Direct Broadcast Technology in Bosnia: Its Impact on the Decision Making Processand Joint Endeavor Operations

摘要

During DESERT STORM a serious shortfall was identified in the communicationsarchitecture and its ability to effectively provide high bandwidth information to meet the demands of the operation. In response to this shortfall, the Department of Defense (DoD) is pursuing the exploitation of commercial Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) technology and its ability to broadcast video and data at high rates to small, affordable, and portable terminals. The Global Broadcast Service (GBS) was initiated to ultimately provide this military direct broadcast capability. A precursor to GBS, the Joint Broadcast Service (JBS), was begun as an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD). It is now leveraging DBS technology to support Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR This thesis describes how the JBS works, what types of information are sent over the JBS, the complete process of information distribution, and the impact the JBS has had on Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR and the associated operational decision making process. The JBS system has, at least in part, answered the joint warfighter's need for an improved high bandwidth video and data distribution system. Although it does have force enhancement capabilities, the lack of familiarity, information management, and trust of the system have limited its effectiveness in Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR.