The 4th Space Operations Squadron accepted control of a new satellite in
their constellation, Advanced Extremely High Frequency-4 from the Space and
Missile Systems Center and 14th Air Force in a satellite control authority
ceremony at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, May 3.
Second Lt. Scott Podlogar, 4th SOPS satellite engineer, said the
ceremony designates who has the authority to operate the platform.
“The agency accepting control is responsible for maintaining the health
and safety of the satellite as well as making sure it accomplishes the mission
it is designed for,” he said
According to Amanda Shepherd-Bond, 4th SOPS satellite spacecraft
engineer and event coordinator, the squadron increased their capability with
the new addition.
“AEHF has increased our coverage over the Milstar satellites as well as
approximately 10 times the throughput and better jam or rapid modification of
radio waves resistance,” she said.
The 14th AF hosted the ceremony via teleconference, with Col. David
Ashley, SMC AEHF program manager, Lt. Col. Paul Freeman, 50th Operations
Group deputy commander, Juan E. Cruz, 14th Air Force mission warning program
analyst and Lt. Col. Armon Lansing, 4th SOPS commander in attendance.
During the ceremony, the SMC approved AEHF-4 as being ready for
operations, handing control to the 14th AF, who delegated control to the 50th
Space Wing, then to the 50th OG and finally to the 4th SOPS.
Shepherd-Bond said the addition of another AEHF platform is significant
for 50th SW operations as a whole because it increases coverage across air,
land and sea for range communications and greater crosslinking capability.
“AEHF already supports numerous mission operations including space and
intelligence, nuclear and defense, theater mission defense and special operations,”
she said.
The satellite is the fourth AEHF in orbit and increases the warfighting
superiority of the customers supported by 4th SOPS.
“There are plans for AEHF 5 and 6 to launch and join in a few years. The
launch of AEHF-5 will occur later this summer,” Podlogar said.
4th SOPS furthers the mission by evolving space and cyberspace
warfighting superiority through integrated and innovative operations.
“The addition of this satellite to the protected communications constellation further promotes Schriever and America as being the masters of space,” Podlogar said.
Source: Air Force
By 
