by Lt. Col. Mary-Claire McCarthy
Headquarters Air Force Doctrine Center
1/22/2007 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNEWS) -- The Air Force chief of staff has approved the latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-2, Space Operations, outlining the operations of space power.
"As a keystone doctrine document, it emphasizes the force multiplying and enabling nature of space operations," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley.
"It is our job as Airmen to operate and organize space forces based on the premises articulated in this doctrine," the general said.
This latest revision updates Air Force space doctrine based on recent operational experience. Some of the highlights of the document include the definition of the space coordinating authority, the joint force air and space component commander's role as the supported commander for counterspace operations, and the responsibility of the director of space forces. The document describes space integration considerations for planners based on observations during recent military operations, and explains the space air and space operations center, which now operates as the joint space operations center.
Space forces support the joint force-intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; command and control; positioning, navigation and timing; weather services; counterspace; communications; and spacelift. Airmen trained in the operation and employment of space operational concepts and forces integrate air and space power with joint forces on a daily basis.
This space operations doctrine has been updated significantly since the previous publication of AFDD 2-2 in 2001. It describes the integration of space power across the range of military operations. Specifically, it recommends a command and control construct for space operations found to be extremely effective in recent operations.
You can download this new publication at www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2_2.pdf.