C2 Through Space: The Key To Effects Based Aerospace Operations

A difficult task a Commander must accomplish relates to the types of information required to effectively engage the enemy in order to achieve the desired outcome with minimal expenditure of assets. In today's environment, the Commander is rapidly approaching, if not already achieved, information overload. The heart of the problem is to determine exactly what types of information the Commander really requires in order to reach a desired outcome. The types of information most useful to a Commander is based on the desired effects the Commander wishes to achieve and not just a fusion of the sensor data. This paper discusses a new Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) paradigm regarding information collection, fusion, exploitation and dissemination, namely Effects Based Aerospace Operations (EBO) and how it relates to another AFRL initiative, called the Joint Battlespace Infosphere. Additionally, this paper will discuss appropriate observable indicators of effects to collect, fuse and present to a Commander. Areas such as advanced sensor exploitation capabilities (e.g., hyperspectral and ultraspectral), on-board spacecraft fusion of effects information, and the ability to integrate many aspects of an on-going battle engagement to determine the best coarse of action to achieve the desired effect will be discussed. Using these examples, EBO, its potential, and its challenges will be examined. Furthermore, this paper will examine the difficulties and benefits of, and techniques for, integrating key observable indicators that a Commander needs to effectively engage the enemy and why the command and control through space is the key to effects based operations. The original document contains color images.