WIDEBAND GLOBAL SATCOM SATELLITE
Mission
Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite (WGS) is the backbone of the U.S. military’s Wideband satellite communications capability. WGS provides worldwide, flexible, high-capacity communications for US Government Agencies, Department of Defense (DOD), multiple International Partners and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Background
The WGS system provides essential wideband global communications services allowing Combatant Commanders to exert command and control of their tactical forces, from peace time to military operations. Tactical forces rely on WGS to provide high-capacity connectivity between individual users and the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN). The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Space Systems Command (SSC) is responsible for development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of the WGS Program. The USSF Space Delta 8’s 4th Space Operations Squadron (4 SOPS) manages and controls the on-orbit satellite buses. The 53rd Space Operations Squadron (53 SOPS) utilizes five Wideband SATCOM Operation Centers to globally manage and control the WGS communications payloads. The SATCOM Office provide SATCOM System Expert (SSE) support and functions to USSPACECOM and utilizes four Regional SATCOM Support Centers (RSSCs) to provide global planning and operational support to the various WGS user communities
Features
The WGS system is composed of three principal segments: Space Segment (satellites), Control Segment (operators) and Terminal Segment (users). The space segment is a constellation of geo-synchronous military communications satellites that leverage cost-effective production methods to deliver high throughput Ka- and X-band Services. The control segment is comprised of the Delta 8 squadrons and globally place resources to plan, manage, and control the WGS constellation. The ground segment is comprised of thousands of tactical SATCOM fixed, transportable, ground mobile, air mobile and ship based SATCOM terminals with antenna diameters ranging from .4 meters to 18.4 meters
General Characteristics
Primary function: High-capacity military communications satellite
Launches
Oct. 10, 2007
April 4, 2009
Dec. 5, 2009
Jan. 19, 2012
May 23, 2013
Aug. 7, 2013
July 23, 2015
Dec. 7, 2016
March 18, 2017
March 15, 2019
(Current as of Feb 2023)