THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPACE

Among the many U.S. and European space systems that were involved in supporting the planning and execution of air attacks, the most pivotal were classified U.S. satellites that provided imagery support, including transmissions directly through new National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) data reception hardware which had been installed in the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing’s Tactical Integrated Planning (TIP) center at Aviano Air Base, Italy; Defense Meteorological Support Program (DMSP) satellites that provided weather imagery down to 1,000‑ft resolution; the GPS satellite constellation which enabled the consistently accurate delivery of JDAMs by B‑2s; and various NRO data relay and SIGINT spacecraft. Other allied space assets used in Operation Allied Force included the NATO‑4 communications satellite, a British Skynet satellite, the French Tele‑sat Syracuse system, U.S. Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) satellites, and ultra‑high‑frequency (UHF) follow‑on satellites.[215]After the effort ended, U.S. Space Command estimated that 80 percent of the spaceborne communications used during Operation Allied Force had been transmitted via commercial satellite systems.[216]

At least five notable space success stories came out of the Allied Force experience. The first was the effective use of the Multisource Tactical System (MSTS) on the B‑52 and B‑1, which gave bomber crews real‑time situation awareness updates. The system had existed before but had never previously been used in combat. The second major success story was the highly successful use of GPS‑guided munitions described earlier, most notably JDAM on the B‑2 and the Navy’s TLAM II. Third was the use of the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite constellation for providing real‑time battle damage indications (BDI) as an input into the BDA process. New procedures toward that end were created and refined for Allied Force that had never before been used.[217]Fourth, the Hook 112 survival radio was available for use by U.S. aircrews, making an important new role for space‑enabling systems in CSAR.[218]Finally, command and control personnel in the CAOC coordinated the tasking of terrestrial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets–notably the USAF’s U‑2s and RC‑135 Rivet Joint electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft–with space‑based ISR assets (that is, national satellite systems) to a level never before achieved in a wartime operational setting.[219]In all, reported the USAF’s chief provider of operational space support to warfighters at all levels, space integration into Allied Force was “the most extensive seen to date.” But there was still ample room for further improvement in such areas as space doctrine, better education regarding the nation’s space capabilities for prospective users, and better integration of these capabilities into the contingency plans of air component commanders worldwide.[220]