INTRODUCTION 1. Given the complexity of the modern world@ NATO seeks to achieve its objectives via a comprehensive approach1 that requires effective coordination and cooperation among national governmental departments and agencies@ non-governmental organizations (NGOs)@ international organizations (IOs) and the private sector. Within this context@ the early integration of the military instrument into a collective strategy encompassing all of the instruments of power2 is a fundamental principle upon which the Alliance conducts operations. However@ the successful execution of military operations requires a clearly articulated strategy linked to strategic objectives; this is especially important when operations are to be conducted by allied or coalition forces. 2. NATO??s capstone publication for allied joint doctrine states that NATO forces must expect to perform a wide range of potentially simultaneous activities across a spectrum of conflict@ from combat action to humanitarian aid@ within short timeframes. This spectrum of conflict is the backdrop against which all joint air and space operations are conducted@ the principal discriminators being the level of violence and complexity of actors engaged in the conflict. Air and space operations can contribute to all three NATO military missions@ which are: article 5 collective defence@ non-article 5 crisis response operations (NA5CRO)@ and consultation and cooperation. Moreover@ the unique attributes of air and space power offer politicians and commanders the means to create a wide range of effects including contributing to engagement@ deterrence and coercion activity at the tactical@ operational and strategic levels; often within time-scales that other elements of the military instrument cannot match. 3. Recent Alliance operations have shown that air and space power is most effective when integrated with other levers of power rather than used in isolation. Consequently@ joint planning is the process by which the Commander Joint Task Force (COM JTF) and his/her staff should seek to match strategy-to-task and means-to-ends; underpinned by robust doctrine that addresses how best to use air and space power. However@ the comprehensive approach dictates a more nuanced methodology when planning and conducting joint air and space operations; with greater emphasis placed upon achieving desired outcomes and mitigating undesired ones. At the operational level@ this approach involves the selective combination of actions@ coordinated with the activities of other organizations@ to create lethal and non-lethal effects in order to achieve operational objectives@ in support of the strategic objectives and the desired end state. 4. Technology was and continues to be a decisive pillar regarding the Alliance??s ambition to exploit air and space power. In this context@ space capabilities became a primary enabler to air power over the last decades. Those capabilities are integrated into modern aircraft@ weapon systems@ as well as the conduct of command and control (C2); and/or they resort to the former@ respectively. In any case@ space capabilities permit the Alliance to enhance effectiveness of their military operations. But there is also a drawback: The integration of space capabilities into modern warfare creates critical dependencies towards space. Consequently@ it is essential for the Alliance to understand the uniqueness and complexity of space operations. This forms the key prerequisite to turn space capabilities into an effective support for NATO Operations3. 1 Comprehensive Approach: Method applying holistic thinking incorporating all aspects@ factors and parameters deemed to matter for a specific and well-defined situation where the aim is to move from an initial position to an aspired end state. 2 ??Instruments of power?? are the national or organisational means to enforce will or exert influence on others; one framework for this is diplomacy@ information@ military and economic elements (DIME). 3 Chapter 5 addresses doctrine for planning and execution of space support to NATO operations. The remainder of this chapter and chapters 2 through 4 focus on doctrine for planning and execution of air operations.