OCTOBER 3, 2023 – The U.S. Army’s Joint Tactical Ground Station missile warning system mission officially transferred to the U.S. Space Force October 1, 2023.
This mission transfer from the Army to the Space Force follows the Army Satellite Communications transfer in August 2022, which consolidated all military SATCOM capabilities under one service for the first time ever.
“I cannot emphasize enough my appreciation for the exceptional teamwork displayed by the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command during this mission transfer,” stated Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of Space Operations Command. “Now, it is our responsibility to uphold the same level of mission accomplishment with JTAGS as a fully integrated component of our broader missile warning mission.”
JTAGS are forward-deployed space ground systems that receive, process, and disseminate direct downlinked infrared data from overhead sensors. They provide real-time warning, alerting and cueing information on ballistic missile launches.
JTAGS process satellite data and disseminate ballistic missile warning or special event messages to warfighters in support of regional combatant commanders over multiple theater communication systems.
The JTAGS mission will fall under Space Delta 4 at Buckley Space Force Base until Space Operations Command officially stands up the 5th Space Warning Squadron in the near future.
Space Operations Command is the fight-tonight force and first Field Command of the U.S. Space Force. SpOC’s mission is to protect America and our allies in, from and to space…now and into the future.
By 1st Lt Hillary Gibson
Space Operations Command