"We will always be an aerospace force. We will always have the air aspect, but as we showed and proved during Desert Storm, and proved again during the air campaign over the Balkans, space is an integral part of everything that we do to accomplish our mission," said Lyles during his visit Aug. 25.

The general has a unique perspective and a lot of experience with space systems. From his first assignment in 1969 as a propulsion and structures engineer for the Standard Space-Launch Vehicles Program Office to his last assignment as the director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Lyles has had the opportunity to see many of the space programs he has worked on have a dramatic impact on the Air Force.

"The systems that we've been developing and working toward for many, many years are beginning to be well known by the warfighting CINCs (commanders-in-chief). They recognize how to take advantage of space systems to get the mission done. The more people become knowledgeable about them, the more they utilize them. The more they become dependent on them, the more the importance of space will continue to grow."

As more commanders-in-chief learn to use space systems, the general sees an even greater demand for the capabilities and products space can provide. Lyles pointed out three critical areas that depend heavily on space.

"In a nutshell, space provides us three things today -- precision, communications and surveillance. The weapons of choice during the air campaign over Kosovo were the precision, GPS-aided weapons," said Lyles. The 27-satellite Global Positioning System constellation, operated by AFSPC, provides positioning and timing data to users around the world. "It got to the point where they (GPS-guided munitions) were almost indispensable," said Lyles. "Everything that a warfighter, or CINC, or war planner is trying to do relative to attacking targets has become more-and-more dependent on precision guided-weapons. We saw the beginning of this during Desert Storm and saw it in spades over Kosovo."

The vice chief said that the Air Force will continue to depend on these highly accurate munitions.

"I would say that in the next conflict you will see 100 percent utilization of these types of weapons," said Lyles. "When we have a mandate to minimize collateral damage, like in Kosovo, the only way to guarantee that is through the use of very, very precise weapon systems." Communications is another area where warfighters are reaping the benefits of space systems.

"Command, control and communications has literally become visible to everybody as the only way to get things done," said Lyles. "All the communication systems we have that are provided and supported by space assets, are indispensable to the warfighter."

Communications cover a wide spectrum. In addition to typical voice transmissions, space systems are now allowing for near real-time data transmission. For example, the Multi Source Tactical System and Combat Track II system allowed B-1 and B-52 crews to employ real-time flex-targeting for the first time in combat over Kosovo. Flex-targeting is the ability to change targets while en route.

Space is also playing an ever-expanding role in surveillance.

"Some of the initiatives during Kosovo with unmanned aerial vehicles were very interesting," said Lyles. "The Predator system was good, but we had to add satellite data in order to get precise coordinates as to what Predator was looking at. After this integration we could then provide information to the warfighter -- to the airplanes -- to attack their targets. The bottomline is that space has become indispensable to get the job done." Space is also indispensable to the future of the Air Force according to the general.

"In spite of the fact that we are using the word 'precision' now, I think we are going to become even more precise as we get more and more refined capabilities. GPS has been very helpful, but we are going to try to find ways to make that precision even tighter to accomplish the job.

"Space control is going to become much more important in the not too distant future. We need to figure out the best way to exercise this fourth leg of the space mission." The other three legs of the space mission are space support, space force enhancement and space force application.

"Space control and all of its capabilities and ramifications, I think, are going to grow exponentially in the not too distant future. Ultimately, you can see the Air Force deploying systems that can deny space capabilities to our enemies. Systems like the Space-Based Laser, which we are currently trying to develop and demonstrate, will certainly become a reality in the far future," added Lyles

One space asset the country will need in the near future, if it wants to have a robust national missile defense system, is the Space-Based Infrared System. The system is divided into two components, SBIRS-high and SBIRS-low. SBIRS-high is designed mainly as a replacement, with more capability, for the Defense Support Program that is used to detect ICBM launches. SBIRS-low will provide new capabilities in the areas of tactical warning, tactical and national missile defense, battlespace characterization and technical intelligence. Lyles supports both components of SBIRS.

"We certainly need to have both SBIRS-high and SBIRS-low. We need both sides of that system," said Lyles. "The funding for SBIRS slipped a couple of years primarily because of technical difficulties. It is a reality that we were facing both technical challenges and cost growth on the program and we had to make adjustments to the program as a result of that. It was not very well received by some of the strong supporters of this program in Congress, and we have a difficult road ahead to explain how we got into this particular position. But I am convinced the restructured program we have now is the right one to give us the capability as quickly and as affordably as possible.

"We need to replace Defense Support Program satellites, which SBIRS-high will do in the future, and we need SBIRS-low capability primarily to support our missile defense activities. This includes both national and theater missile defense activities. So as quickly as we can get those systems developed, fielded and on orbit the quicker we will enhance our ability to do missile defense."

Although SBIRS is important, Lyles was quick to point out that it will not affect missile defense systems already deployed.

"It is important to understand that we have theater missile defense capabilities in the field today, but we can enhance those capabilities with SBIRS-low. For national missile defense, which we are trying to develop and field by 2005, we can get the job done with the DSP constellation we have on orbit now and with SBIRS-high as it becomes available. But to really do national missile defense in a robust manner, and to provide the kind of coverage and capabilities we think we need to have from all potential threats, we will need SBIRS-low," said Lyles.

"We need that extra-refined information that SBIRS-low will provide so we know precisely where to shoot with our national missile defense weapon systems. We will have our first capabilities for national missile defense long before SBIRS-low goes on orbit, but we ultimately need to have SBIRS-low to meet all the requirements for national missile defense."

The general said he was glad for the opportunity to visit and talk with the top-notch people at Air Force Space Command.

"I'm very proud we have such a great space team for the United States Air Force and the country. One of my main jobs is to make sure we are doing everything we can to support this great space team in terms of resources and quality of life. If I do that, then I know you will make the space mission as successful as we know it can be," said Lyles.