Mission Delta 4
Delta
Unit nameMission Delta 4
Start date24 July 2020 (age 6)
CountryUnited States
RoleMissile warning and tracking
Size1,200 personnel[1]
GarrisonBuckley Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Garrison labelHeadquarters
Commander 1Col Aaron L. Cochran
Commander1 labelCommander
Commander 2Lt Col Randall E. Carlson[2]
Commander2 labelVice Commander
Commander 3CMSgt Kyle T. Mullen[3]
Commander3 labelSenior Enlisted Leader
Websitewww.buckley.spaceforce.mil
Identification symbol labelGuidon

Mission Delta 4 (MD4) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for providing strategic and theater missile warning and tracking to the United States and its international partners. It operates three constellations of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) for the purpose of conducting strategic and theater missile warning and tracking. Additionally, DEL 4 provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces, battlespace awareness to combatant commanders and technical intelligence for further analysis and manages weapon system architectures and ensures operations are intelligence-led, cyber-resilient, and driven by innovation, while postured to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment.[4][5]

Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.[4][6] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.[7]

History

DEL 4 was based on the previous 460th Operations Group, 460th Space Wing and 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing.[8][9]

In lineage terms, the delta was originally established as 460 Operations Group (460 SW) on 2 August 2004.[10] It was activated on 19 August 2004. It was redesignated as Space Delta 4 on 24 July 2020. Its status changed officially from a unit of the United States Air Force to a unit of the United States Space Force on 21 October 2020.

In 2023, Space Delta 4 assumed control of the U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Ground Station.[5] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.[7]

Structure

EmblemNameFunctionHeadquartersSpacecraft and ground-based radarsDetachments
Squadrons
2nd Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence[11]Buckley Space Force Base, ColoradoDefense Support Program
Space Based Infrared System
3rd Satellite Communications Squadron[12]Military communications[11]Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado
5th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awareness[11]Buckley Space Force Base, ColoradoJoint Tactical Ground StationDet 1: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy[13]
Det 2: Qatar[a][14]
Det 3: Osan Air Base, South Korea[15]
Det 4: Misawa Air Base, Japan[16]
6th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awareness[11]Cape Cod Space Force Station, MassachusettsAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
7th Space Warning SquadronMissile Defense and space domain awareness[11]Beale Air Force Base, CaliforniaAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
Long Range Discrimination Radar
10th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awareness[11]Cavalier Space Force Station, North DakotaAN/FPQ-16 Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System
11th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence[11]Buckley Space Force Base, ColoradoDefense Support Program
Space Based Infrared System
12th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awareness[11]Pituffik Space Base, GreenlandAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
13th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, and space domain awareness[11]Clear Space Force Station, AlaskaAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane (Operating Location)
Long Range Discrimination Radar		Operating Location: Eareckson Air Station, Alaska
Operating locations
Operating Location – FylingdalesMissile warning and space domain awareness[11]RAF Fylingdales, United KingdomAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar

List of commanders

No.CommanderTermRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeDuration

Notes

  1. ^ This detachment location is inferred based on the locations of the detachments of the 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion of the U.S. Army, of which there were four. This unit is what was absorbed by the Space Force to become the 5th Space Warning Squadron. This detachment was previously known as JTAGS-Qatar under the Army.[17]

References

  1. ^ "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TAMMIE D. GAUDU". www.buckley.spaceforce.mil. Archived October 24, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ^ https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/4249317/randall-e-carlson-phd/
  3. ^ "Chief Master Sergeant Kyle T. Mullen". Buckley Space Force Base
  4. ^ "Buckley Air Force Base Units". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. ^ Harpley, Unshin (October 5, 2023). "Space Force Takes Over JTAGS Mission from the Army". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived October 23, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Buckley Air Force Base Biographies". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. ^ George, Ashley D. (October 31, 2024). "Two DELs transition to fully-integrated Mission Deltas". www.spoc.spaceforce.mil. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Space Force Organisations Take Shape Archived August 11, 2020 at the Wayback Machine, July 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived November 17, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  10. ^ "Space Delta 4 (SpOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived July 11, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Space Force Base. Archived November 17, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Space Delta 4". www.facebook.com. Archived September 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  13. ^ Culbertson, Kelsey (9 November 2023). "U.S. Space Force Detachment Activates in Italy". DVIDS. Archived November 30, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  14. ^ Williams, Sarah (9 November 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron keeps eyes in the sky". DVIDS. Archived December 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  15. ^ Gordnier, Trevor (17 November 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron Detachment 3 activates". 7th Air Force. Archived December 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  16. ^ Bolfing, Brieana (26 October 2023). "JTAGS mission transfers from Army to Space Force". 5th Air Force. Archived December 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  17. ^ Rognstad, Aaron (6 April 2020). "JTAGS initial entry course teaches missile detection". U.S. Army. Archived December 2, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 November 2023.