Soon after planes were first used in war, there were specialists on the ground coordinating strikes. Space-based weapons could one day yield new observers.
To deter Russian aggression, the U.S. and NATO are rapidly building an Eastern Flank defense network focused on counter-drone tech and data integration.
Tactical air control party airmen called in airstrikes alongside Army and special ops troops for years, but the Air Force is moving away from that posture.