ΠΕΡΣΙΚΟΣ ΚΟΛΠΟΣ: Κριτική Αξιολόγηση των Δορυφορικών Συστημάτων (Persian Gulf War: A Critical Evaluation of the Role of Space Systems)

Description

The crisis in the Persian Gulf, was a dynamic presentation of the possibilities arising from new technologies, which enabled the use of high precision weapons systems, and those that ensure faster dissemination of information and coordination of forces. Among the new technologies presented there was the use of satellite systems. It was perhaps the first time that the general public became aware of the strategic and tactical contribution of satellite systems in the framework of military operations. Although satellite systems were used previously in Libya, Grenada and Panama, it was the first time that they affected the progress and outcome of the war. More than 60 military and 20 commercial satellites were used during the time of crisis and war, and tens of applications of these systems applied to tanks, ships, planes and missiles. The Americans had all kinds of information on Iraq while they took care to deprive the latter, of the possibility of obtaining strategic and tactical information. As stated by the French Defence Minister Pierre Joxe, after the end of the Persian war: "That war was a great victory of the information and especially those derived from space assets". At the same time the war revealed significant weaknesses, mainly in the fields of intelligence and communication. It is characteristic that on the basis of these lessons, many intelligence services attempt structural changes. This study focuses on satellite systems (military-commercial), used by the coalition forces, their positive contribution and the weaknesses that were identified. This is one of the first globally critical assessments of the role the space systems played and the shortfalls observed on the Gulf Crisis and war in 1990-91. In the process author raises questions about the effectiveness and limitations of some major space systems. This monograph has received in June 1992 a honorable award from the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force. References were mostly based on news and opinion articles that made the U.S. Department of Defence Early Bird’s daily cut.