MSMF 2009 Volume: 2 Issue: 6 (November/December)
The center is responsible for a comprehensive set of military space capabilities across all space mission areas, including force enhancement, space superiority, force projection and space support. The center also develops and maintains a full range of systems and technical expertise including satellites, payloads, launch vehicles, missiles, ground control systems, user equipment, and ground sensors. These systems provide capabilities such as communications, precision navigation and timing, spacelift, space situational awareness, space control, missile warning, missile defense, weather monitoring, satellite command and control, and land-based strategic deterrence.
Composed of over 6,000 employees, the work force within SMC includes: active duty, reserve military, government civilians, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) personnel, and Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors. In 2009, for the first time in the center’s history, the civilian work force outnumbers active duty servicemembers. This shift resulted from several factors, including the 2006 Air Force reduction in forces and a continual decrease in military billets assigned to SMC. Even with reduced personnel, the center continues to execute close to 50 percent greater total obligation authority (TOA) from that executed four years ago—nearly $10 billion. The cut in manpower and increase in programs result in a greater reliance on FFRDCs and SETA contractors to accomplish SMC’s mission. Co-located in Los Angeles, the Aerospace Corp. provides the bulk of FFRDC support to SMC programs. Sharing a unique partnership dating back to 1960, SMC programs heavily rely on the vast technical expertise of Aerospace personnel to achieve mission success.
Lieutenant General John T. “Tom” Sheridan concurrently serves as the Air Force Program Executive Officer for space (AFPEO-Space) and as the commander of SMC. As the AFPEO-Space, Sheridan directs and oversees the SMC systems wings and the 61st Air Base Wing at Los Angeles AFB, the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland AFB, and the Space Logistics Group at Peterson AFB. To support the commander’s dual role, SMC is organized into line program management organizations and functional management organizations.
The program management organizations—systems wings and groups—plan and execute major space development and acquisition programs. The wings and groups translate operational requirements provided by Air Force Space Command Headquarters into the system’s level requirements and, along with industry partners, design, formulate, develop and acquire programs to satisfy those needs. The functional directorates—engineering, program management, developmental planning, finance, contracting, logistics and manpower—develop and maintain the expertise, processes, and work force necessary to plan and execute the programs of today, as well as lead acquisition into the future.
Aligning SMC under Air Force Space Command affords unique responsibilities and opportunities within a single major command to organize, train and equip space and missile systems in the Air Force from “cradle to grave.” SMC’s responsibilities begin by working with Headquarters AFSPC and the user community to refine operational concepts and requirements; continue with systems definition and program formulation; extend through execution and fielding of systems in concert with industry partners; and ultimately sustain systems over their operational lives. Responsible for managing these cutting-edge space systems throughout the entire acquisition life cycle, SMC provides Air Force Space Command, the joint warfighter, and the nation with unrivaled capabilities.
A joint service program, the Global Positioning Systems Wing (GPSW) delivers precise, effective, and reliable global positioning and timing systems and services for military and civilian users worldwide. The prolific integration of GPS receivers in virtually every piece of advanced military hardware, as well as many civilian systems, attests to the significance of the GPS capability.
In support of SMC’s continual outreach effort and partnership with industry, GPSW reinstated the annual GPS Partnership Council in 2008. The partnership council provides a forum for GPS stakeholders to communicate present-day activities, future plans, and sustainment measures to ensure GPS remains the world leader in providing space-based positioning, navigation and timing services to civilians and the warfighter. Stakeholders explore new ideas for GPS applications, from first-responder survival capabilities to more efficient business practices in expediently providing capabilities to the worldwide users. The 2009 council convened at SMC in early May and, for the first time, opened participation to international partners, including representatives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Japan. The council provides the opportunity for participants to exchange current GPS information and status; view the latest industry exhibits and capabilities; network; and enhance the overall vision for GPS.
The Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing provides a full spectrum of space-based global communications capabilities to enable military operations. Communications satellites, such as Milstar, Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), and Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS), ensure warfighters are always connected and able to receive and transmit vital information.
The Launch and Range Systems Wing develops, fields and sustains expendable launch vehicles and leads launch integration, mission assurance, launch campaigns and range modernization at the U.S. eastern and western launch ranges. Atlas V and Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) boosters are the latest generation of rockets to place the nation’s critical satellite systems into orbit. Space-based global missile warning is vital to both homeland security and missile defense systems. SMC’s Space Based Infrared Systems Wing develops, fields and sustains space-based infrared surveillance, tracking and targeting capabilities for the nation. In addition to strategic and tactical missile warning, mission areas include: missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness (global and theater).
