Higher Eyes in the Sky. The Feasibility of Moving AWACS and JSTARS Functions into Space

摘要

During the past few years, United States Air Force (USAF) leaders have begun to emphasize space operations. In order to accomplish F2T2E, the functions performed by the E-3 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) and the E-8 joint surveillance, target attack radar system (JSTARS) will need to migrate to space-based platforms. This study explores how such a migration would occur. Before examining space operations, the historical military need for moving target indicators (MTI) is examined, tracing the evolution from hot air balloons to our current AWACS and JSTARS aircraft. Because space systems operate differently from airborne systems, those differences are explored. The organizations involved in space operations are also examined, along with their potential to effect the development of a space-based MTI system. The radar systems of both the AWACS and the JSTARS are described, as well as a few of the most prominent of the proposed space-based systems.