ABSTRACT
Air power has been a factor in military operations since the battles of Revolutionary France in 1794, when balloons were first used in a role remarkably similar to that of the J-STARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) today. It may be said that we have gone through two eras in air power and are now entering a third in aerospace power. First, two centuries ago, we had the problem of fully integrating an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system into the military, namely the balloon. Second, a century ago, we had that same problem but now involving the aeroplane. Third, today, we confront it again, as we move to integrate space fully into our operations. I would aver that orbital manned and unmanned spacecraft today bear the same relationship to military aviation and surface warfare as the aeroplane did to the balloon and surface forces a century ago, and as the balloon did to cavalry and surface forces two centuries ago.
