Space

   Space forces provide a significant net advantage for the U.S., and, by extension, those allied and friendly nations that share in our space products and services. They confer decisive advantages across the peace-through-war spectrum in terms of:

"Space forces...
confer  decisive
advantages across
the peace-through-
war  spectrum..."

Contributing to global and battlespace situational awareness;

Supporting operational maneuver, and enabling the synchronization of multi-user activities;

Enhancing combat operational timing and tempo; and

Supporting the application of weapons against targets.

   Thus, these advantages support national defense policies from deterrence through victory.

   The information-based "Revolution in Military Affairs" relies on technology advances, primarily in the fields of information collection, processing, and transmission. Space systems have long supported, and remain in the forefront of, these three information functions. They are continuing to improve capabilities for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR). In particular, they provide:

Near-real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), environmental monitoring, tactical warning/attack assessment (TW/AA) and targeting under day/night all-weather conditions for superior area and battlespace awareness;

Instantaneous and secure battle management and C4I for rapid and coordinated application of force, wherever required;

A global three-dimensional grid reference system for standardized location of references, objectives and forces, to include their positioning and navigation; and

Accurate positioning, timing and velocity data to support the delivery of precision weapons.

   The use and control of space enables the U.S. to establish and sustain dominance over an area of operations. Moreover, by providing almost global coverage, space systems help to compensate for reductions in force deployments and infrastructure by providing ISR and C4I (C4ISR) capabilities permanently in place and always ready. These capabilities also support forces operating and training back in the U.S., from exercise support to system test.

   As space systems directly support the revolution in C4ISR, it is imperative that their capabilities be recognized and used effectively. In the current thrust to make space a routine part of operations, three terms apply:

Normalization — moving space out of the R&D and classified worlds and into the mainstream of defense activities;

Integration — helping to infuse space into the basic processes of land, sea and air operations; and

Operationalization — making space more relevant and responsive to the warfighter and other users.

"...make space a
routine part of
operations ..."

   The DoD's current space force structure, comprising systems and capabilities in space support, force enhancement, space control and force application, is summarized in tables on the next page.

The four space
mission areas are:

-Space Support

-Force
 Enhancement

-Space Control

-Force
 Application