Disruption of early warning radars, deterioration of high frequency communication systems, erroneous navigation, radiation hazard or even complete power outages. Already in the 1960s, ‘space weather’ was recognised as an existing threat to military operations, but to this day, it still does not enjoy the same level of awareness as many other external factors capable of causing a similar level of disruption and damage to military technologies. This e-Note introduces the topic of space weather and its possible impact on military operations. It then discusses the current efforts to forecast and mitigate these effects and proposes short- and long-term strategies to improve general space weather preparedness.

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Research line: Defence capabilities and technologies

© ESA

e-Note 46

More than just one type of weather to worry about? The impact of space weather on military operations.

Michaela BRCHNELOVA