Integrating Weather Exploitation into Airpower and Space Power Doctrine

摘要

This article outlines a strategy for developing new and innovative ways to exploit terrestrial and space weather in battle-a 'weather exploitation doctrine.' A key part of the strategy requires building sophisticated weather- effects models and simulations and employing them to enhance the ability of airpower and space power to exploit the environment at all mission levels, from individual engagements to theater and campaign planning and execution. The article briefly discusses how weather exploitation complements the four- dimensionality of airpower and space power by adding another 'dimension' (information) to the battle space. The discussion continues by outlining five policy areas that are converging to make the employment of airpower and space power more challenging-and more vulnerable to the natural environment. The article then describes weather services in their role as an integral part of command and control (C2), followed by a formal definition of weather exploitation. Finally, the article addresses the motivation for using modeling and simulation (M&S) as the means for developing a weather exploitation capability and integrating it into airpower and space power doctrine. time. This article proposes that we apply the medium of information-in the form of 'weather intelligence'-to develop better ways for airpower and space power to exploit the vertical and time dimensions in combat. Although air and space do not have solid obstacles such as mountains and forests, they do have 'physical' obstacles, such as clouds, fog, thunderstorms, and ionospheric storms. Land and sea forces have learned to take advantage of their environments by turning their 'obstacles' into exploitable allies (e.g., designing forces to operate in 'close terrain' and building submarines to exploit the acoustic environment of the deep oceans).