WGS Space Systems Resiliency Upgrade

Abstract

The Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) System provides the DoD with high data rate military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) services in accordance with the Joint Space Management Board-approved MILSATCOM architecture (August 1996), the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC)-approved MILSATCOM Capstone Requirements Document (October 1997), and JROC-approved WGS Operational Requirements Document (May 2000). This program was originally conceived to augment the near-term "bandwidth gap" in warfighter communications needs. Dual-frequency WGS satellites augment, then replace the DoD's Defense Satellite Communications System X-band service and augment one-way Global Broadcast Service Ka-band capabilities. In addition, WGS provides a high capacity two-way Ka-band service. All WGS Block I (Satellites 1-3), Block II (Satellites 4-6), and the first Block II Follow-on (Satellite 7) have been launched and are operational. Satellites 8-9 successfully launched on 7 December 2016 and 18 March 2017, respectively. With the operation of WGS-5, the constellation has global coverage and Full Operational Capability (FOC) was declared on 12 May 2014. Project 657107, WGS Space Systems Resiliency Upgrade, is an Acquisition Category III (ACAT III) effort. The WGS resiliency upgrade will enable the WGS system to both locate and neutralize ground-based jamming threats to the X-band. The Commercial SATCOM (COMSATCOM) Pilot Program consists of three phases. Pilot Phase 1 was awarded in April 2017, Pilot Phase 2 was awarded in February 2018 and Pilot Phase 3 was awarded in July 2018. These efforts demonstrate the feasibility and utility of the DoD using order-of-magnitude SATCOM capability improvements advertised by commercial companies.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: 657107_1206433F_5_3600_PB_2020

Tags

Readers

• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Space
• Space - Satellites