Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing (MCSW) is an organization headquartered at Los Angeles AFB, California
. It is one of several wings and other units that make up the Air Force Space Command
's Space and Missile Systems Center
(SMC).
The Protected Communications Group provides the United States Department of Defense
(DoD) survivable, global, secure, protected, jam-resistant communications for high priority military ground, sea, and air assets. The group provides operations and sustainment support to the on-orbit Milstar Communications satellite
constellation. In addition, the group executes the $6.7B Advanced Extremely High Frequency
(AEHF) and $1.2B Enhanced Polar SATCOM (EPS) programs. The user equipment or terminals for the DoD protected communication systems in the currently operational Milstar Command Post Terminal (CPT) and $3.2B Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) development program.
The Wideband Communication Group provides worldwide, high-volume, voice and data communications to the warfighter. The group provides operations and sustainment support for the on-orbit Defense Satellite Communications System
(DSCS) constellation. In addition the group executes the $1.9B Wideband Global SATCOM system
(WGS) and $0.9B Global Broadcast Service
(GBS). Wideband communication terminals include the Ground Multi-band Terminal (GMT), the High Data Rate - Radio Frequency (HDR-RF) ground terminal program which is an evolutionary upgrade to the GMT, and the FAB-T Increment 2.
The Transformational Satellite Communications System
(TSAT) was the DoD's future MILSATCOM System. The $24.0B TSAT system was meant to provide real-time connectivity of all Global Information Grid
(GIG) assets; provide Battle Command-On-The-Move capability for Small Mobile Units; worldwide persistent connectivity of high/low resolution Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance; and survivable communications for Strategic Forces. The TSAT program office consisted of the TSAT Network Integration Group, the TSAT Space Group and the TSAT Mission Operations Group. Currently, this program appears to have been canceled.
Satellite command and control system development for all MILSATCOM systems is the responsibility of the MILSATCOM C2 Squadron. The squadron directs the Command and Control System-Consolidated (CCS-C) program, the command and control system of record for Milstar, DSCS, and WGS satellites currently on-orbit. Ultimately, CCS-C will control over 26 military communications satellites across four families, including DSCS; Milstar; WGS; and AEHF System, using state-of-the-art commercial telemetry, tracking and commanding (TT&C) technology.
, MITRE
, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
, Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), National Security Agency
(NSA), MCSW's industrial partners and the contract work force that support them.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing (MCSW) is an organization headquartered at Los Angeles AFB, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is one of several wings and other units that make up the Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
's Space and Missile Systems Center
Space and Missile Systems Center
The Space and Missile Systems Center is a part of Air Force Space Command of the United States Air Force. SMC is the Air Force’s product center for the development and acquisition of space and missile systems...
(SMC).
Mission
The MCSW develops, acquires, and sustains space-enabled, global communications capabilities to support national objectives.Organization
MCSW has five groups and one squadron which deliver three primary Satellite Communications (SATCOM) product lines:The Protected Communications Group provides the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) survivable, global, secure, protected, jam-resistant communications for high priority military ground, sea, and air assets. The group provides operations and sustainment support to the on-orbit Milstar Communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
constellation. In addition, the group executes the $6.7B Advanced Extremely High Frequency
Advanced Extremely High Frequency
Advanced Extremely High Frequency is a series of communications satellites operated by the United States Air Force Air Force Space Command. The spacecraft will be used to relay secure communications for the Armed Forces of the United States, the British Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces and the...
(AEHF) and $1.2B Enhanced Polar SATCOM (EPS) programs. The user equipment or terminals for the DoD protected communication systems in the currently operational Milstar Command Post Terminal (CPT) and $3.2B Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) development program.
The Wideband Communication Group provides worldwide, high-volume, voice and data communications to the warfighter. The group provides operations and sustainment support for the on-orbit Defense Satellite Communications System
Defense Satellite Communications System
The Defense Satellite Communications System provides the United States with military communications to support globally distributed military users. DSCS will be replaced by the Wideband Global SATCOM system. A total of 14 DSCS III satellites were launched between the early 1980s and 2003. Two...
(DSCS) constellation. In addition the group executes the $1.9B Wideband Global SATCOM system
Wideband Global SATCOM system
The Wideband Global SATCOM system is a satellite communications system planned for use in partnership by the United States Department of Defense and the Australian Department of Defence. The system is composed of the Space Segment satellites, the Terminal Segment users and the Control Segment...
(WGS) and $0.9B Global Broadcast Service
Global Broadcast Service
The Global Broadcast Service is a combined United States space and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence system, that provides a one-way Wideband/high-Throughput of information to forces garrisoned, deployed, or on the move....
(GBS). Wideband communication terminals include the Ground Multi-band Terminal (GMT), the High Data Rate - Radio Frequency (HDR-RF) ground terminal program which is an evolutionary upgrade to the GMT, and the FAB-T Increment 2.
The Transformational Satellite Communications System
Transformational Satellite Communications System
The Transformational Satellite Communications System program was a United States Department of Defense program sponsored by the U.S. Air Force for a secure, high-capacity global communications network serving the Department of Defense, NASA and the U.S. Intelligence Community...
(TSAT) was the DoD's future MILSATCOM System. The $24.0B TSAT system was meant to provide real-time connectivity of all Global Information Grid
Global Information Grid
The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
(GIG) assets; provide Battle Command-On-The-Move capability for Small Mobile Units; worldwide persistent connectivity of high/low resolution Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance; and survivable communications for Strategic Forces. The TSAT program office consisted of the TSAT Network Integration Group, the TSAT Space Group and the TSAT Mission Operations Group. Currently, this program appears to have been canceled.
Satellite command and control system development for all MILSATCOM systems is the responsibility of the MILSATCOM C2 Squadron. The squadron directs the Command and Control System-Consolidated (CCS-C) program, the command and control system of record for Milstar, DSCS, and WGS satellites currently on-orbit. Ultimately, CCS-C will control over 26 military communications satellites across four families, including DSCS; Milstar; WGS; and AEHF System, using state-of-the-art commercial telemetry, tracking and commanding (TT&C) technology.
History
Previously known as the MILSATCOM Joint Program Office (MJPO), the Space & Missile Systems Center established the MILSATCOM Systems Wing on 1 August 2006. The team is made up of joint-service military, government civilians, The Aerospace CorporationThe Aerospace Corporation
The Aerospace Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation headquartered in El Segundo, California that has operated a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for the United States Air Force since 1960...
, MITRE
MITRE
The Mitre Corporation is a not-for-profit organization based in Bedford, Massachusetts and McLean, Virginia...
, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a United States Department of Defense research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology to problems of national security. Research and development activities focus on long-term technology development as well as...
, Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
(NSA), MCSW's industrial partners and the contract work force that support them.