Offensive Counterspace--An Operational Fire

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of operational fires and the offensive counterspace mission are to determine if future counterspace operations should be considered an operational fire. Additionally, it addresses the operational level of war implications of this determination. It begins by defining the operational level of war and concept of operational fires. Specifically, it explores the function and characteristics of operational fires. Next, the paper investigates the four space mission areas and further defines the counterspace mission. It describes the major architecture components of all space systems, the four different types of counterspace operations, the five major functions of counterspace operations and provides details of capabilities that may emerge to carry out this critic mission area. A detailed analysis of the comparison of operational fires and counterspace operations reveals that counterspace operations should be considered an operational fire. Finally, some of the operational level of war implications that result from this determination are examined. Specifically, it focuses on the command and control issues that arise from the global nature of counterspace operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 28, 2003
Accession Number
ADA420477

Entities

People

  • John W. Raymond

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Incapacitating Agents
  • Information Operations
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Space Missions
  • Space Systems
  • United States Strategic Command
  • War Colleges
  • War Games
  • Warfare

Readers

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

Technology Areas

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