Ka-Stars

Army Communicator, Spring, 2004 by Debbie Linton

The Ka-Band Satellite Transmit And Receive System will provide a wideband communication capability to meet essential user operational requirements, leveraging the Wideband Gapfiller program. KaSTARS is being introduced to alleviate the spectrum saturation of X-band. KaSTARS will greatly increase both available single user data rate and total satellite capacity over today's DSCS Ill satellites and subsequent WGS satellites while focusing support to the warfighting forces.

KaSTARS is engineered and configured to satisfy validated Global Command and Control System requirements by providing high-availability communications for the National Command Authorities, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the unified and specified commanders. The KaSTARS also provides connectivity from early warning, sensor sites, and intelligence agencies to command centers and information processing centers. The primary operational objective of the KaSTARS is to provide continuous high quality communications for each validated user.

The KaSTARS, AN/GSC-XX system, design shall comply with the JTA-Army and is in use in communications throughout the WGS Ka-Band and other military satellites. It is fabricated in a fixed configuration, but capable of being relocated. The item is controlled, and its status and performance is monitored continuously by a Control, Monitor and Alarm subsystem, which provides for local or remote operation and integration with Defense Satellite Communications System network control facilities.

Projected locations for six KaSTARS terminals are: Camp Roberts, Calif.; Landstuhl, Germany (2); Lago Patria, Italy; Northwest, Va.; and Wahiawa, Hawaii. Fielding will be begin in 2006.

Point of contact for additional information on the KaSTARS program is Frank Stein, DSN 780-7903, Commercial (706) 791-7903, email: steinf@gordon.army.mil.

AN/TSC-154/SMART-T Fielding Plan

The Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal, AN/TSC-154 is a transportable, tactical satellite communications terminal that operates with the Milstar satellite low data rate and medium data rate communications payloads. SMART-T provides multichannel range extension for MSE at echelons corps and below. Fielding of the terminals is underway. Projected procurement is 209 terminals through 2008.

Point of contact for additional information on SMART-T fielding is Steve Churm, DSN 780-3418, COMM (706) 791-3418, email: churms@gordon.army.mil.

MILSTAR MILESTONE

The first Milstar 1 communications satellite has achieved its 10-year design life of on-orbit service providing secure, reliable communications to warfighters engaged in a variety of global military operations. Launched aboard a Titan 4 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Feb. 7, 1994, the first Milstar satellite is one of two Block I spacecraft on orbit equipped with a UHF and Low Data Rate EHF payload. It is also equipped with crosslink payloads to communicate with other on orbit satellites. In 2001, transition to a Block II satellite configuration was accomplished with the successful launch of the first Milstar 2 satellite.

The Milstar Block II system offers a variety of enhanced communications features for the U.S. military, including the Medium Data Rate EHF payload which can process data at speeds up to 1.5 megabits per second.

Milstar is the Defense Department's most technologically advanced communications satellite system, which provides critical, secure links to national leadership and U.S. forces around the world. The Milstar system is the only survivable, endurable means that the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command have to maintain positive command and control of U.S. strategic forces. April 8, 2003, the final Milstar 2 satellite was successfully launched thereby completing the first space-based global network capable of transmitting voice, data, imagery and video.

Point of contact for additional information on the Milstar system is Steve Churm, DSN 780-3418, Commercial (706) 798-6711, email: stephen.b.churm@us.army.mil.

ACRONYM QUICKSCAN

CMA--Control, Monitor and Alarm

DSCS--Defense Satellite Communications System

GCCS--Global Command and Control System

JCS--Joint Chiefs of Staff

Ka STARS--Ka-Band Satellite Transmit And Receive System

LDR--low data rate

MDR--medium data rate

NCA--National Command Authorities

SMART-T--Secure Mobile Antijam Reliable Tactical Terminal

WGS--Wideband Gapfiller

Current Location                            Terminals   Date Fielded

CECOM, Fort Monmouth, N.J.                          2           1998
Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA                      6           1999
124th Signal Bn, Fort Hood, TX                     12           1999
USAREUR HQ, Mannheim, GE                            1           2000
3rd Corps, Fort Hood, TX                           15           2001
SBCT-1, Fort Lewis, WA                              3           2001
SBCT-2, Fort Lewis, WA                              3           2002
13th Signal Bn, Fort Hood, TX                      12           2002
141st Signal Bn, 1AD, Germany                      10           2003
440th Signal Bn, Germany                            5           2003
121st Signal Bn, Germany                           10           2003
SBCT-3, Fort Wainwright, AK                         3           2004

                                                        Date Due For
Projected Location                          Terminals       Fielding

(3ID) 123rd Signal Bn, Fort Stewart, GA            12           2004
(101st)501st Signal Bn, Fort Campbell, KY          12           2005
447th Signal Bn, Fort Gordon, GA                    6           2005
(1ID) 331st Signal Co. Fort Riley, KS               2           2005
(1AD) 596th Signal Co. Fort Riley, KS               2           2005
SBCT-4, Fort Polk, LA                               3           2005
2nd Infantry Division, Korea                       10           2005
SBCT-6, 28th ID, Pennsylvania NG                    5           2006