Current as of January 05, 2026
MISSION
The High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS) provides a robust and resilient non-satellite high frequency radio command and control (C2) network to nuclear, conventional and special forces on land, at air and at sea. Major customers include the president of the United States; United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM); United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); U.S. Space Force; United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM); United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM); the National Command Authority; Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC); Air Mobility Command (AMC); Navy Submarine & Fleet Forces; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets (P-8, E-3 and U-2).
BACKGROUND
The HFGCS was created in 1993 by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Memo MCM-10-93, which directed the consolidation of the Department of Defense's (DoD) high-power (1 kilowatt and above) fixed-site high-frequency capabilities. It was declared fully operational in 2001. The result was a 13-station global network jointly owned by the Air Force and Navy, with the Air Force designated as the lead military department (MILDEP). The Air Force controls 8.5 stations and both network control stations, while the Navy controls 4.5 stations. A memorandum of agreement between the two services outlines roles and responsibilities. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) locations are operated and maintained by the United States Space Force and four Air Force Major Commands (MAJCOMS): Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).
DAF locations: Grand Forks Network Control Station, Joint Base Andrews Network Control Station, Offutt Air Force Base, Beale Air Force Base (Air Force half of West Coast Station), Puerto Rico, Joint Base Andrews, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Yokota Air Base, Croughton Air Base, Lajes Air Base and Royal Air Force Station Ascension Island.
Navy Locations: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Naval Base Guam, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Navy Radio Transmitter Facility Dixon (Navy half of West Coast Station).
FEATURES
High frequency (HF) is an integral part of the Joint All Domain C2 Concept's Communications Pillar and adds resiliency for beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications in a satellite-denied or degraded environment. The HFGCS provides secure and non-secure voice and data services to the president, the secretary of defense (SecDef), allies, DoD warfighters and other U.S. government agencies during peacetime, emergencies, contingencies and war. The HFGCS supports over 2,500 DoD assets. It supports in-flight command and control for the president, USSTRATCOM Emergency Action Messages (EAM), Emergency War Orders, aircraft C2, Navy ship-to-shore broadcasts for surface and sub-surface fleet force direction and management, and DAF and Navy reconnaissance and contingency operations via C2 platforms. In addition, the Navy's Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Mobile Command Post mission is among the 28 DoD and coalition missions supported by HFGCS.
The HFGCS offers 24/7/365 operator services for voice-patching an HF radio call into the Defense Switched Network (DSN) or a commercial phone network, enabling strategic in-flight or at-sea reachback. It enables DoD, executive and legislative branch senior leaders to remain connected while in-flight, providing continuity of government and seamless force direction. All five Air Force core missions and the C2 for Navy and coalition partners' fleets are supported by HFGCS.
The DoD has bilateral agreements in place with Five Eyes partners (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom) to extend or add resiliency to each nation's HF capabilities around the globe. The HFGCS team participates in multiple exercises every year to maintain readiness and verify new ways of communicating between the tactical edge and the strategic level, as well as between the U.S. and its allies. The exercises are also useful in validating interoperability, new military standards and NATO standardization agreements that apply to HF communications.