The US military operation that ended the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela also included the use of electromagnetic warfare systems to interfere with satellite communications and protect deployed forces, according to research published by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The report, prepared after a visit to Space Force facilities in Colorado and interviews with soldiers who participated in operations in Venezuela and the Middle East, describes how Washington uses technologies capable of temporarily interrupting the signals of adversary satellites without destroying the equipment.
One of the devices presented was Meadowlands, a terrestrial system designed to interfere with satellite communications by emitting radio signals that saturate the frequencies used by these devices. Its operation makes it possible to hinder the exchange of information between satellites and ground stations, without necessarily causing permanent damage, since communication can be reestablished when the interference stops.
“That which is never seen is incredibly important in war,” said Lieutenant General Gregory Gagnon, explaining the relevance of mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum to US military operations.
These capabilities allow the communication systems of satellites, aircraft and own vessels to remain operational, while making it difficult for adversaries to use their space networks to coordinate military actions.
An electromagnetic barrier during the operation in Venezuela
Among the testimonies collected by the American newspaper is that of technical sergeant Joshua Lomax, a member of the Space Force who participated in the deployment of these systems.
According to the report, Lomax and his team jammed satellite communications to establish a “protective bubble” around the US forces involved in the operation that culminated in the capture of Maduro.
After completing that mission, the soldier received instructions to move to the Middle East, where the United States was also carrying out operations against Iran. The change of scenario required preparing and transporting the equipment in a short period of time.
“It took 72 hours to pack the equipment, inspect it, load it on the plane and leave,” Lomax said. Once at the destination, staff had approximately 96 hours to install the devices and get them up and running.
The sergeant described those missions as “incredibly intense” and noted that during his deployment to the Middle East he came under enemy fire.
Systems to detect and neutralize threats
The US Space Force also has defensive tools, including Bounty Hunter, designed to examine the electromagnetic spectrum, identify interference and locate signals that could compromise the operation of its satellites.
According to WSJthese devices can work together with offensive systems through a scheme known as “scout and shooter”: one technology detects and locates the possible threat, while other teams can act against it following the instructions of military commanders.
Added to these capabilities is the Remote Modular Terminal (RMT), a more compact system that can be transported in containers and quickly deployed in different scenarios. Military officials consulted by the newspaper indicated that these teams already participate in combat operations and have a presence in regions of the world, although their locations are kept under wraps.
Captain Sofia Parlock, another member of the units deployed in the Middle East, explained that part of her duties consists of monitoring variations in the electromagnetic spectrum, documenting them and transmitting the data to those responsible for evaluating possible threats.
Both Parlock and Lomax belong to Mission Delta 3, a unit specialized in space electromagnetic warfare based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado.
Its commander, Colonel Angelo Fernández, highlighted the preparation of his troops to operate outside their usual facilities and stated that the unit must be ready to deploy “anywhere in the world.”
Control of space, military priority
The investigation of The Wall Street Journal exposes the growing importance that Pentagon grants to the protection of its space capabilities. Satellites fulfill essential functions for military communications, navigation, detecting missile launches, guiding weapons and obtaining high-resolution images of combat zones.
Electromagnetic warfare has become a tool to defend these infrastructures and limit other countries’ access to their own satellite networks during a conflict.
The development and deployment of these systems responds to a double objective: to preserve the technological advantage of US forces and reduce the ability of their adversaries to communicate, coordinate operations and take advantage of their space resources.
