The Paradigm Shift to Effects-Based Space Near-Space as a Combat Space Effects Enabler

The thesis of this paper is that space is currently a medium through which warfighters get effects- typically those effects are strongly related to Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)-- not just a place and not based on a specific platform type. Until recently, most C4ISR effects have been delivered from satellite platforms (apologies to our manned and unmanned air-breathing ISR assets). The reason for operating in such a manner was that, in general, no other way existed to obtain similar effects. The extreme costs of space were justified due to their monopoly on the ability to provide those needed effects. However, with the advent of near-space concepts, those same effects can be obtained in a different way, especially for operational and tactical users. The paper discusses strengths and weakness of near-space, doing a top-level comparison with satellites, manned ISR, and UAVs. Satellites are shown to have great strengths for strategic missions where freedom of overflight is required. However, for operational and tactical missions-- primarily after or just before commencement of hostilities-- near-space holds strong advantages, especially over so-called tactical satellites