Air Force to Expand its Sub-Space Operations
The development of tools for altitudes between 100-150 thousand feet is one
of a number of IAF recommendations for 2030

IsraelDefense 16/6/2012
http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=1350

The Israeli Air Force will increase its investments in the expanse known as
“sub-space,” which is the altitude range between 100-150 thousand feet above
ground.

This is one of many conclusions a think tank that worked with the IAF for
several months made after examining the corps’ future development directions
for 2030.

The committee operated at the initiative of Air Force Commander, Major
General Ido Nechushtan, who will conclude his role at the end of May and
will be replaced by Major General Amir Eshel.

“These conclusions were made to better the air force,” Major General
Nechushtan said with regards to the recommendations. Both young and veteran
air force commanders worked with the think tank on the recommendations.

According to Nechushtan, courses of action were summarized within several
central fields. The team that focused on advanced future technologies
reached the conclusion that civilian companies will likely develop most of
the technologies needed by the corps. The team listed developments that
should be focused upon, as there is no chance they would be developed for
civilian use.

With regards to the sub-space field, they determined that there is
considerable potential at altitudes between 100 and 150 thousand feet – an
altitude at which the IAF does not currently operate. The assessment is that
it would be possible to develop aircraft that could remain at those
altitudes, while equipped with payloads and communication measures.

With regards to the cyber field, the think tank determined that the IAF
needs to improve the codes it utilizes by at least one tier, if not more.
The committee assessed that even with future technological measures at its
disposal, decisions within the IAF in 2030 will remain within the domain of
humans, and will not be made by computers or machines. As such,
decision-supporting tools must be developed to help commanders and pilots
cope with vast amounts of information.

The IAF reached the conclusion that it must invest in technological
education in Israel so that in the future, it can recruit soldiers with an
even greater technological background than present-day recruits.