ASW Range Support

Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) is a jointly funded communications capability aligned under the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) within U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). Its Navy procurement line falls under Other Procurement, Navy, Budget Activity 02, Communications and Electronics Equipment, and Budget Sub-Activity 14, Shore Communications. JCSE provides crisis and contingency communications for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commands, Department of War (DoW) agencies, and non-DoW agencies. The budget identifies it as the only DoW organization specifically formed to meet those operational support needs.

JCSE supplies rapidly deployable, en route, early-entry, and scalable coalition command, control, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. These capabilities help establish and transition Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) quickly and bridge joint communications requirements during conventional or unconventional operations. A 24-hour reach-back capability through JCSE's Global Enterprise Network connects deployed teams to a range of DoW and commercial networks. Its equipment must therefore support both the initial arrival of a headquarters and changes in the size or configuration of the force it serves.

Joint Communications Support Element Modernization is the sole aggregated item within the Navy line. Director, Joint Staff Memorandum (DJSM) 0148-20 directs the Services to fund one-third shares of the modernization program; the Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly fund it. The program enables JCSE to acquire current technology rapidly and configure it for DoW use, sustaining readiness for capabilities directed in Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instructions 3110.10G and 5131.10 and Joint Publication 6-0. Combatant Command and Service-component requirements, emerging technology, and recommendations coordinated with Major Defense Acquisition Program schedules inform the spending plan.

The fiscal year 2027 justification describes procurement of narrowband, wideband, and protected satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals and systems, along with tactical radios, terrestrial communications systems, and satellite hubs. Together, these provide transport options for deployed command-and-control networks. The modernization effort is aligned with Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) through resilient transport, resilient networking, and Zero Trust. These investments are intended to keep communications available across differing operating conditions rather than relying on a single connection method.

Other capabilities identified for fiscal year 2027 include networking elements, virtual appliances, video teleconferencing, and alternative power solutions. The justification also addresses airborne and en route communications, forced-entry operations, cybersecurity, denied or degraded command-and-control environments (D2C2E), and mobile joint command-and-control requirements. Commercial off-the-shelf advances offer opportunities to reduce the deployed equipment footprint and operations and maintenance costs while strengthening cybersecurity. The goal is to support delayed, disconnected, intermittent, or low-bandwidth (DDIL) conditions and integrate with the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) and Joint Information Environment (JIE).

The Navy's fiscal year 2027 resource summary nevertheless shows no Navy funding for this line, and the justification attributes the decrease to a realignment of funds out of the Navy across the Future Years Defense Program to Air Force program requirements. Thus, the described fiscal year 2027 procurement areas explain the modernization effort's intended uses, while the Navy line itself carries no fiscal year 2027 request. Earlier Navy funding supported the program in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Equipment types and quantities are determined annually by Combatant Commands according to critical communications requirements for Joint Task Forces and Joint Special Operations Task Forces.

JCSE manages modernization through an Annual Modernization Plan prepared under DJSM 0148-20. JECC hosts semiannual reviews for the Joint Staff, Services, and Combatant Command representatives, giving them visibility into procurement status and ongoing projects. JCSE also submits monthly procurement status reports to USTRANSCOM, which holds overall responsibility for the modernization program. This review structure links Service investment decisions to operational requirements while tracking the capabilities intended to keep JCSE ready for emerging crises and contingencies.