Space: November 1, 2004

Archives

The U.S. Air Force has put its satellite jamming weapon, the Counter Communications System (CCS), into service early. Originally due for service sometime before 2010", the system went live this past September. 

The ground based CCS uses uses powerful radio signals to temporarily block communications to and from a satellite. CCS does not permanently damage satellites. This makes CCS a more diplomatic weapon, and one that does not further litter orbital space with more space junk. 

The air force would not release details of the system, or exactly how it works. They did say that it was built with off-the-shelf components for under $10 million. The system (or systems) is also mobile. More details on how CCS works probably wont be revealed until it is used for the first time. It is known that satellites can be jammed with existing radio jamming equipment if you can get your jammer close enough to where the material to be broadcast is uplinked (transmitted to the satellite.)

 


Article Archive

Space: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close