# Defense Red Switch Network

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The **Defense Red Switch Network** (**DRSN**) is a dedicated [telephone network](/source/Telephone_network) which provides global [secure communication](/source/Secure_communication) services for the [command and control](/source/Command_and_control) structure of the [United States Armed Forces](/source/United_States_Armed_Forces). The network is maintained by the [Defense Information Systems Agency](/source/Defense_Information_Systems_Agency) (DISA) and is secured for communications up to the level of [Top Secret SCI](/source/Sensitive_Compartmented_Information).

The DRSN provides [multilevel](/source/Multilevel_precedence_and_preemption) [secure voice](/source/Secure_voice) and voice-conferencing capabilities to the [National Command Authority](/source/National_Command_Authority_(United_States)) (NCA, being the President and the Secretary of Defense of the United States), the [Joint Chiefs of Staff](/source/Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff), the [National Military Command Center](/source/National_Military_Command_Center) (NMCC), [Combatant Commanders](/source/Unified_Combatant_Command) and their command centers, warfighters, other DoD agencies, government departments, and NATO allies.

[Department of Defense](/source/United_States_Department_of_Defense) and federal government agencies can get access to the network with approval of the Joint Staff.[1] Upon approval by the Joint Staff, DISA will work with the customer and the appropriate military department to arrange the service.[2]

The Defense Red Switch Network consists of four major subsystems: the Switching Subsystem, the Transmission Subsystem, the Timing and Synchronization Subsystem, and the Network Management Subsystem. The Switching Subsystem uses both RED and BLACK switches to provide an integrated [RED/BLACK](/source/Red/black_concept) service. End users are provided with a single telephone instrument with which they can access both secure and non-secure networks.

The DRSN carried around 15,000 calls per day prior to [September 11, 2001](/source/September_11,_2001). DRSN usage subsequently peaked at 45,000 calls per day and by mid-2003 was running at around 25,000 calls per day. In that period the Defense Red Switch Network was expanded to support 18 additional US Federal Homeland Defense initiatives.[3]

Nowadays, this network is also called the **Multilevel Secure Voice** service. It's the core of the Global Secure Voice System (GSVS) during peacetime, crisis and time of conventional war, by hosting national-level conferencing and connectivity requirements and providing interoperability with both [tactical](/source/Tactical_communications) and [strategic communication](/source/Strategic_communication) networks.[4]

## See also

- [Defense Switched Network](/source/Defense_Switched_Network) (DSN)
- [Automatic Secure Voice Communications Network](/source/Automatic_Secure_Voice_Communications_Network) (AUTOSEVOCOM)

## References

1. Details are in the [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) 6215.01](http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=1947) (September 23, 2001).

1. [DISA Europe: Voice Services](http://www.disa.mil/services/DISA-Europe/Voice-Services)

1. ["Janes Defense: Description of the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN)"](https://archive.today/20130411045837/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Military-Communications/Defense-Red-Switch-Network-DRSN-United-States.html). Archived from [the original](http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Military-Communications/Defense-Red-Switch-Network-DRSN-United-States.html) on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-15.

1. [DISA: Multilevel Secure Voice service](http://www.disa.mil/Services/Network-Services/Voice/Multilevel-Secure-Voice)

## External links

- [GlobalSecurity.org: Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN)](http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2001/compendium/drsn.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Defense Red Switch Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Red_Switch_Network) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Red_Switch_Network?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.