Location

Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B

Start Date

24-4-1991 2:00 PM

End Date

24-4-1991 5:00 PM

Description

The driving reasons for developing space systems in DOD at the dawn of the space age were strategic in nature. Arms control and intettigence constituted space imperatives at the height of the Cold War. Tactical applications came later and with much less priority.

Although much of this division of priorities continues today, Space Support to the Warflghters has become an increasingly common theme. Acquisition driven by combat related requirements is the new imperative by which development organizations must abide. We've become so quickly attuned to this activity that we have identified a separate mission area and given it a name: Force Enhancement. We talk about it as though we knew what it was, and refer to it as though others understand what we mean. In fact, very few understand the term. Many engaged in the area are even working counter to our warfighters' true needs.

To understand such an argumentative statement, consider the following observations. Ground mobile forces (which also include air units) must have small, rugged1 radio receivers in order to operate in a battle zone. They need to take their comm with them when they move, and they need to move in a hostile environment. These forces also need assured access to communications networks so they get the support they need when they need it. Their lives depend on responsiveness and they cannot tolerate delays in critical combat situations. Their comm requirements are simple: keep it small, rugged, and! guarantee access.

Comments

DoD Space Operations

Session Chairman: John S. Boone, Director of Space Operations, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO

Session Organizer: William E. Richard, USAF, Eastern Test Range, Navy Ballistic Program Manager, Patrick AFB, FL

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Apr 24th, 2:00 PM Apr 24th, 5:00 PM

Paper Session II-C - Operational Space Support to Tactical Forces

Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B

The driving reasons for developing space systems in DOD at the dawn of the space age were strategic in nature. Arms control and intettigence constituted space imperatives at the height of the Cold War. Tactical applications came later and with much less priority.

Although much of this division of priorities continues today, Space Support to the Warflghters has become an increasingly common theme. Acquisition driven by combat related requirements is the new imperative by which development organizations must abide. We've become so quickly attuned to this activity that we have identified a separate mission area and given it a name: Force Enhancement. We talk about it as though we knew what it was, and refer to it as though others understand what we mean. In fact, very few understand the term. Many engaged in the area are even working counter to our warfighters' true needs.

To understand such an argumentative statement, consider the following observations. Ground mobile forces (which also include air units) must have small, rugged1 radio receivers in order to operate in a battle zone. They need to take their comm with them when they move, and they need to move in a hostile environment. These forces also need assured access to communications networks so they get the support they need when they need it. Their lives depend on responsiveness and they cannot tolerate delays in critical combat situations. Their comm requirements are simple: keep it small, rugged, and! guarantee access.

 

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