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SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES
CONCEPTS OF MILITARY SPACE OPERATIONS

 

MILITARY SPACE

 

INTRODUCTION

On the 4th of October 1957, the first man-made satellite was launched into outer space. Since then, many satellites and space vehicles (kosmicheskoe sredstvo) have been launched to the Moon, Venus, and Mars. [The term kosmicheskoe sredstvo is translated broadly as "space means," and more narrowly as "space vehicle" or "space device," depending on context and the specificity of usage]. The Americans are exploiting space for military purposes and 70-80% of their space devices are so designed, including 30-40% for military reconnaissance. The Soviet Union is also seriously developing and improving its satellites and other space means which are utilized for strategic and operational purposes.


 
 

THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF MILITARY SPACE MEANS

1. military space vehicles with launchers to place them into space orbits;

2. launch bases for space vehicles;

3. command and data processing complexes;

4. complexes for reception, transmission, and processing special information;

5. search and recovery complexes.


 
 

SPACE SYSTEM

A space system is the grouping of forces and means located in space and on earth that is required to carry out specific processes and tasks with the assistance of specific types of space equipment.


 
 

FACTORS DETERMINING THE SYSTEM

1. the nature of the missions to be carried out;

2. the type of space means, regardless of their number operating in space orbits;

3. all other means, without which the accomplishment of its specific missions would otherwise not be possible, such as launch means, control and communications means, and others.


 
 

SINGLE-PURPOSE SPACE SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE


 
 

REALIZED MORE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS

1. geodesic;

2. meteorological;

3. communications;

4. others systems that are under development.


 
 

ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE COMPOSITION OF SPACE SYSTEMS

1. Single-purpose space instruments placed in space in specific orbits. One or a number of such instruments can be included in one space system;

2. Space vehicles ready to launch with their carriers on launching pads for deploying new space systems, reinforcing active space systems, and correcting the system in case the space instruments fail to operate and for other purposes. Each system usually includes two to three launching systems;

3. Two to three command and tracking centers, an electronic data processing center, and other command and tracking elements of the complex required for flight control of space vehicles and control of their operation in space;

4. Three to four reception centers to receive information from space vehicles. Such centers are connected by communications links with information collection and analysis centers;

5. Search and recovery complexes, which observe and scan space vehicles returning to the earth's surface and provide for their recovery and evacuation;

6. System command posts, from which the control of the system's operation is exercised.


 
 

ELEMENTS WHICH MAY BE THE SAME FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPACE SYSTEMS

1. launch systems;

2. command centers;

3. tracking centers;

4. electronic data processing centers;

5. communications links.



 
 

EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Employment conditions for space are determined by the aim and nature of the war, the missions of the Armed Forces, and the physical characteristics of space.


 
 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPACE

1. wide dimensions;

2. deep vacuums;

3. special temperature conditions;

4. special effects of solar radiation in all spectra;

5. the presence of waves of large particles of energy;

6. meteors;

7. the atmosphere and its radiation belt produce major effects (in the space immediate to the rotating earth).


 
 

PARTS OF SPACE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN STUDYING SPACE AND ITS EFFECTS ONCOMBAT CAPABILITIES ON EARTH

1. the close region which surrounds the earth;


2. the region in which space means are deployed;


3. the region in which military actions are taking place.


 
 

AREAS INTO WHICH SPACE IS DIVIDED REGARDING ITS PHYSICAL NATURE, LEVELOF STUDY, AND PRACTICAL UTILIZATION

1. immediate space (space around the earth up to one thousand kilometers);


2. remote space.


 
 

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCEIN IMMEDIATE SPACE

1. Areas higher than 120-150 km, where effective employment of different space systems, such as reconnaissance, meterological, topogeodesic, space communications, systems and also earth orbiting craft.


 
 

MILITARY USE OF SPACE

1. in recent years 70-75% of military satellites operate in the immediate space around the earth;

2. study and utilization of remote space for the military has commenced (remote space is a part of space around the earth located at the outer limits of immediate space);

3. at present, the space in which military space means are operating has a radius of 100,000-110,000 km;

4. in future, the upper orbits of space will be utilized, and the entire space around the earth may be used for military purposes.


