Japan and Poland have been granted access to the United States military’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite network, marking a significant expansion of the system that currently supports the United States and various partner nations.
Officials stated that the inclusion of these new partners underscores the growing importance of space-based communications for military coordination and response, as global tensions increasingly extend into the space domain.
The WGS satellites, developed by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Space Force, deliver high-capacity communication services for military operations. With 10 satellites in geostationary Earth orbit, WGS has served as the backbone of U.S. military communications.
The first WGS-1 satellite was launched in 2001. The newest additions, WGS-11 and WGS-12, scheduled for launch in 2025 and 2027, respectively, will act as the primary access point for Japan and Poland under their recent agreements.
Lt. Col. Nicholas Yeung, of the Space Systems Command’s International Affairs Office, highlighted the broader significance of the agreements at the recent Space Industry Days conference in Los Angeles. “International space programs are essential for security cooperation,” he remarked. Alliances are critical as the U.S. and its allies face new threats from anti-satellite technologies being developed by Russia and China, Yeung said.
Japan and Poland join a WGS coalition that includes Australia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the Czech Republic, along with other NATO countries that utilize the WGS system as needed.
Significantly, WGS enables participating nations to share the costs of satellite development and maintenance, easing the financial burden for the United States. For instance, Australia financed the WGS-6 satellite, while a consortium of other allies contributed to WGS-9 and assisted in funding the launch of WGS-11.
In recent years, the program has faced scrutiny from Congress. In 2023, the Department of the Air Force was mandated by Congress to validate that the forthcoming WGS-12 satellite would meet military requirements that could not be fulfilled by commercial alternatives. The review ultimately confirmed that while commercial satellite communication services play a vital role in military operations, certain security requirements necessitate purpose-built government systems like WGS.
Deanna Ryals, director of the Space Systems Command’s International Affairs Office, described a surge in interest from U.S. allies keen on pursuing collaborative space ventures.
“More nations have started to prioritize space as a national need they want to invest in,” she said in a recent media briefing.
This interest aligns with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) increased focus on space, spurred by the shifting security environment following the invasion of Ukraine.
In response, NATO has initiated two programs — Northlink and Starlift — aimed at bolstering the alliance’s satellite and launch capabilities. Ryals said the United States has signed letters of intent to explore participation in these programs. She said U.S. involvement will depend on discussions about how best to contribute.
Starlift seeks to ensure that NATO members with satellite launch capabilities can support their allies during crises or conflicts, facilitating collective responses to security threats. Northlink, meanwhile, focuses on building a multinational communications network specifically for the Arctic region, where NATO aims to counteract Russian military activity.
These initiatives represent a step in preparing for future needs, Ryals said. She added that legal frameworks and logistical requirements are being carefully reviewed to support joint operations and multinational space missions.