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PRECISION TIMING, LOCATION, NAVIGATION:
GPS AND THE PRECISION REVOLUTION

by

Dr. Bradford W. Parkinson*
Mr. George W. Bradley III
Brig Gen Daniel J. Darnell, USAF
Dr. Ivan A. Getting
Introduced by: Dr. Michael I. Yarymovych*

The history of human navigation goes back thousands of years, through the invention of the compass needle, the sextant and the chronometer, arriving at the introduction of radio navigation in the 1920’s and its operational use in WWII. Nuclear submarine operations created the need for satellite-based navigation, which then was further driven by the requirements of fast moving airplanes. In the 1970s, the Global Positioning System emerged as a radical new way to provide precise navigation for all US armed forces across the globe. The development of GPS, the most revolutionary navigation tool since the invention of the chronometer, is described, highlighting the technologies that went into its successful implementation. It was declared operational in 1995, although both civilian and military users had been exploiting the available developmental system for more than ten years.

Military use of GPS got its first operational application in Desert Storm, was then used for precision warfare in the Kosovo operation, and eventually became the major force enhancer in Afghanistan and Iraq. The number of operational receivers has increased exponentially over the last decade as the technology has moved in diverse and unexpected directions. Although GPS was originally designed for defense missions, civilian receivers now far outnumber military receivers. GPS has become a global utility with immeasurable potential benefits for all humanity – thanks to military science and technology development and Air Force implementation.

TIGHTENING THE CIRCLE: THE REVOLUTION OF PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS

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Dr. Robert L. Sierakowski
Lt Gen Daniel P. Leaf*
Dr. Robert P. White*
Introduced by: Lt Gen William T. Hobbins

Weapons designed to strike the enemy at ever-increasing distances, and with ever-increasing precision and lethality, are the result of critical scientific discoveries funded by the Department of Defense. The development and refinement of “Precision Guided Munitions”, or “PGMs”, can be traced back to initiatives taken prior to and during World War II to increase the effectiveness of aircraft delivered ordnance.

The real revolution in PGMs occurred in the 1970’s with the development and maturity of laser research and space-based initiatives such as the Global Positioning System. Beginning with their use in Vietnam, through the Gulf War, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and through their latest employment in Iraq, there have been marked improvements in PGM employment. Each improvement demonstrates a successful lessons learned approach from the previous conflict.

These improvements will continue due in large part to the technologists and the warfighters who, in concert with military and civilian visionaries, conceived unique concepts and possibilities with the marriage of seemingly disparate discoveries. The results have been revolutionary in the art of warfare.

REMOTE SENSING: ENLISTING THE SPECTRUM
FOR AIR FORCE ADVANTAGE

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Dr. Ruth P. Liebowitz
Dr. Edward A. Watson*
Maj Gen Stephen G. Wood
Introduced by: Dr. Janet S. Fender

The electo-optical/infrared (EO/IR) wavelength in the spectrum has provided a versatile sensing tool for military use since at least the 1950’s. EO/IR imaging technologies have contributed significant capabilities to meet Air Force requirements for target detection, identification, and tracking. The EO/IR has proven to be a versatile sensing tool for many applications since the 1950s. Although each system and platform utilizing EO/IR sensors requires different designs, they all share some basic technical parameters and components.

The paper describes the EO/IR technologies that have been developed to achieve current Air Force capabilities, focusing on infrared thermal imaging systems. It also places the development of these technologies in the context of changing political-military conditions. Lastly, there is a discussion of an Air Force operator’s experience with an EO/IR application of growing importance—sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

REMOTE SENSING FROM THE AIR:
TAKING RADAR TO NEW HEIGHTS

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Dr. Thomas W. Thompson*
Dr. Ruth P. Liebowitz
Mr. Jon S. Jones
Dr. Robert J. Mailloux
Lt Gen Bruce K. Brown, USAF, Ret.*
Introduced by: Maj Gen Joseph P. Stein, USAF*

The advantage of the “vertical”; that is, the capability to see farther and better than the adversary, has long been a cardinal principle of warfare. This paper explores how radar and sensor technologies developed in Air Force laboratories have permitted application of the principle in what is perhaps its most effective use to date: airborne remote sensing for purposes of command and control.

Beginning in 1954, the Air Force organized airborne radar early warning units with EC-121 aircraft. The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JOINT STARS), and fighter-based airborne remote sensing systems followed. Key to our success were USAF research and development (R&D) efforts that provided critical enabling technologies, particularly low side-lobe antennas, signal processing, Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), forward looking solid state radars, and sensor fusion. Numerous examples, most recently Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, attest to the operational utility of Airborne Remote Sensing.

DIRECTED ENERGY: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

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Dr. Robert W. Duffner*
Dr. Robert R. Butts
Dr. J. Doug Beason
Gen Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF, Ret.*
Introduced by: Maj Gen Donald L. Lamberson, USAF, Ret.

The wave of the future for directed energy technologies in many ways began with the discovery of the laser in May 1960. A beam of energy that travels at the speed of light immediately appealed to the military community which envisioned high-power lasers as a new class of weapons, destined to revolutionize the science and art of warfare in the 21st century. To turn that concept into reality, the Air Force laboratory system took and maintained the lead in the development of an operational airborne laser weapon system.

The focus of this paper is on the development and transformation of the airborne laser, covering nearly four decades as it evolved from a “laboratory in the sky” to a full-scale operational weapon platform capable of unleashing deadly beams of light to disable or destroy ground- and air-launched missiles. Unmistakably, the Airborne Laser Laboratory (ALL) ranks as the Wright Flyer of the laser world and has served as the technological bridge between laboratory research and the current Airborne Laser (ABL). Along the way, new and improved technologies emerged from the Air Force laboratories—such as the chemical oxygen iodine laser and sophisticated adaptive optics—which, combined, have enabled the propagation of a high quality, high-powered beam through a turbulent atmosphere to ensure the long-range delivery of sufficient energy to engage and disable enemy weapon systems.

PILOTS IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS:
ENFORCING POLICY FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE

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Maj Gen Robert F. Behler, USAF, Ret.*
Dr. Russell R. Burton
Dr. George C. Mohr
Dr. William J. Sears
Dr. Billy E. Welch
Introduced by: Col Joe Kittinger, USAF, Ret.

The USAF SR-71 “Blackbird” is a superb example of the application of science and technology in service to the nation. The far-sighted and often heroic efforts of human systems researchers laid the foundation for life-support technologies that allowed pilots to operate in extreme environments. As a result, the SR-71, since its development in the 1960’s, has taken pilots and reconnaissance systems officers to the edge of space and back while providing the nation’s top decision-makers awesome capabilities in a single platform to demonstrate national power.

From 80,000 feet and at Mach 3, the Blackbird reliably provided our leaders critically important national intelligence from an evolving array of the most advanced reconnaissance sensors the US science and technology community could provide. Underlying this impressive capability are the steady developments in human systems research, which led to ever-improving capabilities for crew members to fly higher, faster, and longer.

The role of the Blackbird in the 1984 MiG-21 crisis is a case study in the nation’s use of intelligence. In October 1984, intelligence reported that Soviet MiG fighters were crated and being shipped on a Bulgarian freighter. Three SR-71 missions, piloted by the first author, provided decision makers critical intelligence on the location and destination of the possible MiGs while placing our Soviet and Sandinista adversaries on notice that we were watching closely and were willing to act to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.

MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS: FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY

by

Dr. Harry L. Van Trees*
Lt Gen Harry D. Raduege*
Dr. Rick W. Sturdevant
Mr. Ronald E. Thompson
Introduced by: Dr. Alexander Levis

Military satellite communications have had a major impact on the success of recent military operations such as Iraqi Freedom. Following a brief review of basic satellite characteristics such as orbital locations, frequency bands, bandwidth considerations and terminal characteristics, the evolution of military satellite systems from a paper concept in 1945 to the sophisticated systems of today is described.

The technological developments that enabled the implementation of the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), Milstar, and UHF Follow-on (UFO) systems, as well as various commercial adjuncts are discussed. Although some specific elements such as multiple beam antennas, phased arrays, signal design and on-board switching are discussed, the technology focus is at the systems level. Specific operational successes that relied on military satellite communications are described. The technology developments required to support the evolving operational concepts are outlined.

ACCESS TO SPACE: BOOSTERS, ROCKET
PLANES AND LIFTING BODIES

by

Dr. Rick W. Sturdevant*
Mr. John H. Darrah
Lt Gen Forrest McCartney, USAF, Ret.
Introduced by: Lt Gen Forrest McCartney, USAF, Ret. (Video)

Almost from their inception, Air Force long-range ballistic missiles—Atlas, Titan, and Thor, which were designed to project thermonuclear warheads toward targets thousands of miles distant, provided the nation with a significant space launch capability. These ICBMs and IRBMs were transformed in the late 1950s into dependable space launchers and eventually into today’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles. The Air Force also contributed to the development of several powerful upper stages that significantly improved national space launch capability.

Moving into the realm of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), the Air Force led, or participated in, development and testing of several manned aerospace vehicles. Cooperation between NASA and the Air Force has been key to the advancement of this RLV technology: from the X-15 and Dyna-Soar to lifting bodies and the Space Shuttle. Pursuit of a National Aerospace Plane in the early 1990s highlighted the utility of a military space plane as part of a new generation of reusable launch vehicles to replace the shuttle.

*Presenter

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