Use of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Technology to Track DoD Assets in Theater

This paper addresses one possible solution to the enormous task of monitoring assets and unit equipment in theater. In recent months, the ability to track intra-theater shipments has been identified as one of the weakest links in the current in-transit visibility (ITV) structure, and the Department of Defense (DoD) has placed great importance on giving senior leaders visibility regarding the equipment and cargo transiting their geographic areas. The authors highlight their difficulties with ITV and the time and effort they have spent improving their automated collection of data. Their efforts have given impetus to multiple technologies that are currently assisting the DoD in obtaining accurate location of assets in theater. The technologies associated with these efforts are referred to as Automated Identification Technologies (AIT). Although current standard methods of identification seem to be ameliorating the ITV problem (e.g., radiofrequency identification (RFID)), this paper introduces an intriguing new identification technology that is currently being developed and used in the private sector: monitoring assets with the aid of low-earth-orbit satellites (LEOs). This technology has been demonstrated in the commercial trucking industry through ORBCOMM's Vantage Tracking devices that allow the military's GPS and commercial LEOs to pinpoint the location of mobile shipments. This paper examines the current state of AIT in the DoD with a focus on RFID in the Republic of Korea. It also addresses the commercial use of satellite technology, and examines one possible scenario involving the integration of LEO satellite technology into the current DoD ITV structure.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH School of Engineering and Management is the author of 'Use of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Technology to Track DoD Assets in Theater', published 2000 under ISBN 9781423587286 and ISBN 1423587286.