. | . |
Space Wing squadron poised to receive first Space Force weapon system by Tech. Sgt. Erica Picariello, 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Peterson AFB CO (AFNS) Feb 10, 2020
Imagine a secure communications room, like what has been shown in big-screen blockbuster movies...dozens of space and communications professionals behind computer terminals working together to deny an adversary the ability to attack the United States. Now imagine being able to pick-up and throw that entire room into a plane and drop it into a deployed location, enabling allied forces to counter attacks in the midst of a crisis. That is the capability that the 21st Space Wing will soon bring online with impending operational acceptance of the new Counter Communications System upgrade. "The Counter Communications System is a transportable satellite communications system that provides a ground-based capability to reversibly deny adversary satellite communications," said Maj. Seth Horner, United States Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center CCS B10.2 program manager. "CCS has had incremental upgrades since the early 2000's, which have incorporated new techniques, frequency bands, technology refreshes, and lessons learned from previous block upgrades. This specific upgrade includes new software capabilities to counter new adversary targets and threats." Total force Airmen worked with L3Harris during the last year to put together a comprehensive training program for this new software upgrade for the technicians who would be using it, as well as sending the software through rigorous testing. "Eight personnel from the 4th Space Control Squadron went through a rigorous 12-week course from April through June to become the first certified space control operators and SATCOM maintenance personnel for the new CCS integrated system," Horner said. "This course material has now transitioned to the 721st Operations Support Squadron to start training crews at the end of January." Even though training was available and personnel trained to command the asset, there was still work to be done to ensure operational success. "We just went through a year-long test campaign that included both developmental and operational test events," Horner said. "Fourth SPCS provided operators for the test events and they performed exceptionally. Overall, the test campaign was extremely successful in demonstrating that CCS is operationally effective thanks to the incredible skill from those 4 SPCS operators. With the test events being successful, we are poised for an operational acceptance decision to be made soon." This successful test campaign is a war-time game-changer, according to the 4th SPCS commander, Lt. Col. William Sanders. "The upgraded CCS system is a game-changer for deployed ground forces," Sanders said. "Today, deployed forces benefit from a similar quick reaction capability providing direct operational support daily. With operational acceptance of CCS, we can employ greater effects for the combatant commands." SMC leadership is equally excited to have this 21st SW asset operational in support of USSF warfighting operations. "CCS is the only offensive system in the United States Space Force arsenal," said Lt. Col. Steve Brogan, SMC combat systems branch materiel leader of the SMC special programs directorate. "This upgrade puts the 'force' in Space Force and is critical for Space as a warfighting domain." Upon operational acceptance, SMC leadership plans to present a symbolic "key" to the upgraded CCS system to the 4th SPCS commander in a ceremony on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, to signify the transition to full operations.
DoD report affirms Space Force's commitment to minimal budget and bureaucracy Washington DC (UPI) Feb 06, 2020 A Department of Defense report submitted to Congress this week was light on detail, but emphasized the newly created branch's commitment to minimizing cost and bureaucracy. The full report, obtained by Air Force Magazine, emphasizes that Space Force will - as the legislation that created it requires - rely primarily on existing military personnel and funding. The document, which was required under the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that created Space Force, will continu ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |