Space Technologies, Warfare and Force Buildup in Large and Small Powers
- Paper number
IAC-06-E3.3.04
- Author
Mrs. Deganit Paikowsky, Tel Aviv University, Israel
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The aim of this paper is to outline and analyze the impact of space technologies on the warfare and force buildup of the US military and the Israeli Defense Forces. The paper derives from comprehensive research on the role of space technologies in shaping modern warfare and concomitant force buildup in large as well as small powers. This issue has to date received limited academic attention, particularly in regards to small powers.
The paper presents three interrelated arguments:
1. The Cold War Space Race initiated an ambitious Research and Development process resulting in diverse military and civilian applications.
2. Innovative Space technologies fostered completely new ways of gathering and spreading information, which ushered in the Information Age. Information Age technologies, ideas and principles changed the nature of warfare, making Information Superiority the main objective of military force. Space technologies are the key to information superiority.
3. The new Information Age warfare demanded a new military force buildup. The main findings presented in this paper identify the post Cold War American military forces and the IDF as Information Age forces, aspiring to Information Superiority attained through space technologies.
Despite inherent differences between the two countries, the strong relationship and ongoing dialogue between both military forces arouses substantial similarities in their operational conceptions. Both forces emphasize the use of space for achieving and synchronizing Information warfare, Dominant Maneuver, Precise and Guided Attack capability and Space Control.
War conducted according to these conceptions is no longer based on the quantity of soldiers, platforms, munitions and destruction. Rather, it relies on the quality of personnel, platforms and munitions, which combined, limit destruction, reduce risk and achieve objectives more rapidly. This is manifested in the decline of military manpower and platforms of both forces.
Findings also show Fire Power, Air Power, Intelligence and space systems are preferred to traditional terrestrial maneuver and power. There is also a growing preference for networks force organization, allowing joint strategic and operational capability, over traditional hierarchical organization.
Despite the considerable similarities found, the inherent differences between a superpower and a small power remain clear. Nevertheless, this research demonstrates that the development of innovative technologies, such as space technologies, and their application to modern conceptions of warfare are not solely in the hands of great powers. Using modest financial investments, small states can acquire capabilities never previously available to them.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E3.3.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.