UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND

DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HEADQUARTERS

U.S. SPACE COMMAND

PETERSON AFB, CO 80914-3190

UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND WEB SITE ADDRESS:
http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2000

Release No. 15-00

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — United States Space Command, located here,
will assume responsibility for the Computer Network Attack (CNA) mission for the Department of Defense effective October 1, 2000.

CNA is the newest mission to be added to U.S. Space Command’s existing
responsibilities of Computer Network Defense and coordinating all military space
operations, to include missile warning, communications, navigation, weather and
surveillance from DoD, civil and commercial satellite systems.

During armed conflicts, military forces have used information technologies to
accomplish lawful military objectives. Radio frequency jamming and electronic
counter measures are two examples of the application of information technology
to military operations with relatively lengthy historical roots. Today, military
forces around the world use the latest information technologies, including
computer-based systems and data links, to conduct their operations.

Within the Department of Defense, United States Space Command has been
designated as the military lead for defending DoD networks (Computer Network
Defense) and, in the context of the Law of Armed Conflict, denying our adversary
the ability to use computer networks to conduct military operations.

Attacking an adversary’s computer networks could also be an element of defending
our own computer networks against a major cyber attack against our own systems.

CNA operations may also be used in other situations. For example, combating
terrorist threats when directed by appropriate authorities. Integrating Computer
Network Attack into a broader military operation will help U.S. military forces
to prevail on future battlefields. In some instances, Computer Network Attack
might allow an operation to succeed with less loss of life and physical destruction.

As with any military capability, the United States will only employ CNA after
careful policy and legal review, and any use of CNA will be consistent with U.S.
international obligations and the Law of Armed Conflict.