INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR FORCE SUPPORT FROM SPACE: SPACE AND LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT

THIS PROPOSAL IS BASED ON THE APPLICATION OF AN INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED BY STS UNDER SBIR PHASE I TOPIC NO. AF89-179, CONTRACT NO. FO 4701-89-C-0064, INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR FORCE SUPPORT FROM SPACE - HIGH INTENSITY CONFLICT IN NATO EUROPE, PERFORMED DURING THE PERIOD 89 JUL 27 TO 90 JAN 08. THE INNOVATIONS TO BE DEVELOPED UNDER THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDE: 1) THE USE OF SPACE SYSTEMS IN LOW-INTENSITY CONFLICT; 2) AN ADAPTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF SATELLITE READOUT OF GROUND-BASED SENSORS; AND 3) THE DESCRIPTION OF A C3/I SYSTEM BASED ON SPACE SYSTEMS. ONE OF THE CONFLICT SITUATIONS FOR WHICH THE USE OF SPACE HAS NOT BEEN EXPLORED IS THAT OF LOWINTENSITY CONFLICTS. SUCH CONFLICTS OCCUR AROUND THE GLOBE AND PLACE NEW REQUIREMENTS ON U.S. FORCES. THE CONGRESS LEGISLATED THAT A COMMAND (SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND) BE RESPONSIBLE FOR U.S. FORCES INVOLVED IN THESE CONFLICTS. THE TYPES OF CONFLICTS EXTEND FROM COUNTERINSURGENCY, TO SMALL WAR, REVOLUTIONS AND DRUG WARS. THE ARRAY OF SATELLITES WHICH CAN SUPPORT U.S. AND ALLIED FORCES RANGE FROM NAVIGATION, WEATHER, SIGINT, AND COMMUNICATIONS. PHASE I WILL DEFINE A SYSTEM COMPOSED OF GROUND-BASED SENSORS (ACOUSTIC, SEISMIC, MAGNETIC) AND SPACE-BASED RELAYS, TOGETHER WITH A DEDICATED C3/I SYSTEM. THE PROPOSAL ILLUSTRATES HOW TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN THE SDI PROGRAM CAN BE APPLIED TO THE MISSION-UNIQUE SPACE SYSTEMS FOR LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT.