AU ACSC 207 2000-04 AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE AIR UNIVERSITY SPACE WAR MEETS INFO WAR THE INTEGRATION OF SPACE AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS by Gordon D Issler Major USAF A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements Advisor Lt Col Mik Beno Maxwell Air Force Base Alabama April 2000 Distribution A Approved for public release distribution is unlimited Form Approved OMB No 074-0188 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response including the time for reviewing instructions searching existing data sources gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing this collection of information Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information including suggestions for reducing this burden to Washington Headquarters Services Directorate for Information Operations and Reports 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway Suite 1204 Arlington VA 22202-4302 and to the Office of Management and Budget Paperwork Reduction Project 0704-0188 Washington DC 20503 1 AGENCY USE ONLY Leave blank 2 REPORT DATE 3 REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED 4 1 2000 Research Paper 4 1 2000 4 TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5 FUNDING NUMBERS Space War Meets Info War The Integration of Space and Information Operations AU ACSC 207 2000-04 6 AUTHOR S Issler Major Gordon D 7 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME S AND ADDRESS ES 8 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Air Command and Staff College Air University Maxwell Air Force Base Alabama 9 SPONSORING MONITORING AGENCY NAME S AND ADDRESS ES 10 SPONSORING MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER IATAC 3190 Fairview Park Drive Falls Church VA 22042 11 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12a DISTRIBUTION AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release Distribution unlimited A 13 ABSTRACT Maximum 200 Words The thesis of this paper is that until current legal political and technical constraints are overcome concerning the weaponization of space space operations should focus on integrating into the information operations campaign with the goal of gaining and maintaining information superiority This paper will describe Space Operations and Information Operations as defined by current and draft joint publications and then discuss the integration of these two areas to produce a synergistic effect on the operational-level battlefield 14 SUBJECT TERMS 15 NUMBER OF PAGES IATAC Collection information operations 18 16 PRICE CODE 17 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF REPORT 18 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NSN 7540-01-280-5500 19 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT UNCLASSIFIED 20 LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UNLIMITED Standard Form 298 Rev 2-89 Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 298-102 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-303 it is not copyrighted but is the property of the United States government ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER ii INTRODUCTION iv SPACE OPERATIONS 1 INFORMATION OPERATIONS 5 INTEGRATED SPACE AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS…THE NEW CONSTRUCT 8 RECOMMENDATIONS 11 BIBLIOGRAPHY 12 iii Part 1 Introduction “I will make this point once it is all global stupid It isn’t air it isn’t space it isn’t Service oriented It is all global We are going to work in a completely different analytical paradigm than the one we are accustomed to applying to our missions ”  Lt Gen Kenneth Minihan Former Director National Security Agency Operation DESERT STORM has been widely proclaimed as the first “space war” the United States fought…but was it really Or was it really the first “information age” war Since our ability to operate in space was never challenged I contend there was never really a battle for space superiority There was however a battle for information superiority Both coalition and Iraqi forces conducted surveillance and reconnaissance operations to gain and exploit information while simultaneously taking actions to mask their true intentions The coalition forces were able to obtain information superiority over Iraq through the employment of superior intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ISR assets and effective OPSEC and deception activities This information superiority enabled the coalition forces to monitor Iraqi forces and convince Sadaam Hussein that an amphibious operation was forthcoming while simultaneously moving forces to conduct the now famous “left hook” maneuver that caught Sadaam and his forces by surprise Joint Vision 2010 identifies information superiority as a critical enabler for the emerging concepts of dominant maneuver precision engagement full dimensional protection and focused iv logistics JV 2010 further defines information superiority as “the capability to collect process and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of information while exploiting or denying an adversary’s ability to do the same ” 1-16 U S military forces conduct defensive and offensive information operations to gain and maintain information superiority over an adversary U S military forces also conduct defensive and offensive counterspace operations to gain and maintain space superiority over an adversary But what does space superiority really provide a Joint Force Commander Space power doesn’t service targets with heat blast or fragmentation…space power’s effect on the battlefield is the provision of information “The support provided by space forces significantly reduces the fog friction and uncertainty of warfare Joint forces can rapidly see hear and exploit the environment when space forces are properly integrated into the joint plan This results in improved situational awareness reduced response time and a considerably more transparent battlespace which provides the JFC dominant battlespace awareness ” 2 xiv Therefore one must investigate whether these two missions can be integrated to optimize the effect in the battlespace at the operational level of warfare Recent decisions within the DoD indicate that leaders at the highest levels realize that space operations and information operations are inextricably linked responsibilities for USSPACECOM Changes to the Unified Command Plan have assigned increasing information operations to the United States Space Command Effective 1 Oct 1999 USSPACECOM assumed responsibility for the military Computer Network Defense mission and command and control of the Joint Information Operations Center formerly the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center Additionally USSPACECOM will assume responsibility for the military Computer Network Attack mission on 1 Oct 2000 7 1 The thesis of this paper is that until current legal political and technical constraints are overcome concerning the weaponization of space space operations should focus on integrating v into the information operations campaign with the goal of gaining and maintaining information superiority This paper will describe Space Operations and Information Operations as defined by current and draft joint publications and then discuss the integration of these two areas to produce a synergistic effect on the operational-level battlefield vi Part 2 Space Operations “We’re also working hard on our newest space integration issue – that of information operations With the tight linkage between space and information any future battle for space superiority will really be a battle for information superiority ”  General Richard B Myers The doctrinal void for military space operations should soon be filled by the approval and dissemination of the draft Joint Publication 3-14 Tactics Techniques and Procedures for Space Operations This publication provides the reader with an overview of the missions conducted by military space forces establishes procedures for space support to the warfighter and identifies space forces that deploy in-theater Joint Publication 3-14 identifies four primary missions for military space forces space support operations force enhancement space control and force application 4 III-1 “Space support operations are space operations that include spacelift command and control of satellites and surveillance and deconfliction of systems in space ” 4 xi These operations provide the physical capabilities that are utilized to execute military space operations This mission area is an enabler and produces no direct effect on the battlefield Force enhancement is the mission area that is most recognizable to military forces employed around the globe Force enhancement includes reconnaissance and surveillance environmental monitoring communications imagery global geospatial information and services and positioning 4 III-20 This is the 1 mission area that delivers space power to joint forces in the form of battlespace awareness Space control consists of surveillance protection prevention and negation This mission area has the goal of ensuring the friendly use of space while simultaneously denying the same to an adversary This mission area is currently restrained by diplomatic decisions not to weaponize space and also budgetary and technical limitations Additionally the plethora of commercial satellites providing remote sensing imagery and communications services to customers potential adversaries complicates the space control negation mission The force application mission from space is currently restricted to weapons that pass through space i e Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Joint Pub 3-14 provides direction for planning space support to joint task force operations operational level warfare Unfortunately the construct that Joint Pub 3-14 uses is that of synchronizing forces vice integrating information throughout the Joint Task Force “A supported CINC JFC JTF commander should designate a coordinating authority for space operations under the JFC for example the JFACC In this position the designated coordinating authority will coordinate space support on behalf of all commanders in theater in support of the JFC’s objectives and act in the capacity of “supported commander” for space with primary responsibility in theater for joint space operations planning purposes To ensure prompt and timely support USCINCSPACE may authorize Direct Liaison Authorized DIRLAUTH between the coordinating authority and service components of USSPACECOM ” 4 II—9 This quote indicates that the publication is talking about integrating forces when it uses the term “supported commander ” This observation is reinforced by the following quote ”The supported commander as with air land and sea power must ensure the integration of space power into his campaign ” 4 xvi At the operational-level space power is different from air land and sea power because it’s effect on the battlefield is different…it is providing information and is not deploying forces in-theater that need to be synchronized deconflicted Space-derived information should be integrated throughout the joint task force across functional lines 2 Components shouldn’t go to the JFACC to request space support…components require communications intelligence weather warning and navigation support Space provides critical information in all of these functional areas but is not the end all be all for any of them Space is a critical battlefield operating system but we fight with a system of systems so it must be integrated with the other systems not segregated and organized as a separate entity “Space power is crucial but does not operate alone in assisting the joint force to enjoy superiority in command control communications intelligence navigation and information processing “ 5 329 If a component needs intelligence information it goes to the JTF J2 and the intelligence community determines the appropriate system to task to collect the desired information If a component needs additional communications capacity it goes to the JTF J6 and the communications community determines the appropriate system There are synergistic effects within these functional communities i e a mix of ground-based airborne and on-orbit assets can be employed to provide the required information in the most effective manner Joint Pub 3-14 goes on further to discuss the space forces that deploy in-theater to support a Joint Task Force “USSPACECOM deploys task-organized JSSTs Joint Space Support Teams OPCON to the JFC JTF Commander to facilitate tasking and use of joint space forces provide space-derived information and ensure space support is provided to the combatant commander ” 4 III-25 This seems to be duplicative and even contradictory to the earlier identification of a “coordinating authority for space operations ” 4 II—9 The draft publication also identifies the capability of component space support teams that deploy in support of the service components within a JTF Additional deployable support teams such as the National Intelligence Support 3 Team NIST and the Joint Information Operations Center JIOC team are also referenced as complementary to the efforts of the space support teams 4 Part 3 Information Operations “Information is the currency of victory on the Battlefield ”  Gen Gordon Sullivan Former Army C S Joint Publication 3-13 Joint Doctrine for Information Operations provides the reader with an overview of Information Operations IO missions conducted by joint military forces identifies an organizational construct for joint task force IO and a planning methodology to integrate IO into the joint campaign “Information operations IO involve actions taken to affect adversary information and information systems while defending one’s own information and information systems IO require the close continuous integration of offensive and defensive capabilities and activities as well as effective design integration and interaction of C2 with intelligence support ” 3 I-9 Joint forces conduct information operations to gain and maintain information superiority and to operate within the Observe Orient Decide and Attack OODA loop of the adversary A coherent IO strategy focuses offensive and defensive information operations on the Joint Force Commander’s objectives “Offensive IO involve the integrated use of assigned and supporting capabilities and activities mutually supported by intelligence to affect adversary decision makers and achieve or promote specific objectives ” 3 viii Offensive IO are characterized by actions taken to degrade disrupt or destroy an adversary’s information and information systems These effects are achieved through the coordinated employment of Operational Security 5 OPSEC measures deception activities psychological operations PSYOPS electronic warfare EW physical attack destruction special information operations SIO and may include computer network attack 3 viii “Defensive IO integrate and coordinate policies and procedures operations personnel and technology to protect and defend information and information systems ” 3 viii Activities that are coordinated to produce an effective defensive IO strategy include but are not limited to OPSEC physical security counter-deception counterpropaganda counter-intelligence EW and SIO 3 viii Information operations employ both lethal and non-lethal means and are characterized by their effects on the battlefield degrade disrupt deny destroy vice the weapons systems employed Hence an aircraft employing a precision-guided munition against an adversary’s radio-relay site is conducting offensive information operations because the desired effect is the destruction of a communications node and the subsequent degradation of a command and control