Squaring the Circle Space and Missile Defense with LTG (R) Dan Karbler
Jan 24, 2026
LTG (R) Dan Karbler, retired Army lieutenant general and former head of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, now a senior advisor on space and missile defense. He discusses normalization of missiles and drones, the need for elevated sensing and integrated C2, production capacity limits, and how tactical Army space effects complement Space Force operations.
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Missile Defense Is Now A Space-Integrated Mission
- Air and missile defense is now inseparable from space and has grown in strategic importance across conflicts.
- LTG (R) Dan Karbler says normalization of ballistic missile and drone use forces adaptation in doctrine and posture.
Why Missile Defense Moved Under Space Command
- STRATCOM retained missile defense historically but Space Command now consolidates missile warning and space sensors.
- Karbler describes the "16-star memo" move to place missile defense under USSPACECOM for unity of command.
Capacity Trumps Chasing Only Exotic Threats
- Capacity on defense and offense matters more than obsessing over one exotic threat.
- Karbler warns adversaries keep large inventories of older ballistic missiles we must be able to defeat at scale.
