Satellite Technology: Principles and Applications, 3rd Edition

15Military Satellites

Military systems of today rely heavily on the use of satellites both during war as well as peacetime. Military satellites provide a wide range of services including communication services, gathering intelligence data, weather forecasting, early warning, providing navigation information and timing data and so on. Military satellites have been launched in large numbers by many developed countries of the world, but more so by the USA and Russia.

In the last five chapters, mainly civilian applications of satellites have been discussed. In this chapter deliberation will be given to various facets of military satellites related to their development and application potential. The chapter begins with an overview of military satellites, followed by a description of various types of military satellites.

15.1 Military Satellites – An Overview

Military satellites are considered as ‘Force Multipliers' as they form the backbone of most of the modern military operations. They facilitate rapid collection, transmission and dissemination of information, which is a major requisite in modern-day military systems. Space-based systems offer features like global coverage, high readiness, non-intrusive forward presence, rapid responsiveness and inherent flexibility. These features enable them to provide real-time or near real-time support for military operations in peacetime, crisis and throughout the entire spectrum of the conflict. They are also very useful during the planning ...