system “JFCs always should establish a fully functional IO cell ” 3 ix To ensure effective integration of IO throughout a Joint Force an IO cell should be designated early on in the planning stage “The JFC normally will assign responsibility for IO to a member of the joint staff usually the Operations Officer J3 ” 3 IV-2 The composition of the IO cell is mission dependent but retains the central responsibility of crafting a coherent IO strategy aimed at contributing to the accomplishment of the JFC’s objectives This IO strategy is developed at the JTF-level and then disseminated to the components for detailed planning and decentralized execution The IO cell chief normally functions as a member of the Joint Target Coordination Board and as such represents IO targets during the development of the Joint Integrated Prioritized Target List JIPTL Joint Pub 3-13 also identifies the large number of joint activities and DoD agencies that can support the JTF through the IO cell These entities include but are 6 not limited to the Joint Warfare Analysis Center the Joint COMSEC Monitoring Agency the National Security Agency the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Defense Information Systems Agency A central figure among these is the Joint Information Operations Center JIOC support team that deploys in-theater and typically integrates into the JTF IO cell “The JIOC is the principal field agency for Joint Information Operations support of the Combatant Commands The center provides support to planning coordination and execution of DoD Information Operations worldwide ” 7 1 Maj Gen Wright identified the difficulty in integrating the support of all these agencies “There are many agencies in the IO business supporting the CINC The challenge with those many agencies is to pull their capability and their support together coherently so that the CINCs really use what they bring to the fight in a timely basis ” 12 5 Joint Pub 3-13 identifies the IO cell as the “focal point for IO planning to include coordination integration and deconfliction ” 3 V-3 The IO cell must develop an IO plan that is integral to the JFC’s campaign plan and coordinates service joint and interagency IO capabilities The IO plan should be integrated directly into the Basic Plan and Annex C Operations 7 Part 4 Integrated Space and Information Operations…The New Construct “Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur ” — Guilio Douhet Space forces operate in their wartime location orbits everyday and have a global view of the battlespace Due to this omnipresent characteristic their contribution to warfare is optimized when their command and control is executed at a strategic level to optimize the entire system on a global basis Therefore CINCSPACE should retain combatant command and operational control of military space forces supporting JTF operations Additionally space superiority is not a viable objective for operational level warfare as the level of effort required to deny an enemy complete access to space is prohibitive due to the proliferation of commercial satellites providing information via the internet and the political and legal restraints on weaponizing space Therefore the focus for space operations supporting operational level warfare should be the integration of information vice the synchronization of forces Now that USSPACECOM has the assigned missions of computer network defense computer network attack 1 Oct 2000 and operational control of the JIOC it makes sense to take the integration of space and information operations to the next level CINCSPACE should merge the JIOC support teams and the JSST and integrate space support to JTF operations via the IO cell Space operations can be integrated in this manner because they do not need to 8 deploy large forces into a theater…their assets are already deployed and providing information from their on-orbit locations The small number of space forces that do deploy in-theater should integrate into the IO cells at the JTF and component levels and facilitate the identification of realistic achievable information requirements These space personnel can then communicate the JTF ‘s information requirements to USSPACECOM which can then plan tailored space operations as a supporting command to provide the required information Planning for space support to JTF operations should be pulled out of Annex N Space Operations and integrated directly into the Information Operations plan in the Basic Plan and in Annex C Operations This would provide increased visibility to space operations and ensure both space and information operations are viewed as an integral part of the joint campaign plan and not a capability that is added on after the plan is built and compartmentalized in a separate Annex Integrating space operations into the joint campaign via the Information Operations cell can produce synergistic effects that will enable both information superiority and dominant battlespace knowledge Space control and space force enhancement missions have an increased effect on the battlefield when integrated with offensive and defensive information operations The space control elements of surveillance prevention protection and negation can be integrated directly as part