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| FY98 Annual Report | |||
MILSTAR SATELLITE SYSTEM
| Air Force ACAT ID Program: | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Number of Systems: | 6 | Lockheed Martin |
| Total Program Cost (TY$): | $11820M | |
| Average Unit Cost (TY$): | $990M | Service Certified Y2K Compliant |
| Full-rate production: | 4QFY99 | No (Est. December 1998) |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010
The Milstar satellite system supports strategic and tactical missions through global communications that are secure, jam resistant, survivable, and with a low probability of intercept. Milstar's unique capabilities will enable our forces to maintain information superiority throughout all levels of conflict, enhancing full-dimensional protection and ensuring that warfighters retain freedom of action through continuous, secure communication.
Through the combined capabilities of a six satellite constellation, Milstar will provide near-worldwide coverage for multi-Service ground, airborne, submarine and shipborne terminal communications connectivity, and a mission control segment with constellation control stations proliferated worldwide for system survivability. The following describe the three Milstar segments-space, terminal, and mission control:
- Space Segment : The full Milstar operational capability will be provided by four geosynchronous satellites. The first two satellites possess only the original strategic communications low data rate payload (75-2400 bits/second) while the third and subsequent satellites will also possess a tactical communications medium data rate payload (to 1,544 mega-bits/second) in addition to the low rate payload. The medium data rate payload was added to the Milstar program in 1992, in response to a congressional request to restructure the program to accommodate tactical users. Each medium data rate satellite will have a variety of antennas to support both tactical and strategic users. Additionally, cross-links between satellites will provide worldwide connectivity without using vulnerable ground relays.
- Terminal Segment: The Milstar terminal segment consists of a family of multi-Service ground, shipborne, submarine, and airborne terminals functionally interoperable and tailored to meet the individual Service requirements. These terminals consist of the Air Force air and ground command post terminals, the Navy Extremely High Frequency Satellite Program (NESP) ship, shore, and submarine terminals, and the Army's Single-Channel Antijam Man-Portable (SCAMP) terminal and the Secure, Mobile, Antijam, Reliable, Tactical, Terminal (SMART-T). The SMART-T will be the first medium data rate capable terminal. The Navy's NESP terminals will also be upgraded to be medium data rate capable.
- Mission Control Segment : The Milstar mission control segment provides communications resource management and satellite operations support. The primary responsibility of the mission control segment is to maintain the satellite constellation in a state of readiness to support user communication requirements during all levels of conflict.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The first Milstar satellite was launched in 1994 onboard a Titan IV rocket. The second satellite was launched in 1996. The third satellite, scheduled for launch in early 1999, will be the first of four low and medium data rate capable satellites.
The low data rate system IOT&E was conducted in two phases. Phase I low data rate system IOT&E addressed system connectivity and interoperability, while Phase II addressed system control, cross-link communications, and incomplete test events from Phase I testing. AFOTEC completed Phase I low data rate system IOT&E in September 1995. Phase I IOT&E consisted of seven test events: (1) Dedicated Asset Test; (2) Pacific Fleet Operational Network Test; (3) Ultra-High Frequency Backward Compatibility Test; (4) Demand Assigned Multiple Access Test; (5) Navy Terminal FOT&E; (6) Fixed and Transportable Terminal Electromagnetic Pulse Test; and (7) Coverage Test.
Phase II IOT&E activity included: (1) Air Force Operational Network Test; (2) Time Standard Module Data Integrity Test; (3) Over-the-Air-Rekey Test; (4) Mission Control Tests; and (5) Autonomy and Endurance Tests. AFOTEC concluded Phase II IOT&E with the second Dedicated Asset Test II in March 1997. Dedicated Asset Test II addressed communications connectivity over networks using cross-links between Flight 1 and Flight 2 Milstar satellites, as well as issues unresolved in Phase I IOT&E.
The Navy completed operational field tests of their terminals' vulnerability to downlink jamming in 1996. At the request of AFOTEC, the Air Force Information Warfare Center developed an analytic model of Milstar jamming vulnerability in June 1997. AFOTEC based their evaluation of uplink anti-jam performance of the Air Force and Navy terminals on the Air Force Information Warfare Center's vulnerability model. The Army completed developmental factory tests of their terminals' vulnerability to downlink jamming in 1998. AFOTEC plans to complete the evaluation of uplink low data rate system jamming vulnerability of the Army terminals during the planned medium-data rate system IOT&E in FY99.
Air Force Space Command declared Milstar IOC on July 21, 1997. Milstar continues to provide day-to-day operational capability to the Services.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
AFOTEC published their final report on the Milstar low data rate system IOT&E in November 1998. The report presents results obtained in Phases I and II of the low data rate system IOT&E conducted from August 1994-December 1997.
