Space Proves Mettle In Battlefield Exercise

SPACEWAR

Space Proves Mettle As "Battlefield"

The high frontier will increasingly be seen as just another battlefield to dominate

by 2nd Lt. Suzanne Kohout
21st Space Wing Public Affairs
Nellis AFB - Sep16, 2002
A recently concluded exercise has proven that space is rapidly improving all aspects of the battlefield operations, said the commander of last month's 11-day Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2002.

"We intended to send information as rapidly as possible from the combined air operations center, where the decisions can be made, to the warfighter in the air so that we can prosecute faster," said Lt. Gen. Tom Hobbins, 12th Air Force commander at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and the air and space component commander of the exercise. "And we're narrowing the time it takes to find, fix, track, target, engage and assess significantly in this experiment."

The 12th Air Force is the "warfighter" numbered air force given responsibility for conducting the air and space war portion of the experiment.

The exercise, a massive experiment in improving and refining those aspects, was centered at Nellis. It was the Air Force component of Millennium Challenge 2002, a joint warfighting experiment mandated by Congress and sponsored by U.S. Joint Forces Command.

The goals of JEFX were to improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the battlefield as well as test the expeditionary air operations centers with automation technology.

The scenario was set for 2007, as the exercise utilized capabilities already in place that will continue to that year or those being tested for use five years from now.

The scenario also proved that space's integration in all technological systems will be even more important five years from now as it is today.

"JEFX drove home the total integration of space into all we do," said Brig. Gen. Duane Deal, 21st Space Wing commander and one of two deputies to Hobbins during the exercise. "To put it into context, during the Desert Shield Gulf War preparations, we were scrambling to procure and install Global Positioning System receivers into aircraft, something not really pushed heavily before then. Today, we have GPS integrated into everything we do, from navigation positioning and timing, to GPS-guided weapons."

Deal said that the pervasiveness of space's involvement in space-based communications, weather tracking and forecasting, missile warning and other systems has made space as essential to a soldier in the field as his helmet.

"[It is] imperative to integrate space-smart pros into every portion of our Air Force and also to address the command-and-control aspects of space capabilities," Deal said. "We must know the intricacies of utilizing the gamut of air platforms and tactics -- from unmanned aerial vehicles to fighters to bombers. And we, in space, must bring our unquestioned expertise in space to integrate into wartime operations."

[Tech. Sgt. Tim Dougherty, of Air Force Print News, contributed to this article.]

SPACEWAR

Space Planning Office Open For Business

Peterson AFB - Sept 2, 2002
Air Force Space Command recently activated the Space Situational Awareness Integration Office in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.