(U) Global Broadcast Service (GBS) Phase I

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The Global Broadcast Service (GBS) Phase I program addresses long term DoD needs in information transmission, reception, and handling. This is accomplished with the lease of commercial band (Ku) transponders on existing commercial satellites for exercises and operations concept development.  This program also develops a Broadcast Management capability and procures receive elements as part of the program. 

Description: (U)
(U) Phase I of the GBS program is a demonstration phase which includes the lease of commercial band (Ku) transponders on existing commercial satellites for requirements development, to support operations concept development, and to support exercises including the Joint Warfighting Interoperability Demonstration (JWID), Roving Sands, and Red Flag.  Phase I is leasing two commercial Ku-band transponders to provide an initial CONUS capability.  DARPA is currently developing Battlefield Information Distribution concepts.  Although the commercial transponders operate at a lower power and different frequency than an objective system, it provides invaluable operational and technical experience to apply to follow-on phases.  The Army and Air Force are investigating transportable injection concepts.  Three injection facilities comprise the majority of the Phase I hardware.  The Army JITI is a mobile injector that provides transportable theatre injection capability.  

(U) GBS Phase I is also supporting the Bosnia Command and Control Augmentation (BC2A) System.  This system is currently being used to disseminate data to U.S. forces deployed as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. The high capacity capabilities are being provided by the Orion 1 commercial satellite.  Currently, 30 receive sites have been deployed in the European theater. DISA, DARPA, OSO, and ESC are providing support to the BC2A.

(U) GBS Phase I will be followed by two other phases.  Phase II modifies Navy UHF Follow-On (UFO) satellites with military band (Ka) Transponders to provide an interim GBS capability and Phase III will augment the UFO satellites with a worldwide fully capable GBS system hosted on a conceptual satellite known as the Advanced Wideband System. It is currently planned to be a five satellite constellation of SHF/Ka satellites that would be placed on-orbit beginning in FY06.

(U) The GBS Joint Program Office will fund the procurement of FY97 Primary Injection Points (PIPs) and a basic quantity of 50 Ground Receive Terminals (GRTs) for each service (Total 150).  The Army will procure an additional 42 GRTs and Broadcast Management (BM) suites. The Navy will procure a total of 318 ship and 74 submarine terminals, 70 fixed site terminals, and 74 portable shore terminals.

User Impact: (U)
(U) The Global Broadcast Service (GBS) addresses long term DoD needs in information transmission, reception, and handling by developing a wideband, high capacity communications system and the required fixed and deployable terminals.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational/Programmed.
	(U) IOC: 01/1996 (2QFY1996).
	(U) FOC: 10/1997 (1QFY1998).
	(U) Termination: 10/2000 (1QFY2001).

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) Talon KNIGHT

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Leased Services, MILSATCOM

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) MILSATCOM, National Security Space Road Map.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
01 February 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)