Space Force 2020: A Force for the Future

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual analysis of the environment shaping and answering the following questions: When should the transition of the United States Air Force to a space and air force begin in earnest? What future capabilities of Air Force space power should the Nation demand? How, considering the inherent characteristics of active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard, civil service, and contractors, should the Air Force organize and create its future space force? The analysis recognizes there will not be a true global or regional competitor for the next 10 to 15 years, while the threats in the 2010 to 2020 time frame will be very different from what the US faces today. The priority, therefore, for transformation must go to responding now to asymmetric challenges and to the transition to space. The Air Force has the time and opportunity to begin the transition today. It cannot afford to wait. The required space capabilities for the future space and air force stem from strategy, Air Force core competencies, and Air Force doctrine. Some capabilities already exist space asset detection, tracking, identification, & characterization, space environment characterization, space-based navigation, communications, reconnaissance, surveillance, threat warning, & environmental sensing, battle management/command and control, scheduled launch operations, satellite telemetry, tracking, and commanding (TT&C), and mission data distribution. These capabilities only require upgrades and improvements to fully leverage new information technologies. Other capabilities could exist with the right investment and procurement decisions terrestrial-based space asset deception, disruption, denial, degradation, & destruction, space asset protection, vulnerability reduction, & survivability enhancement, unscheduled launch operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA398579

Entities

People

  • Steven R. Lootens

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Air National Guard
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Battle Management
  • Command And Control
  • Employment
  • Information Systems
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Navigation
  • Procurement
  • Space Systems
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites