The Army commanders in Iraq knew roughly where they wanted to position their men in Mosul, but first they had a few questions for Chief Warrant Officer Jason Feser. What alleys might turn into ambush routes? Were there any nearby minarets that could serve as sniper lairs? Where would he place troops to avoid possible friendly crossfire?
Taking soldiers into any urban environment is hazardous. But the Army has been using a new tool before going into Iraq’s restive cities, like Mosul and Falluja, that helps officers answer critical questions and make their missions somewhat less unpredictable.
The new weapon is called the Urban Tactical Planner, which combines advanced computer software tools with high-resolution imagery that is beamed down to earth from a new generation of commercial satellites. Mr. Feser was able to provide commanders with a three-dimensional virtual tour of a mazelike section of Mosul before the first troops from the First Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and the Iraqi National Guard began capturing insurgents last month.
Not only did the commanders simulate flying overhead to practice air or ground approach routes, but by zooming down they also saw buildings and streets and spots where soldiers could assemble with some protection from sniper fire. The images are not clear enough to make out people. But schools, mosques and other important buildings were highlighted. Even ditches or other barriers that might slow down an approach were marked.
The Urban Tactical Planner is just one of a number of military and intelligence tools that use high-resolution commercial imagery. From relief efforts in Sudan, to mission planning for Air Force flights and Navy ship movements across the world, space-based imagery by private companies is now playing an essential role.
Three high-resolution commercial satellites are now circling the earth, in orbits that range from 280 miles to 400 miles from the ground. The federal government has just committed $1 billion to help two private companies launch two more satellites by 2007, to replace the current ones after their six- or seven-year life span ends.
Watching earth from space is nothing new. Since 1959, satellite photographs have been central to American military and intelligence operations, from monitoring Soviet missile sites to the claims – ultimately unproved – about unconventional weapons in Iraq. But during most of this history, the end product has been isolated overhead shots called “happy snaps,” not computerized image mosaics found in the programs like the Urban Tactical Planner.
The unclassified source of the photographs is also critical, because the commercial images can be shared not only with United States partners – troops from the Iraqi National Guard or aid groups – but also with United States Army soldiers who often do not have security clearance. An image from a government spy satellite can be declassified, but the process is time-consuming. Even Iraqi war prisoners were shown some commercial images last year in an effort to locate hidden weapons.
“It allows you a level of detail and exactness that you are not going to get with any map,” said Sgt. First Class Randy Arndt, who used the images during interrogations of Iraqi detainees.
For many potential clients in the United States – farmers, tax assessors or utilities, for example – aerial photos from low-flying airplanes still offer a better quality image. They also generally deliver pictures more quickly. The average turnaround time for a custom order by a commercial satellite is 4 to 10 days. But it often can take weeks, particularly if it is persistently cloudy in the target area. Small planes, meanwhile, can fly below the clouds and take much more detailed pictures.
