Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)

Military communications satellite constellationIn serviceFielded 2008Pending verification

Also known as: WGS, Wideband Gapfiller

Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) — Photo: Michael Pierson, U.S. Air Force / DVIDS · Public domain, DVIDS

Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeMilitary communications satellite constellation

Alternative designationsWGS, Wideband Gapfiller

Date of introduction2008

ProliferationAt least 7 countries

Satellites10SV-1 to SV-10, launched 2007–2019Med^[1]

First launch2007Med^[1]

ContractorsBoeing (702 bus)Med^[1]

OperatorUSSF Mission Delta 8, 4th Space Operations Squadron, Schriever SFBMed^[1]

Program statusWGS-11+ to launch on Vulcan with a Protected Tactical SATCOM payload; WGS-12 funded; Australia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand partners; Poland and Japan joined in 2024Med^[1]^[2]

Dimensions and weight

Mass5,897 kg13,001 lb13,000 lb at launchMed^[1]

Power9,934 WMed^[1]

Mission

MissionWideband X-band and two-way Ka-band SATCOM; augments Global Broadcast ServiceMed^[1]

Orbit

Orbit regimeGEOHigh^[1]

Design life14 yearsMed^[1]

Catalogued on orbit10Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High^[3]

Active (CelesTrak)10Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med^[3]

Perigee35,783–35,787 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[3]

Apogee35,787–35,792 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[3]

Orbital period1,436.1–1,436.2 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[3]

Inclination0.01–0.28 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[3]

Catalogued satellites · 10^[3]

Name	NORAD	COSPAR	Perigee km	Apogee km	Incl. °	Period min	Status
WGS F1 (USA 195)	32258	2007-046A	35,783	35,791	0.06	1436.1	Active
WGS F2 (USA 204)	34713	2009-017A	35,786	35,787	0.02	1436.1	Active
WGS F3 (USA 211)	36108	2009-068A	35,787	35,788	0.28	1436.1	Active
WGS F4 (USA 233)	38070	2012-003A	35,783	35,792	0.01	1436.2	Active
WGS F5 (USA 243)	39168	2013-024A	35,786	35,788	0.02	1436.1	Active
WGS F6 (USA 244)	39222	2013-041A	35,786	35,788	0.02	1436.1	Active
WGS F7 (USA 263)	40746	2015-036A	35,786	35,787	0.01	1436.1	Active
WGS F8 (USA 272)	41879	2016-075A	35,784	35,788	0.02	1436.1	Active
WGS F9 (USA 275)	42075	2017-016A	35,786	35,788	0.02	1436.1	Active
WGS 10 (USA 291)	44071	2019-014A	35,786	35,788	0.02	1436.1	Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-08 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

The U.S. military's highest-capacity communications satellites, providing X- and Ka-band service worldwide; designed to replace DSCS.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

Compare JSON

Operators

United States Australia Canada Denmark Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand

Sources

Wideband Global SATCOM (weapons and platforms entry), Air & Space Forces Magazine
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
WGS (archive entry), Air & Space Forces Magazine
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08

Change log

2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 10 catalogued, 10 active.