INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR FORCE SUPPORT FROM SPACE HIGH INTENSITY CONFLICT IN NATO EUROPE

ALTHOUGH SPACE SYSTEMS NOW PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONAL MILITARY FORCES, MUCH IMPROVEMENT IN THIS SUPPORT IS POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY IF AIR AND LAND BATTLE COMMANDERS ARE TO FIGHT OUTNUMBERED AND WIN. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, DECISIONS WHICH DETERMINED THE OUTCOME OF BATTLE ARE BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COMMANDER. THE WAR FIGHTING CINCS AND THEIR SUBORDINATE COMMANDERS NEED IMPROVED MEANS OF DATA COLLECTION, DATA FUSION AND DISPLAY OF DATA TO FACILITATE THE COMMANDER'S DECISION-MAKING CAPABILITY. ALSO, THEY NEED DEDICATED SATELLITES AND RELATED GROUND-SUPPORT FACILITIES IN ADDITION TO THE MULTI-USER SATELLITE SURRENTLY AVAILABLE, SINCE THERE WILL BE COMPETINGDEMANDS MADE ON THE LATTER BY MANY AGENCIES IN TIME OF WAR. A METHODOLOGY IS PROPOSED TO DEFINE CONCEPTS AND INSURE THAT RESULTING SYSTEMS ARE FEASIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND USEFUL TO COMMANDERS.