{
  "id": "dscs-iii",
  "name": "Defense Satellite Communications System III (DSCS III)",
  "aliases": [
    "DSCS"
  ],
  "domain": "space",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "Military communications constellation",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": null,
  "operators": [
    "USA"
  ],
  "summary": "Legacy SHF military communications satellites being phased out in favor of WGS.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "orbit_regime",
      "v": "GEO",
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "high"
    },
    {
      "k": "sats_count",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "14 launched 1982–2003"
    },
    {
      "k": "first_launch",
      "v": 1982,
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 1235,
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "2,722 lb"
    },
    {
      "k": "power_w",
      "v": 1700,
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "note": "Beginning of life"
    },
    {
      "k": "mission",
      "v": "Six SHF transponder channels for secure voice and high-rate data",
      "src": [
        "asf-dscs"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "satellite",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from cited open sources"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/dscs-iii.html",
  "sources": {
    "asf-dscs": {
      "title": "Defense Satellite Communications System III (weapons and platforms entry)",
      "publisher": "Air & Space Forces Magazine",
      "url": "https://www.airandspaceforces.com/weapons/dscs/",
      "published": null,
      "tier": 3,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}