute Resolve, Operation Epic Fury, our guardians deployed forward, operated in those environments and they did it with distinction. - [Shelby] Is that the first time they

have deployed for major combat operations as Space Force Guardians? - [Col. Fernandez] As Space Force Guardians, this was a very intense year that demanded a lot out of our formations. In Epic Fury, our guardians were in one of

our most highly contested environments we've been in our history, both on the spectrum side and also under direct fires. There's no question in my mind what guardians bring to the table for the joint force.