Not Ready for the 'First Space War,' What About the Second

Abstract

For the first time in history, space systems were employed during the Persian Gulf War at not only the strategic level of war, but also at the operational and tactical levels as well. Space-borne assets had a dramatic effect on the ability of the operational level commander to successfully plan and prosecute a comprehensive warfighting campaign. This paper outlines the mission capabilities of U.S. Space Command, and its components, and examines how space assets contributed to concrete, coherent military action at the operational level of war in support of the ultimate national political goals and objectives. The impact of space forces during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, specifically force enhancement assets, is examined and six implications for the future are offered.... Space, DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, Force enhancement, Weather, Navigation, Satellites, Communications, Warning, DSCS, DSP, DMSP, GPS

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 17, 1993
Accession Number
ADA266557

Entities

People

  • Steven J. Bruger

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Department Of Defense
  • Detectors
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Military Operations
  • Navigation
  • Persian Gulf War
  • Reconnaissance
  • Space Force
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space