Posted on 02/22/2020 9:14:44 AM PST by Moonman62
WASHINGTON — SpaceX Starlink satellites will play a major role in an Air Force live-fire exercise in April, and a Virgin Galactic (SPCE) sister company is in talks to potentially join in as well.
In December, the Air Force tested its experimental Advanced Battle Management System that will connect air, sea, land and space assets. The exercise was deemed an overall success, with SpaceX Starlink satellites used to link to a Lockheed Martin (LMT) AC-130 gunship.
As a next step, the Air Force's April 8 event is going to be "massive," Air Force acquisition chief William Roper told reporters at the Pentagon Friday.
The SpaceX Starlink satellites will play an even bigger role than in December, as Roper wants them to connect to more assets, including platforms on the ground.
"SpaceX has been a great industry partner for us," he said. "They are very excited, and we are excited to learn more about their satellites through the demonstration."
The exercises will include live-fire drills, such as taking down a UAV and shooting down a cruise missile. They will be performed across the country, from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
One problem our military faces when contemplating war with a peer adversary like China, is how dependent we are on satellites for communication, surveillance, and navigation.
A constellation of 12,000 small, cheap satellites is harder for an enemy to destroy.
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html
*ping*
In the early 60’s, Eglin used to have firepower demonstrations every year. It was held on a range way out in the middle of nowhere.
It lasted maybe two hours and I would describe it as “The Greatest Show On Earth”.
Yes, it was that good. President Kennedy attended one year.
ball bearing orbital flood ...also cheap
+1
The military implications of Starlink are huge.
And this is just a first step. Almost everything can be linked. Uploads when do not give away your position are possible, and encrypted downloads again do not give away a position or information.
Real time information sharing makes everything an enemy has a realistic target.
Combining images taken from multiple camera positions can achieve superior detail resolution. At any one time a minimum of five should be in range of any point upon the surface.
in barely related news, a Flat Earth moron removes himself from the gene pool.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.