Res Communis

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The new Army Modernization Strategy 2008 discusses the U.S. Army’s space capabilities:

Space Capabilities
Space is a significant area of Joint development that supports enhanced BA capabilities, and is the backbone for the National and military ISR architecture, as well as the domain of choice for commercial broad-area sensing enterprises with military utility. Space-based communications provide reach and NLOS connectivity, while space-based ISR and commercial imagery platforms substantially enhance strategic, operational and tactical intelligence collection, processing and dissemination. Space-based assets continuously monitor the globe for foreign missile launches and can be leveraged to detect large infrared events on the ground in near-real time. Soldiers in OEF and OIF use space-based systems to communicate, navigate, target, find and fix the enemy, anticipate weather, receive missile warning, maintain situational awareness across extended areas of operations, avoid fratricide and much more. Army Space Forces are deployed worldwide supporting U.S. efforts to fight and win the GWOT. Army Space Support Teams have provided space products and services to corps, Marine Expeditionary Forces and Joint Task Force headquarters throughout OIF/OEF. Space Support Elements, as part of modular division and corps staffs, have filled a critical space planning and coordination role. Army Space Forces continue to enhance the effective application of spacebased assets and capabilities across the full spectrum of military operations in an interdependent, Joint and multinational environment.

Role of Space in the Army
Among the Army’s formidable capabilities is its global space reach, with assets and operations around the world. Space support to Army operations is divided into four space mission areas: Space Force Enhancement, Space Control, Space Force Application, and Space Support. Army Space Forces execute tasks within the Space Force Enhancement and Space Control mission areas. Space Force Enhancement functions improve the effectiveness of forces across the full-spectrum of operations by providing space-based operational assistance to ground maneuver force elements. These functions include long-haul and reach back satellite communications spanning multiple frequency domains, environmental monitoring of both terrestrial and space conditions that may impact operations, and space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Other Space Force enhancement functions provide precision position, velocity, navigation, and timing information that is crucial to modern combat operations, theater missile warning and near-real time battlefield characterization.

Space Control operations ensure freedom of action in space for the United States and its allies and, when necessary, deny an adversary freedom of action in space. Space control involves the interrelated objectives of space surveillance, protection, prevention and negation.