MILNET: Satellites - Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)

Drawing from Datasheet | Yet another drawing

The DSCS system is now in its third phase, offering Super-High Frequency (SHF) secure voice and data communications for military users. The picture above is believed to represent the design of the Phase III system, which has dimensions of approximately 6 ft X 6ft X 7 ft, with a span of 38 feet with the solar arrays deployed.

The weight is estimated at 2,550 lbs and the satellites are said to be in geosynchronous orbit (MILNET suggests this is an orbit in the 20,000 mile range) (1 Air Force Magazine)

The program began Phase II in 1971 with "low-gain, Earth field-of-view coverage and steerable, high-gain area coverage." 1 Phase III is reported to have begun launching in 1983 and are radiation hardened and resist jamming.

Also it is thought that the DSCS systems are elements of the early warning network, thus are candidates for NUDET hardware as well.

Currently, there are 2 DSCS II satellites deployed and the DSCS III number 9.

1 Air Force Magazine, Air Force Almanac 1997, pg 148.

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Last updated: June, 1997