The Space Superiority Systems Wing manages space control capabilities to ensure space superiority for the nation. Space control systems provide commanders and operational forces with effective space situational awareness, defense and protection for U.S. and allied space capabilities, as well as offensive counterspace systems to gain and maintain space superiority.
The Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW) develops, tests and evaluates Air Force space systems; executes advanced space development and demonstration projects; manages the space test program; and rapidly transitions capabilities to the warfighter. Through groundbreaking efforts to develop operationally responsive space capabilities, SDTW ensures warfighters continue to access a wide range of space assets to achieve mission success.
The Department of Defense integrates and employs space in virtually every aspect of military planning and operations. Space critically enables warfare at all levels—strategic, operational and tactical—and has become integrated into all land, sea, air, and special operations. The future will place a greater demand on space capabilities for successful military operations and national security, and SMC must continue to deliver and sustain dominant space and missile capabilities within a contested regime.
Recent events demonstrate that space is no longer an uncontested domain. Just as gaining air superiority is the first priority in any joint operation, gaining space superiority must become a top priority in peace, crisis or conflict. SMC must design future systems to be both survivable in the face of increased threats and responsive to operational needs. When delivering these future systems, SMC must maintain focus on its unshakable goal: 100 percent mission success. The center has a critical role in aiding current and future military commanders and operators in understanding what systems and capabilities to develop in order to meet operational needs. To achieve this role, SMC must maintain continuous interaction with the supported warfighters and customers, understand the principles of war and the applications of space in joint war fighting, and develop the people and processes that are capable of delivering responsive and effective operational systems.
For 2009, SMC continues to lead space systems development. The center will achieve 100 percent mission success one mission/launch at a time. In the next three to 24 months, SMC will deliver five major new systems/mission capabilities:
• Space Based Infrared System, also known as SBIRS, will continue the ever-vigilant missile-warning mission. SBIRS Highly Elliptical Orbit sensors are flying now. The first geosynchronous spacecraft is scheduled to launch in fiscal year 2011.
• Advanced Extremely High Frequency communication satellite, known as AEHF, will deliver 10 times the communication bandwidth that is available today for protected communications to our forces. The first AEHF spacecraft will launch in FY10.
• Wideband Global SATCOM, known as WGS, provides in one satellite the communications equivalent of the entire existing Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellation. The first two WGS satellites have been successfully launched and are fully operational (SV1: Oct ’07; SV2: Apr ’09) The third WGS satellite is scheduled to launch in late 2009.
• Global Positioning System IIF, known as GPS IIF, will upgrade timing and navigation accuracy, and add a new civilian “L5” signal to the system.
• The Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) System will provide improved space situational awareness to help better understand location and capabilities of satellites and other objects in space.
SMC’s long-term future becomes even more exciting. GPS III will provide a tenfold increase in signal power so that GPS signals reach into valleys, canyons and cities with skyscrapers. In addition, GPS III will include a new civil navigational signal compatible with the European Union’s Galileo system. Prompt Global Strike (PGS) is under development. It places a conventional munition inside an aeroshell on components of a retired ICBM rocket to demonstrate global target capability in a matter of minutes with no ambiguity between conventional and nuclear missions.
This year also ushered in opportunities for changes to enhance our space acquisition enterprise. SMC continues to rebuild the space development and acquisition work force, expertise, processes and culture while strengthening cooperation across government, space and industry. Longstanding partnerships with the National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Space Office, and Missile Defense Agency will continue to strengthen the relationships between the U.S. civilian and military space programs.
As the people of AFSPC continue to expand the development and evolution of military space capabilities, doctrine and tactics, they must learn how to integrate space with air, land, and maritime forces and operations. Just as the pioneers who established SMC over 50 years ago had a strong vision for where their efforts would lead, but had little idea just how pervasive and critical their systems would become, the men and women of SMC today, their industry partners and the operational users continue to build on the vision and continue to discover new untapped capabilities that space access can provide. SMC and their mission partners know they must synergize their efforts in order to continually evolve the leadership and advantages the nation has gained in space and sustain it for decades to come. ♦