View source for Joint Tactical Ground Station

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS)
|image=180916-A-KW619-007 (50244960781).jpg
|caption=Joint Tactical Ground Station at [[Osan Air Base]]
|dates= 1992&nbsp;–
|country= United States
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|garrison= [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], Colorado
|garrison_label=Headquarters
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<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1= 
|commander1_label= Cdr, 1st Sp. Co.(JTAGS)
|commander2= 
|commander2_label= 1SG, 1st Sp. Co.
|notable_commanders=
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}}
The '''Joint Tactical Ground Station''' ('''JTAGS''') is the [[United States Space Force]]'s element to [[United States Strategic Command]]'s Theater Event System (TES). TES provides an integrated, in-theater, 24-hour overhead non-imaging infrared detection capability for processing and disseminating missile early warning, alerting, and cueing information data to combatant commanders and missile defense assets through the use of stereo processing of the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite data.<ref>[http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-071119-017.pdf High Frontier Journal, Vol 4, No. 1: "The Army's Space Cadre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930070404/http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-071119-017.pdf |date=30 September 2011 }}</ref>

The Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) is the Space Force's primary system that provides space based integrated, in-theater missile warning. It provides continuous
processing of overhead non-imaging infrared (ONIR) data that is directly down linked from the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite constellation. This data is
used to provide near real-time dissemination of warning, alerting and cueing information, to combatant commanders (CCDRs) and ballistic missile defense
systems (BMDS), on ballistic missile threats for the protection of military assets, civilian populations, and geopolitical centers. This dissemination is accomplished by
using existing communication networks such as the Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) and Link 16.<ref>FM 3-14.5 Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) Operations</ref>

== JTAGS Mission ==

"(U) Receive and process '''in-theater, direct down-linked''' data from OPIR (Overhead Persistent Infrared) Sensors in order to disseminate warning, alerting and cueing information on tactical ballistic missiles and other events of interest throughout the theater using existing communication networks."<ref>1st Space Company (JTAGS) approved mission statement</ref>

== JTAGS Organization ==
The Joint Tactical Ground Station Theater Missile Warning system was organized under the 1st Space Company (JTAGS), with 4 forward-stationed Detachments in Europe, CENTCOM, Korea, and Japan.  The 1st Space Company fell under the 1st Space Battalion, under the 1st Space Brigade, part of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command<ref>[[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=September 2015}}

In 2023, the element and its early warning systems were transferred to the control of the United States Space Force's [[Space Delta 4]].<ref name= ussfJtags >Unshin Lee Harpley [https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-control-jtags-mission-army/ (5 Oct 2023) Space Force Takes Over JTAGS Mission from the Army] Joint Tactical Ground Station missile warning system detachments in Italy, Qatar, South Korea, and Japan</ref> They are to eventually become a reborn [[5th Space Warning Squadron]].

== See also ==
*[[Theater Event System]]
*[[Defense Support Program]]
*[[Space Based Infrared System]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [[Space-Based Infrared System|Space Based InfraRed System (SBIRS)]]

{{Public sector space agencies}}

[[Category:Military equipment]]
[[Category:Missile defense]]
[[Category:Units and formations of the United States Space Force]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Colorado Springs, Colorado]]