RAND Project AIR FORCE Annual Report 2007 - RAND Corporation

PAF has recommendeda more-integratedapproach that combinesGPS and visualpositioning methodswith other informationservices.Urban warfighters are asking for positioning systems that integratethe global availability of precise GPS solutions with rich local information.For example, while GPS may help find a general location, determiningwhich door is the correct one to enter requires integratingultra-high-quality position data with intelligence and situational awarenessinformation. Instead of seeking space-based solutions alone, PAFhas recommended a more-integrated approach that combines GPS andvisual positioning methods with other information services.Here, as in every domain—space, air, land, or sea—the key questionis whether increased dependence on a space system benefits the warfighter.Being able to provide both space and terrestrial capabilities mayhelp limit America’s possible exposure to space attack and may reducesome of the financial burden that the Air Force now carries.ADeltaIIlaunch vehiclecarriesaGPSnavigation satellite into orbit from CapeCanaveral Air Force Station, Florida.Annual Report 2007 15