One Size Fits All Assessment of the National Space based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Strategy
Abstract
Successful national security strategies rely upon successful national intelligence strategies. By using available intelligence resources to observe and orient, nations can foster success in both decision and action. This work seeks to assess the extent to which the nation's overhead imagery strategy facilitates strategic success for both decision makers and execution agents. Relying on concepts from optimal control theory, a framework built upon objectives, components, and constraints is derived. Building upon this framework the study then establishes the differing and, at times, competitive nature of tactical and strategic objectives; outlines the organizational and technical traits of the current overhead intelligence system; and assesses system optimality via cross-correlation of outlined objectives and traits. Sub-optimality's revealed through the assessment are then considered in context of frequently proposed solutions organizational integration and system segregation. By reframing the problem to focus on competitions impacts and by assessing the admissibility of solutions in the context of system constraints, this work concludes system optimality will only be achieved through pursuit of both system and organizational segregation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1019191
Entities
People
- James E. Smith
Organizations
- Air University