text: Army Space Capabilities
  3-105. When a requirement is designated for collection, a tasking is sent to the appropriate resource through
  a ground station. Once collected, data is disseminated to the original requester. As with any information
  collection resource, the capabilities and limitations must be understood.
  3-106. Space-based surveillance and reconnaissance activities enable the commander to plan for troop
  placement and maintain an understanding of enemy activities that may negatively or otherwise impact
  operations. The information gathered through space capabilities contributes to the development of
  intelligence and other actions influencing the commander’s current and future operational decisions. In-
  theater, direct downlink capabilities provide timely access to information collection products and responsive
  support to the ground maneuver force requests for information. Imagery products may be used to assess a
  unit’s movement and maneuver capabilities. Space assets are used for battle damage assessment, strategic
  warning, monitoring for force buildups, and precision location of enemy forces.
  SECTION II – SPACE-ENABLED CAPABILITIES
  FRIENDLY FORCE TRACKING
  3-107. The mission is to responsively deliver FFT capabilities to provide authorized users with secure,
  accurate, timely, and actionable information is provided to a COP to improve situational awareness. FFT data
  services are provided to all combatant commanders, agencies, allies, and multinational partners. The joint,
  interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational nature of the mission is unique and requires integration
  across the broad community of interest to execute responsibilities, address user needs, accomplish essential
  tasks to enable data sharing, and integrate operations.
  3-108. FFT systems provide the commander the ability to track small unit patrols and teams intermingled
  with the local populace. Integrating the FFT information into the theater COP is of great importance if a
  friendly force unit needs to be reinforced or removed from a difficult situation. FFT systems provide the
  exact location information necessary to track units, and thus contribute to effective command and control,
  situational understanding, personnel recovery, and fratricide avoidance.
  CAPABILITIES
  3-109. FFT capabilities meet data sharing and dissemination needs to enable FFT systems to interoperate
  with other systems and feed common command and control systems and COP.
  3-110. FFT capabilities help avoid fratricide incidents while maintaining a high operations tempo. The
  majority of FFT devices rely on space assets to maintain critical links associated with tactical navigation
  operations. The primary information technology application for situational understanding and command and
  control at tactical command posts is Joint Battle Command-Platform, which uses FFT to share GPS-enabled
  situational awareness information among command posts at tactical echelons. FFT tagging, tracking and
  locating devices and personnel recovery devices use GPS and supports tracking of vehicles and personnel;
  enabling accurate area of operations situational awareness and enhancing awareness of deployed and on-the-
  move forces.
  3-111. As FFT continues to evolve and more systems and devices are deployed globally, the critical need
  for data interoperability across security and command and control systems continues to increase. FFT roles
  include:
  * Dissemination of information services such as tagging, tracking, and locating and personnel
  recovery support;
  * System expertise for advice in planning, information assurance, device procurement and
  management, data owner guidance, and COP integration;
  * Deliberate planning assistance in support of operational plans and concept plans for FFT
  activities;
  * Data integration consistent with network enabled command and control modernization;
  * Emergency message alerting and notification;