The Space and Missile Systems Center’s Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) Mitigation and Anti-Jam Enhancement (MAJE) program successfully conducted three virtual system tests during the last quarter of 2020. The tests verified system design and MAJE’s ability to provide telemetry and successfully locate signals interfering with WGS satellites.
With the support of MAJE prime contractor Boeing, test events were executed by a combined government and industry team. Testing involved personnel from the US Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, Army Project Manager Defense Communications and Army Transmissions Systems, Boeing, and SMC working together virtually.
“The teamwork and transparency between Boeing and the combined government teams to get these capabilities verified in a virtual environment was truly impressive. It shows how dedicated we are to getting these capabilities out to the warfighter despite an ongoing pandemic,” said Steve Hayden, SMC’s WGS chief engineer.
The first test event, the Maintenance Engineering Evaluation, verified system design can be maintained easily, safely and economically by the operational personnel who will be maintaining it. The second test, Payload Application Software (PLAS) Formal Qualification Testing (FQT), demonstrated MAJE’s ability to provide satellite telemetry monitoring and control, as well as management of WGS specific payload functionality. Finally, First Article Test (FAT) Increment 4 showcased MAJE’s ability to accurately locate signals interfering with WGS. All tests were completed on time during a span of 18 days with 558 testing requirements passed.
Once MAJE is fielded to warfighter operations, the WGS constellation will have the capability to pinpoint and mitigate threats coming from unwanted jammers. The transition of the MAJE system to the Army for operational use is expected to be completed in spring 2022.
“The MAJE system will double the anti-jam capabilities for 16,000+ users,” said Major Shawna Matthys, SMC’s WGS-11+ program manager.
MAJE consists of software and hardware upgrades for the Army-operated Global SATCOM Configuration Control Element (GSCCE) ground system that performs detection, identification, geolocation and mitigation of unwanted Radio Frequency energy on the WGS 1-10 satellites. These capabilities will further U.S. Space Command’s mission to bring full-time operations dedicated to defending vital national interests in space.
