The Defense Satellite Communications System III (DSCS III) is the third generation of the U.S. military’s premier geostationary communications constellation, succeeding the earlier DSCS II satellites. Beginning in 2007, it began to be phased out in favor of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS). Initially comprising 14 satellites launched between October 1982 and August 2003, the constellation now consists of four satellites. These final four satellites received Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) modifications that provide substantial capacity improvements through
higher-power amplifiers, more sensitive receivers, and additional antenna connectivity options.
The DSCS communications payload includes six independent Super High Frequency (SHF) transponder channels that cover a 500 MHz bandwidth. The DSCS III satellites carry six independent Super High Frequency (SHF) transponders and one special purpose single channel transponder operating on both SHF and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). The satellites feature three receive antennas (two Earth coverage horns, one steerable 61-beam nulling lens) and five transmit antennas (two Earth coverage horns, two steerable 19-beam wave guide lenses, one high gain parabolic gimbaled dish). Two solar wings produce 1700 Watts of onboard power at the beginning of life and 1230 watts at the end of life. The U.S. Army’s CECOM Software Engineering Center plans to transfer full life cycle sustainment responsibilities for the Wideband SATCOM Operational Management System (WSOMS)—WGS and DSCS payloads—to the U.S. Space Force in FY26, after previously handing over satellite ground stations in 2021.
Defense Satellite Communications System III (DSCS III) Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin.
Operator/Location: 53rd Space Operations Squadron, USSF (Mission Delta 8), Schriever SFB, Colo.
Acquiring Agency: MILSATCOM Systems Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), now Space Systems Command.
First Launch: DSCS-3 A1, Oct. 30, 1982.
IOC: GEO 1, Dec. 5, 2008. (Increment 1, Dec. 8, 2001)
Launch Vehicle: Titan-34, Delta-4, Space Shuttle, Atlas-2.
Constellation: Four GEOs.
Active Satellites: • DSCS-3 B13 (#10) (USA 134); Launched October 25, 1997; Active. • DSCS-3 B8 (#11) (USA 148); Launched January 21, 2000; Active. • DSCS-3 A3 (#13) (USA 167); Launched March 11, 2003; Active. • DSCS-3 B6 (#14) (USA 170); Launched August 29, 2003; Active.
Dimensions: Not available.
Weight: 2,722 lb.
Performance: Employs six independent SHF transponder channels for secure voice and high-rate data communications.
Orbit Altitude: Geostationary.
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, 1700 watts, batteries