Space Surveillance and Early Warning Radars: Buried Treasure for the Information Grid

摘要

A major emphasis of the modern Air Force is to drastically improve the capability of the Global Information Grid, also called the Global Grid. It is believed that the realization of this capability will greatly enhance the Dynamic Aerospace Command's desire to be able to be Globally Aware, be able to Globally Engage its forces, and also be able to make Dynamic Decisions. The expectation of the Global Grid is that it will be able to provide accurate, secure, and timely information to our commanders anywhere, anytime, and in their specific information application requirement. A strong emphasis has been placed on the new technologies needed to achieve this capability. Many of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) new research priorities have been focused at improving interoperability, information assurance, information accessibility, and new space based information platforms to accommodate the evolving Global Grid. There is a resource for the Global Grid that should not be forgotten. That is the Nation's investment in Space Surveillance and Early Warning Ground Based Radar Systems. These systems where originally built to keep a constant watch for the real threat of nuclear missile attack throughout the world. The strong requirements for these systems provided an enormous capability to monitor air and deep space activities.