The newer satellites are engineered to enable faster, more complete and integrated information transmission such as real-time video feeds from surveillance planes, images, maps, emails and chat information. Along with other things. The Air Force Research Laboratory are among the entities pursuing these vLEO systems.

Some vLEO satellites can bring improved throughput and higher resolution by drawing upon a technical ability to gather and organize data from multiple sensors simultaneously, vLEO enables one or two aircraft to perform sensor functions currently requiring four or five platforms, Chad Vuyovich, Director of Air Force Special Operations Programs, MAG, told Warrior Maven in an interview earlier this year. MAG is an Aerospace firm working with the Air Force on vLEO satellites.

Naturally, a faster, higher-tech and larger data flow prevent commanders from having to spend crucial combat time waiting for complete or more integrated intelligence data. For instance, he or she can see real-time, high-resolution video feeds, maps and navigational data, images, messages and information from wider-swath sensors such as Ground Moving Target Information - simultaneously.

Faster, lower-altitude satellites may also bring the added advantage of decreasing collisions with debris-filled space conditions. DoD information explains that there are currently more than 17,000 softballs or larger objects in space, with only 1,200 or so being satellites.

“Low Earth Orbit satellites take a smaller picture so there is only so much they can see, but there can be a lot of clutter with larger, higher, bigger-picture satellites,” a Pentagon official explained.

Interestingly, putting up larger numbers of fast-moving satellites brings technical adjustments aligned with the Air Force’s Space War Strategy. Recognizing the fast-increasing weaponization of space and the advent of space-fired weapons and anti-satellite technology, Air Force strategists emphasize various tactics such as disaggregation and redundancy.

Disaggregation is, as it sounds, spreading satellite assets apart over wide swaths of space, preventing an enemy from targeting an installation or more condensed group of space assets. This, enabled in some instances by much-improved computer processing and longer-range data sharing, makes it much more difficult for an enemy to disable a satellite system.

“You create so many nodes that it is virtually impossible to destroy,” Bogdan explained

Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

Image: Reuters.