text: Army Space Capabilities
  Table 3-1. Satellite communications attributes
  Frequency
  Advantages Limitations
  Band
  • Small terminals, low power • Vulnerable to nuclear events
  • Economical • Susceptible to jamming, interference,
  Narrowband • Highly mobile scintillation
  • Penetrates foliage • Low capacity, crowded spectrum
  • Access is limited
  • More bandwidth and channels • Limited frequency allocation
  • Global connectivity • Susceptible to jamming
  • Flexibility in routing • Ground terminals are larger and expensive
  Wideband
  • Greater protection features
  • Less vulnerability to nuclear
  blackout or scintillation
  • Extensive bandwidth • Technologically complex
  • Uncrowded spectrum • Susceptible to rain and atmospheric
  • Jam resistant attenuation
  Protected band
  • Small equipment • Expensive to outfit
  • Least vulnerability to nuclear • Ground terminals are large, complex, and
  blackout or scintillation expensive
  3-36. Systems operating in the ultrahigh frequency range are referred to as narrowband SATCOM systems.
  Systems operating in the super-high frequency bands where the bandwidth is primarily used for larger
  capacity are referred to as wideband SATCOM systems. Satellite systems operating in the extremely high
  frequency bands are referred to as protected band SATCOM systems. These systems are specifically designed
  to use the bandwidth to counter electromagnetic interference events and work through nuclear scintillated
  environments. The frequency band influences the throughput capacity and degree of protection naturally
  provided to the communications system.
  3-37. All SATCOM operate on specific electromagnetic frequencies a spacecraft is designed to use. Link
  segment signals enable communication between two or more points on the ground and the PNT signal used
  for navigation.
  SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND TRANSPORT
  3-38. SATCOM provide significant advantages across the range of military operations, from Army-level
  strategic operations down to a tactical-level, expeditionary force. These SATCOM capabilities and transport
  services support the Army.
  * Global reach from the national command authority to the deployed forces.
  * Connection to Defense Information Systems Agency services in austere environments.
  * Near real time information from sensor to shooter.
  * Missile warning indications provided ground and space-based sensors to support an area of
  operations.
  * Direct downlink of space-based reconnaissance and surveillance sensors into Army TENCAP
  systems in support of both situational understanding and targeting.
  * Advanced geospatial intelligence to enable operations and defeat enemy camouflage,
  concealment and deception.
  * Commercial space imagery which supplements national sources to support planning, theater
  security cooperation, combat assessment, situational understanding, and cartography.
  * Immediate access to tactical networks.
  * Access for isolated special operations forces without terrain or distance limitations.