Space Transformation Prepares for Air Force Future

Space Transformation Prepares for Air Force Future
By Tech. Sgt. Michael E. Spaits,
Air Force Print News.
Orlando, Florida -- (AFPN)
February 4, 2006 -- Information superiority is the difference between today and
tomorrow, said Air Force Space Command commander, Gen. Lance W. Lord.
The general told more than 800 attendees at the Air Force Association meeting,
here Feb. 3, that there is a tremendous threat “out there,” which is why it is
extremely important for the Air Force to become interdependent.
“From the F-22A to the Army’s future combat systems, to the Navy’s DDX and
beyond, whether we call it an interdependent force, joint force or net-centric
force, it only reaches its full capability when we get the right information to
the right place at the right time,” General Lord said.
General Lord also said the
next generation of space-based systems such as the transformational satellite
constellation, space-based infra-red radar and global positioning systems are
needed to help make U.S. joint forces more combat effective.
These systems, he said, are
critical in strengthening the Air Force’s ability to maintain an “unblinking eye”
over enemy forces and aid U.S. forces in striking quickly.
“Time sensitive targeting
during the Vietnam era was not measured in minutes or hours, but in days,” he
said. “By Desert Storm, the Air Force could service the same high priority
targets in around 100 minutes. Today, precision targeting can be acquired
within minutes.”
The general cited a U.S. scout
on patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2001 who discovered a retreating motorcade.
Instantly, the scout relayed the information to U.S. Central Command using
satellite communications.
Within minutes, the attack order was given and overhead fighters fired three
missiles and, at the same time, a remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicle
joined the attack as the world’s first unmanned fighter.
That strike killed approximately 100 Taliban personnel, including Mohammed Atef
-- a top aide to Usama Bin Laden.
“Space takes the ‘search’ out of
search and rescue,” General Lord said. “Recovery times have literally gone from
weeks, and sometimes years, to a matter of days and many times minutes.”
Former prisoner of war, retired-Col. Bud Day, spent 2,018 days in captivity at
the “Hanoi Hilton” because he didn’t have the luxury of space enhanced search
and rescue, the general said.
“In 2003, an F-14 crew ejected
over southwest Iraq and the space community provided the exact location of the
downed crew and threat data from the region so that search and rescue forces
could ingress and egress without incident,” General Lord said. “From the time
that crew hit the ground, they were back in safe hands in only 100 minutes.”
The general credits the
computer-savvy youth of today’s Air Force with helping the service stay in the
forefront of technology and maintaining information superiority.
“Our young Airmen are more computer-literate than ever before, and we must
harness that capability as we become more interdependent in the future,” General
Lord said.
Related Biographies:
• General
Lance W. Lord
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