Fighting the War above Iraq: Employing Space Forces to Defeat an Insurgency - Space Force Surveillance and Reconnaissance Capabilities to Isolate the Battlespace, Examples of Blocking Outside Support

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The 2002 National Security Strategy states that “the struggle against global terrorism . . . will be fought on many fronts.” The front currently receiving the greatest attention is the counterinsurgency effort in Iraq. Given this war’s importance, the US armed forces must use every tool at their disposal to effectively prosecute this campaign. Can space forces be employed to help fight this and other insurgencies?

To answer this question, this paper first validates that fighting insurrections is an enduring requirement and there­ fore worth expending the effort required to change. Next, a review of space (including near­space) forces’ capabilities is provided for background. Three areas of current need in Iraq are then introduced. In each of these, a discussion of historic attempts to solve similar problems ensues, showing the challenges in Iraq are not unique and providing lessons for future operations. Based upon requirements in Iraq and the historical examples, the capabilities space forces can bring to fight rebellions are then highlighted.

This paper shows that in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other counterinsurgency operations, space forces will not be “war winners” but can provide crucial support. Specifically, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities can help isolate the battlespace. These systems can also enhance the ability to combat fielded rebels through surveillance, reconnaissance, and communications. Finally, the effects space forces generate can support the government and help strengthen its ability to solve the insurgents’ cause. The discussion concludes with specific recommendations to improve performance against this and future insurrections.

Space forces perform many functions which can aid in countering insurrections. AFDD 2­2 notes the most relevant ones as command and control (C2); intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); navigation and timing; weather services; and support to counterair, counterland, countersea, and special operations. While accomplishing these tasks, space forces provide three important capabilities. First, holding “the ultimate high ground” allows them to provide persistence (through continuous revisits, or permanent presence over any area [even denied areas]) not available through other systems. Additionally, this high ground allows for access to a larger field of view than available through other systems. Finally, the operating altitudes of space forces provide them a relatively unique, secure position.