Elham Ghashghai

The U. S. Global Positioning System (GPS), now the world's preeminent pointing, navigation, and tracking (PNT) system, will in the not too distant future be joined by the European Union's Galileo, a PNT system planned to be similar to GPS in function and performance. Will the two systems cooperate, providing users with the benefits of both, or will they compete? The authors assess the economic impact of competition and how the United States can address that competition, especially as it affects U. S. economic interests.

Evaluates options for overcoming communications problems in integrating current and future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets with strike platforms. Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and strike platforms operating at medium and low altitudes pose special communications challenges. This analysis finds there is no one solution for all situations and platforms. A combination of options, which will vary depending on altitude, range, data rate, and threat, will be needed to ensure a robust communications link. Although communications does not appear to be a limiting factor for future ISR forces, programmatic action will be required to develop the necessary systems and the costs could be high.