U.S. Strategic Command operationally accepted command and control of its third Wideband Global SATCOM satellite, the WGS-3, the Air Force announced today.
"This significant achievement reflects the successful collaboration between numerous organizations, including Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, and the Boeing Company," an Air Force statement reads, adding:
WGS provides flexible, high-capacity communications for Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen throughout the world. WGS is a key enabler of Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, as well as battle management and combat support information functions. WGS-3 is the third of six planned satellites in the wideband constellation. WGS-3 launched from Cape Canaveral on the evening of December 5, 2009. The Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at SMC accepted delivery of WGS-3 from Boeing on March 1, 2010 following extensive ground and in-orbit testing. WGS-3 was then relocated to its final operational location. WGS-3’s payload configuration is now optimized to support operations. Upon the recommendations of AFSPC and SMDC/ARSTRAT, USSTRATCOM accepted Combatant Command authority for WGS-3 and assumed responsibility of the system. WGS-3 is operated by the 3rd Space Operations Squadron at the 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, CO, under the operational command of Joint Forces Component Commander for Space at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The JFCC SPACE Joint Space Operations Center continuously monitors WGS-3's orbital safety and operational status, assisting USSTRATCOM with any performance issues “I am extremely proud to add WGS-3 to our 50th SW constellation as another great asset to deliver space effects to the warfighter,” said Colonel Wayne R. Monteith, 50th SW commander.
WGS-3 provides a bridge between (the Continental United States) and our forces in Europe, Africa, South America and parts of the Middle East as well as forces afloat in the Atlantic Ocean. “I am proud of the tremendous dedication and commitment of the Military Satellite Communications Wideband Group, as we field this critical communication capability” said Colonel Donald W. Robbins, commander of MCWG. “The success of WGS-3 is a testament to the professionalism and expertise of the entire Wideband SATCOM team."
WGS-3 is the last satellite to be procured via the Block I contract and is a significant milestone for the program.
In related news, Inside the Air Force reported this morning that Defense Department officials are confident that the cancellation of the Transformational Satellite Communications System will only have a minimal impact on the space industrial base, according to a recently released Pentagon report. Specifically:
DOD officials canceled the program in April 2009 and directed the Air Force to explore enhancements to existing satellite communication systems, according to an Air Force Space Command spokeswoman. The fiscal year 2009 TSAT research, development, test and evaluation budget accounts for only 1 percent of the entire 2008 U.S. government space budget, according to the May 2010 industrial capabilities report from the office of the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
The future procurement of Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) and Wideband Global SATCOM satellites will help to mitigate the loss of the TSAT program, according to the report.
“While there has been no decision to proceed with upgrades to either program, studies and technology risk reduction efforts have been funded and will maintain the critical military satellite communications industry base until a future SATCOM architecture is defined,” the spokeswoman wrote in a June 17 e-mail, referring to AEHF and WGS.
There is a robust satellite forecast and the civilian industrial base will be healthy in the near future, according to the report. The world satellite industry has seen double-digit growth in revenue from 2005 to 2008 and the private sector dominates the satellite communications market, the report states.