Space and Missile Systems Center
Written by Space and Missile Systems Center Staff
The Space and Missile Systems Center is responsible for managing cutting-edge space systems across their entire acquisition life cycle, from initial systems concepts and technology development, to systems demonstration and validation, full-scale development and fielding, and sustaining on-orbit and ground capabilities. 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, missile warning, missile defense, weather monitoring, satellite command and control, and land-based nuclear deterrence. By executing these comprehensive mission and life cycle responsibilities for space and missile systems, SMC provides Air Force Space Command, the joint warfighter and the nation with unrivaled and persistent capabilities.
The commander of SMC, Lieutenant General Tom Sheridan, is also the Air Force program executive officer for Space (AFPEO-Space) and is responsible and accountable for both directing and executing assigned space development and acquisition programs, as well as developing the processes and expertise to manage these programs and the operation of the center. To support this 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 systems wings and groups translate operational needs into system requirements and designs, formulate development and acquisition programs to satisfy those needs, and manage and execute programs with industry to develop, produce, field and sustain space and missile capabilities for user communities. The functional directorates, including engineering, program management, finance, contracting, logistics and manpower, are charged with developing and maintaining the expertise, processes and work force necessary to plan and execute programs today and lead SMC’s acquisition enterprise into the future.
SMC employs a robust horizontal integration approach linking multiple programs, functional processes and management activities together to deliver integrated operational systems that enable joint space war fighting capabilities. SMC is committed to delivering the space systems that AFSPC, the joint warfighter and the nation require to maintain leadership and security in space.
Alignment of the Space and Missile Systems Center under Air Force Space Command gives 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 Air Force Space Command 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 include sustaining systems over their operational lives. To support this full system life cycle responsibility, SMC develops, manages and maintains the needed work force, processes, partnerships and core competencies to define and execute programs and ensure the center is ready and able to meet future challenges. As the AFPEO-Space, the SMC commander directs and oversees the Space and Missile Systems Center systems wings at Los Angeles Air Force Base, the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, the Space Logistics Group at Peterson Air Force Base, and part of the 850th Electronic Systems Group at Hanscom Air Force Base.
The Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing develops, fields and sustains 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 fully connected and able to receive and transmit vital information. The Global Positioning Systems Wing is a joint service program that develops, fields and sustains precise, effective and reliable global positioning and timing systems and services for military, civil and worldwide users. GPS’s success is evident in the fact that virtually every piece of advanced military hardware, as well as many civilian systems, utilizes integrated GPS receivers.
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. Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) boosters are the latest generation of rockets to place the nation’s critical satellite systems into orbit.
The Space Based Infrared Systems Wing develops, fields and sustains space-based infrared surveillance, tracking and targeting capabilities for the nation. Space-based global missile warning is vital to both homeland security and missile defense systems. 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 develops, fields and sustains space control capabilities to guarantee 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 develops, tests and evaluates Air Force space systems, executes advanced space development and demonstration projects, and rapidly transitions capabilities to the warfighter. Their groundbreaking efforts developing operationally responsive space capabilities ensure warfighters can continue to rely on a wide range of space assets to accomplish their missions.
In addition to these wings are a number of direct-report groups providing additional systems and integrated mission capabilities. SMC’s groups provide weather monitoring systems, satellite control and network systems, missile defense space systems, ICBM systems modernization and sustainment, and life cycle logistics and sustainment support for a number of organizations.
As part of an ongoing effort to establish and grow the credibility of the center, SMC has implemented an annual center-wide commitments process. This process serves as an important and visible means for identifying and committing to what SMC and its industry partners will accomplish in the coming year. System wings commit to achieving specific major milestones for their programs, and functional organizations identify process improvements they will make. SMC actively tracks ongoing accomplishments against expectations identified at the beginning of each year and regularly reports to key stakeholders on how SMC is delivering on these commitments.
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 an even greater demand and dependence on space for military operations and the nation’s security. Without question, SMC must continue to deliver and sustain dominant space and missile capabilities in what is now a contested regime. Recent events clearly demonstrate that space is no longer a sanctuary. Just as gaining air superiority is the first priority in any joint operation, gaining and maintaining 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 never lose focus on its unshakable goal: 100 percent mission success. The Space and Missile Systems Center must continue to provide leadership in developing and acquiring cutting-edge space capabilities. The center has a critical future role in continuing to help military commanders and operators understand what systems and capabilities can be developed to meet their operational needs. To do this, SMC must have 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 the next half-century of space systems development. The center will achieve 100 percent mission success one mission/launch at a time. In the next six 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 will launch in fiscal year 2010.
• Advanced Extremely High Frequency communication satellite, known as AEHF, will deliver 10 times the communication bandwidth as is available today for protected communications to our forces.
• Wideband Global SATCOM, known as WGS, will provide in one satellite the communications equivalent of the entire existing Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS System). The first WGS satellite successfully launched in October 2007 and is in operations.
• Global Position System II-F, known as GPS II-F, will upgrade timing, navigation accuracy and add a new civilian “L5” signal to the system.
• The Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) System will provide greatly improved space situational awareness to help better understand location and capabilities of all satellites and their 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. The Transformational Satellite Communications Systems (TSAT) and its Mission Operations System (TMOS) will provide 100 times the bandwidth of the current military communications system. Prompt Global Strike (PGS) is a demonstration in 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.
The new year also ushers in opportunities for changes to enhance our space acquisition enterprise. SMC will continue 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 expand the relationships between the U.S. civilian and military space programs.
The nation is still at an early stage in the development and evolution of military space capabilities, doctrine and tactics, and there is much to learn about how best to integrate space with air, land, and maritime forces and operations. The men and women of SMC are key players in an expanding and evolving role of space power in the defense of our nation. The pioneers that began SMC more than 50 years ago did not know where their efforts would lead, but they persevered in the face of failures and tribulations to chart the course for the future of military space. Their efforts created the culture and systems that today enable our nation’s unrivaled leadership in national security and world affairs. The challenge for SMC, its partners in industry, and the operational commanders and users it serves, is to maintain and progress the leadership and advantage the nation has gained in space for decades to come. ♦