Army, Northrop Grumman deploy enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station capabilities

Army and Northrop Grumman personnel said the recent deployment of enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) capabilities in South Korea enables early warning of missile attacks and other events.

“This is a tremendous milestone in our decades-long mission of delivering missile warning and defense capabilities to protect our joint warfighters and allies,” Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman, said. “JTAGS is vital to warfighters and of growing importance as we create true Joint All-Domain Command and Control systems, especially as we find new ways to integrate and leverage space-based assets.”

The deployment represents the completion of the first phase of the JTAGS modernization program, noting the system was first fielded in tactical shelters in 1997 to provide in-theater missile warning using data directly from satellite sensors.

The initial process involves JTAGS receiving and processing data directly down-linked from the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) constellation of satellites, including Defense Support Program and Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) sensors, as well as other infrared satellite sensors.

JTAGS disseminates a near-real-time warning, alerting and cueing information on ballistic missile launches and other tactical events of interest throughout the theater via multiple communications networks.

Northrop Grumman has been the JTAGS prime contractor since 1994, responsible for developing, fielding, maintaining, and enhancing the system globally.