 
 

ALTITUDE OF SATELLITES

The earth's radiation belt is located in remote space, at an altitude between 1,000 and 40,000 km. Satellites can be placed in permanent orbits at an altitude of about 36,000 km. Such orbits are anticipated in the future for observation and early warning systems to give warning about enemy nuclear attacks, for intercontinental communications systems operating on a real time basis, and for intercontinental guidance systems.


 
 

SIGNIFICANCE OF MILITARY SPACE MEANS' COMBAT CHARACTERISTICS IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT

1. continuous movement at a high speed: the employment of military space means assumes that specific space devices in the future will be able to remain in orbit for a long period of time. This provides the possibility for establishing and utilizing multi-purpose space systems capable of operating for a long period of time in space.


2. intercontinental nature of the actions of space means: the wide movement of space means requires that they be used to conduct missions on an intercontinental scale. This is supported by the following:

-- -- their extremely wide observation area, effective range, as well as their enormous range of transmission, that expands as their flying altitude increases;

-- -- their enormous flying capabilities around the earth at a very high speed in a short time;

-- -- regular space vehicle overflight in various areas of each TSMA;

-- -- the capabilities of keeping space vehicles aloft for a prolonged period of time;


3. the possibilities for the use of space means to accomplish different tasks: the capabilities of space vehicle flights at different altitudes (from 60-70 km up to hundreds of thousands of kilometers), along with the international nature of space, provide opportunities to employ military space means in both peacetime and war. They are used for conducting reconnaissance missions, different measurements (data collection and their calculations), and signal communications in extremely wide dimensions and over long distances;


 
 

SIGNIFICANCE OF MILITARY SPACE MEANS' COMBAT CHARACTERISTICS IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT (CONT.)

4. the capabilities for establishing different groupings of space means: space is an enormous and extraordinarily large region that offers practically unlimited possibilities for the deployment and concentration of different space systems. Therefore, the establishment of space systems groupings can provide for different forms and methods in accomplishing various missions;


5. the need for early deployment of the groupings of military space means: the deployment of space systems requires much time for establishing launch bases, control complexes, and data and information reception centers, and for placing space devices into orbit. Therefore, the principal elements of the systems should be deployed sufficiently in advance;


6. technical difficulties and expense of military space means: construction of space means, their launch and control means, and also maintaining space means in the necessary state of combat readiness require enormous financial and material expenditures. Therefore, it is better that military space means be used only for the most important tasks which cannot be accomplished by other space means effectively.


 
 

DEFINITION OF MILITARY SPACE MEANS

1. are assets of the Supreme High Command;

2. are used centrally;

3. are designated to carry out independent missions, as well as joint missions with other means to support their employment for the use of all Services of the armed forces;

4. in the future, they will be used to accomplish combat missions.


 
 

THE TWO GROUPS INTO WHICH MILITARY SPACE MEANS MAY BE CLASSIFIED, DEPENDING ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OFTHEIR MISSIONS AND THE CONDITION OF THEIR EXECUTION

1. military space means of support: these include reconnaissance means, ship and aircraft guidance means, meterological and geodesic support means, and also radio-electronic warfare means. Such means are designated to support the combat actions of different Services of the Armed Forces in various forms of strategic action. In peacetime, as well as in the period of threat (period ugrozy) when the threat of war is likely, military space means are also used to support troop actions, and specific preparations of the Armed Forces are conducted in a timely manner. Their wide utilization is based on many factors, principal among which are the requirements of the Supreme High Command and commands of the different Services of the Armed Forces to support planned and on-going operations;


2. military space means of control: these are primarily space communications means and will include, in the future, space command posts. These means are designated to ensure constant control of the Armed Forces and Armed Forces' groupings in peacetime and in the course of war. They are appointed for the conduct of strategic and operational signal communications.


 
 

ROLE AND SCOPE OF MILITARY SPACE MEANS

The role and scope of military space means should be determined in accordance with the character of contemporary and f