In Pursuit of Fools Gold-Theater Downlink at the Operational Level of War

Abstract

In the past ten years, U.S. military service chiefs, combatant commanders, and task force commanders have pursued their requirement for the capability to transmit data from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms directly into the theater operations-theater downlink (TDL). The research highlighted certain themes: commander's desire for access to analyzed data; commander's desire for data availability in a timely manner; maturity of a theater of operations impacts the use of TDL. The vulnerability of TDL and the impacts on operational intelligence, operational logistics, and command and control all lead to the same conclusion. TDL is no longer required. Instead, the transmission of data over satellite relays from ISR sensors has proven itself over the skies of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Continued pursuit of TDL is pursuit of Fools Gold.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 03, 2003
Accession Number
ADA415375

Entities

People

  • Bryan T. Dahle-melsaether

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Damage Assessment
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Employment
  • Imagery Intelligence
  • Intelligence Products
  • Logistics
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Surveillance
  • Task Forces
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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