The final integrated ground qualification test (MST 6000) for the first medium data rate capable satellite (Flight 3) was completed in August 1998. The terminal, control, and space segments all participated in this end-to-end qualification test. Additionally, the Flight 3 interfaces with the Satellite Mission Control Subsystem and the Space Ground Link Subsystem were separately tested prior to MST 6000. The spacecraft's ability to withstand launch and on-orbit environments was also tested prior to MST 6000.
The Milstar II (medium data rate) TEMP is undergoing final updates and is expected to begin formal Service approval coordination in February 1999. Operational testing of the medium data rate system will begin after launch of Flight 3, scheduled for April 1999.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
Milstar low data rate system IOT&E addressed four COIs, which provide the basis for evaluation of the Milstar low data rate system. The COIs are system connectivity, control, survivability, and suitability. DOT&E found performance limitations associated with each COI described below. Since these limitations have the potential to seriously degrade the warfighting capability of the Milstar low data rate system, each must be addressed by both the development and user communities as expeditiously as possible. It is worth noting that none of the limitations above are related to satellite performance.
Connectivity addresses the ability of the Milstar system to provide secure, worldwide, interoperable communications at all levels of conflict. One key parameter relating to strategic bomber in-flight command and response is unresolved pending operational test of an Air Force terminal software upgrade. The threshold parameters for Voice Quality, Teletype Quality, and JCS Emergency Action Message receipt fell slightly below performance requirements. However, the observed shortfalls have not been shown to significantly limit mission capability. Additionally, voice conferencing to support Joint Staff Milstar networks was found to be ineffective. Some improvements to the voice conferencing networks have been made and are undergoing Joint Staff testing.
Control addresses the ability of Milstar to provide adequate satellite constellation planning, management and control to maintain communications through all levels of conflict, and to reallocate resources to support new user requirements. There are four System Control Elements. Two of the elements, the Mission Control Element and the Mission Support Element, were tested and evaluated during low data rate IOT&E. Two other elements, the Mission Planning Element and Mission Development Element, were still in development and were not tested. Tests showed a lack of established operating procedures to initiate the Milstar autonomous wartime operating mode. Additionally, mobile constellation control stations did not have the requisite problem resolution capabilities to support the constellation during some satellite emergency conditions. Further, the endurance test revealed a shortfall in the endurance requirement. Since the endurance test period lasted for less than the required duration, DOT&E directed a full retest of the endurance requirement during follow-on testing. The full endurance test is planned as part of a joint exercise in late 1999. This test will also evaluate effectiveness of the corrective actions made to the other control issues found in IOT&E. Further discussion of Control may be found in the classified version of the Milstar Annual Report.
Survivability addresses Milstar's ability to provide the minimum essential wartime communications through all levels of conflict and the post attack period. Analysis indicates that all low data rate terminals met uplink anti-jam performance requirements. Further discussion of Survivability may be found in the classified version of the Milstar Annual Report.
Milstar also met the requirements for low probability of signal detection and interception. Although the submarine terminal also met low-probability of intercept requirements, operational tests of the terminal under realistic conditions indicated the terminal was more vulnerable to detection than previously found in developmental tests. This experience is being applied to Milstar medium-data rate system tests, particularly in the area of terminal antenna performance.
Suitability addresses Milstar's reliability, availability, and maintainability to sustain operations in a wartime environment. Discussion of Suitability may be found in the classified version of the Milstar Annual Report.
The Space, Terminal, and Mission Segments of the Milstar system are not maturing at the same rate. The Navy low data rate terminals have been fielded for two years, while the Army terminals are still undergoing their first operational tests. Communications management systems, which are required to effectively plan, control, and reconfigure networks during wartime, are falling behind schedule. These disparities create numerous challenges in testing and evaluating the operational effectiveness and suitability of the various Milstar segments, and in evaluating the Milstar system as a whole.
DOT&E's evaluation of the Milstar low data rate system is that the space segment is performing very well, and the on-orbit satellites are fully capable of performing their mission. They are, in fact, currently supporting the warfighters on a daily basis. However, the non-satellite portions of the system cannot be rated as fully effective and suitable until the most serious shortcomings relating to connectivity, mission planning, network control, endurance, and terminal suitability are corrected and operationally tested.
The Milstar Joint Program Office continues to make adequate progress towards certifying the satellites, ground systems, and support systems as Y2K compliant. Y2K assessments were completed in January 1998. Formal Y2K compliance certification is projected to be completed in December 1998.
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