EP 37 — LightRidge Solutions’ Josh Hartman on Competitive Endurance Theory in Orbital Warfare

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Josh Hartman, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer at LightRidge Solutions. Josh shares his insights on the evolving landscape of space defense. He discusses the impact of competitive endurance theory on orbital warfare, emphasizing the need for resilience and deterrence in the face of potential threats. 

 

Josh also highlights how commercial advancements, particularly in affordable launch technologies, are reshaping military strategies and enhancing accessibility to space. Additionally, he explores the importance of integrating advanced processing and AI capabilities at the edge to enable real-time decision-making, ultimately transforming national defense in an increasingly competitive space environment. 

Topics discussed:

 

• The evolution of space capabilities from strategic tools to tactical assets that can directly support troops in harm's way on a daily basis.  
• The significance of competitive endurance theory in orbital warfare, focusing on absorbing initial attacks and maintaining a robust deterrent environment.  
• How commercial advancements, particularly from companies like SpaceX, are revolutionizing access to space and driving down costs for satellite deployment.  
• The necessity of integrating advanced processing and AI technologies at the edge to enable real-time decision-making in space operations and defense.  
• The shift from traditional, large satellites to smaller, more affordable systems that can be built and launched rapidly to meet operational needs.  
• The importance of space domain awareness and the current gaps in the U.S. military's capability to monitor and respond to threats in space.  
• Strategies for fostering collaboration between government and commercial sectors to enhance innovation and efficiency in space defense initiatives.  
• The challenges of navigating bureaucratic processes in the acquisition of space technologies and the need for a streamlined requirements process.  
• The role of resilience and survivability in space systems to withstand potential attacks and ensure continued operational effectiveness during conflicts.