of the information operations campaign The surveillance of space objects identifies the enemy’s space order of battle if any including commercial assets projects when they will be overhead our forces and determines what kind of information they can provide Armed with this knowledge a JTF planner can effectively plan defensive information operations OPSEC activities e g cover up critical signatures and or offensive information operations Deception activities e g display ruses to mask the true intentions of the 9 Joint Force Commander Protection and prevention activities contribute directly to the protection of friendly information systems The space control mission of negation is really an offensive information operation attack as all space systems are currently information systems The impact of space force enhancement missions communications weather warning reconnaissance and navigation is maximized when integrated into JTF operations as information that enables dominant battlespace knowledge and not as separate space forces that need to be synchronized with JTF forces An example of this integration is the coordination of space and IO support to a precision strike against a strategic IO target The IO cell can not only identify the IO target but also provide information on periods of the day when the space-based navigation signal accuracy is maximized the time of overflight for national Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets and the potential weather impacts on precision-guided weapons systems All of this information can then be synchronized to execute a GPS-guided precision strike timed just prior to an ISR overflight This synchronization ensures timely bomb damage assessment and facilitates re-attack recommendations enabling the JFC to operate within the adversary’s OODA loop 10 Part 5 Recommendations “Iraq lost the war before it ever began This was a war of intelligence EW command and control and counterintelligence Iraqi troops were blinded and deafened…Modern war can be won by informatika and that is now vital for both the US and USSR ” — Lieutenant General S Bogdanov Chief of the General Staff Center for Operational and Strategic Studies Space support to JTF operations should be integrated with the Information Operations plan and coordinated through the JTF’s IO cell Creating a single coordinating authority for space support and placing it within a component degrades the synergistic effect of integrating space and information operations at the operational level of warfare Based on the assignment of the JIOC and Computer Network Defense and Attack missions to USSPACECOM CINCSPACE should go one step further on the path to integration and merge the Joint Space Support Teams with the JIOC Support Teams and create Joint Information Superiority Teams JIST These JIST should train and exercise to deploy in support of JTFs and function as the core of expertise for the JTF’s IO cell Additionally the separate Annex N for Space Operations should be eliminated Planning for space support to a JTF should be integrated with the Information Operations planning and inserted directly into the campaign plan in Annex C Operations 11 Bibliography Joint Vision 2010 America’s Military Preparing for Tomorrow Cohen William S Secretary of Defense Annual Report to the President and Congress 2000 3 U S Joint Publication 3-13 Joint Doctrine for Information Operations 9 October 1998 U S Joint Publication 3-14 Joint Doctrine Tactics Techniques and Procedures TTP for Space Operations Second Draft 20 January 2000 Joint Doctrine Encyclopedia 16 July 1997 USSPACECOM News Release 19-1999 Directorate of Public Affairs Headquarters U S Space Command 250 S Peterson Blvd Suite 116 Peterson AFB CO 80914-3190 USSPACECOM News Release 20-1999 Directorate of Public Affairs Headquarters U S Space Command 250 S Peterson Blvd Suite 116 Peterson AFB CO 80914-3190 Gortler III Fred W Maj USAF “Understanding Information Power and Organizing for Victory in Joint Warfighting ” Written in fulfillment of a requirement for the Marine Corps Command and Staff College Jumper John P General USAF Commander U S Air Forces in Europe “A Commander’s View of Information Warfare” Defense Colloquium on Information Operations http www aef org jumper2 html Cunningham Charles Lt Gen USAF Ret Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence OASD C3I “IO for the Engaged Commander” Defense Colloquium on Information Operations http www aef org cunning html Baker John B Brig Gen USAF Commander Air Intelligence Agency “IO Commanders Brief” Defense Colloquium on Information Operations http www aef org baker html Wright Bruce A Maj Gen USAF Deputy Director for Information Operations Joint Chiefs of Staff “Information Operations Operational Level Support to the JFC” Defense Colloquium on Information Operations http www aef org wright html Minihan Kenneth A Lt Gen USAF Ret Former Director National Security Agency “Conflict in the Information Age” Defense Colloquium on Information Operations http www aef org minihan html Owens William Adm USN Ret Former Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Excerpt from Dominant Battlespace Knowledge Institute for National Strategic Studies Oct 95 Aerospace Operations Coursebook pg 343 12