Counter Communications System

U.S. dependence on space assets continues to grow, while the potential vulnerability of these assets to attack increases due to the counterspace capabilities of potential adversaries. Because the US relies so heavily on space capabilities, the US must be prepared, when directed, to confront our adversaries on the ‘‘high ground’’ of space. The US continues to develop a range of capabilities to meet current and future potential threats. The intent is to preclude hostile use of space through diplomatic or other non-lethal means, and if such measures fail, the US reserves the right under international law to take military action against an adversary’s space capability in self-defense.

To that end the US fielded the ground-based Counter Communications System (CCS), scheduled to achieve full operational capability in 2005. CCS is ground-based, transportable, and intended to disrupt adversary satellite-based communications in a temporary and reversible manner.

CCS provides expeditionary, deployable, reversible offensive space control (OCS) effects applicable across the full spectrum of conflict. It prevents adversary Satellite Communications (SATCOM) in Area of Responsibility (AOR) including Command & Control (C2), Early Warning and Propaganda, and hosts Rapid Reaction Capabilities in response to Urgent Needs. This program effort includes architecture engineering and studies, system hardware design and development, software design and integration, and testing and demonstration of capabilities to provide disruption of satellite communications signals.

The current and future space domain demands that space systems be responsive to new and changing threats, and can rapidly integrate new capabilities to make warfighting force more resilient in a contested battlespace. This agility, survivability, and rapid reconstitution must extend through the entire space warfighting enterprise, to include how we learn about the threat; develop solutions; acquire, test, deploy, train, operate and integrate new systems into the greater system of systems; and ensure our space mission force is ready to defeat a thinking adversary in a complex, multi-domain battlespace. The enterprise will use all of its elements to accelerate decision-making, prototype potential solutions, rapidly integrate decision-making tools and sustain a war-winning capability by delivering multi-domain effects in, from, and through space and cyberspace enabling battle management and resilience options to "fight through."

The Counter Communications System (CCS) provides expeditionary, deployable, reversible counter-space effects applicable across the full spectrum of conflict. CCS denies adversary satellite communications in an area of conflict in ways that include command and control, early warning, and propaganda dissemination.

Acquisition Decision Memorandum (24 April 2009) directed all capabilities identified in the 4 October 2006 CCS Block 20, Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) approved Capability Development Document (CDD) shall be accomplished as a Pre-planned Product Improvement Program (P3I) upgrades to the Counter Communications System (CCS) Block 10 [this is the first Block, ie, there is no Block 9]. On 11 April 2016, AFSPC A5/A8/A9 signed and updated ADM adding additional responsibility for CCS B10.3.

This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Counterspace weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392F and 1206398F. Program procurement funding was increased in FY 2015 to allow purchase of five new CCS systems for the Air National Guard. The first two deliveries of the preplanned product improvements, which transition the system to Increment 10.2, were scheduled for mid-FY 2017.

The Counter Communications System, first introduced in 2004, is a transportable space electronic warfare system that reversibly denies adversary satellite communications developed in partnership with L3Harris.

Harris Corp., Space and Intelligence Systems, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded 24 January 2019 a $72,261,464 cost-plus- incentive-fee and cost-plus- fixed-fee contract for the Combat Mission Systems Support (CMSS) program. The CMSS contract will sustain the Space and Missile Systems Center portfolio of ground-based electronic warfare systems and develop the Counter Communications System Block 10.3. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Palm Bay, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 29, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $11,733,417; and fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,190,818 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8819-19-C-0002).

The United States Space Force Counter Communications System Block 10.2, achieved Initial Operating Capability on 09 March 2020, providing quick reaction capability with direct operational support to the warfighter. The Space and Missile Systems Center’s Special Programs directorate and the 4th Space Control Squadron held a ceremony on March 12 to commemorate this historic event handing over a key to symbolize the transfer of responsibility from the space program office to the space operations unit at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Col. Stephen Purdy, SMC Special Programs director, said the benefits of CCS to deployed forces and warfighters cannot be overstated. “CCS B10.2 represents the end of the traditional way of development,” Purdy said. “Future upgrades and enhancements will make use of SMC’s Agile DevSecOps (Development, Security and Operations) approach adapting to the evolving battlefield while delivering capabilities to the warfighter faster and better than our opponents.”

Working with Total Force Airmen, the CCS team’s efforts resulted in an effective certified training program for the space control operators and satellite communications maintenance personnel. Air National Guard units in California, Colorado and Florida and Air Force active duty units like the 4th Space Control Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, use the CCS. Members of the Air National Guard, including some who are also civilian employees of L3Harris, worked alongside active duty counterparts at SMC and the 721st Operations Group to test and deliver a cutting-edge space electronic warfare system since January.

“The advantage of the National Guard’s unique relationship of citizen-Airmen working full-time in industry with mission partners like L3Harris, allows us to create a continuous feedback loop between system operators and contractors providing the best counter communications system,” said Lt. Col. Warren Riner, Pentagon division chief, National Guard Bureau-space operations. “We look forward to continued success operationally with the new weapon system, and working with SMC and industry partners to support the United States Space Force.”

Additionally, SMC went through a rigorous year-long test campaign that included both developmental and operational test events. “Overall, the test campaign was extremely successful in demonstrating that CCS is operationally effective,” Maj. Seth Horner, SMC program manager, said. “We could not have been successful if not for a highly integrated and skilled team from across the CCS enterprise.”

“IOC signifies the start of CCS personnel and equipment support to USSPACECOM warfighting requirements for world-wide operations,” said Lt. Col. Steve Brogan, materiel leader of the SMC Special Programs directorate. “Achieving IOC for this upgrade puts the ‘force’ in Space Force and is critical to Space as a warfighting domain.”

With incremental software upgrades occurring since the early 2000s, SMC, along with its partner L3Harris, incorporated new techniques, frequency bands, technology refreshes and other lessons learned from its previous CCS block upgrades into CCS B10.2.