First Mover Typology for the Space Domain: Building a Foundation for Future Analysis

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mcclintock, Bruce

Contributor:

Langeland, Krista

Spirtas, Michael

Language:

English

Other Title:

First Mover Typology for the Space Domain

Place of Publication:

RAND Corporation 2023

Summary:

The concept of first mover advantage (FMA) is used often by military planners without clarification about what it means to move first or what sort of advantage such a first move is expected to provide to the mover. In space, there is often a perceived offense dominance that provides a first mover advantage to an adversary. To help build an understanding of when and whether exploitation of this concept should be considered in a broader military strategy, as well as when an adversary may consider such exploitation, the authors of this report seek to provide more-explicit definitions of what these first moves are and what objectives are sought with each. Furthermore, they seek to provide an explicit definition of advantage that distinguishes between the expected outcome should a mover wait versus the expected outcome should they move first. This foundational typology is intended to be a base for further analysis. The authors' recommendations reflect the nuanced view required to determine whether engaging in a first move indeed provides an advantage.