Current as of December 18, 2025
MISSION
The Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS) refers to the AN/GSQ-272 SENTINEL weapon system operated by active duty (AD) and Air Reserve Component (ARC) personnel. It is the Air Force’s primary sense-making weapon system for the analysis and exploitation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data and employs a robust global communications architecture that connects multiple platforms, sensors, and sites. Airmen assigned to AF DCGS lead intelligence operations and deliver tailored analysis at speed and scale for Combined and Joint Force Air Component Commanders (C/JFACC) around the world.
FEATURES
AF DCGS is composed of both worldwide and regionally aligned, globally networked sites which have various levels of capability and capacity to support the warfighter's intelligence needs. There are two primary components in the weapon system—a Distributed Ground Site (DGS) and a Distributed Mission Site (DMS). A DGS is capable of leading intelligence operations and providing multi-intelligence analysis and exploitation. A DMS provides analysis and exploitation capabilities primarily associated with signals intelligence. Both DGS and DMS sites are organized into specialized Analysis and Exploitation Teams (AETs) to deliver tailor-made analysis to meet Air Component priority intelligence requirements. AF DCGS AD and ARC Airmen work together to provide an integrated combat capability. AD Airmen are assigned to the 16th Air Force (ACC) and ARC forces are assigned to both Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve intelligence units. The 480th ISRW is the lead wing for AF DCGS and bears responsibility for executing worldwide operations. Individual sites are aligned to geographic Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility (AORs) to ensure habitual integration with the warfighter; however, all sites can execute missions outside their respective AORs as needed. The AF DCGS Operations Center (DOC) provides worldwide mission management and data dissemination, allowing the AF DCGS to operate as a federated enterprise. The DOC performs daily coordination between AF DCGS units (AD and ARC), coalition partners, warfighters, and intelligence consumers. This coordination ensures the weapon system can leverage a global network and analytic acumen to provide mission resilience; this guarantees Air Component ‘no-fail’ missions.
AF DCGS participates in intelligence operations throughout the world, including those led by U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Materiel Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Strategic Command, the United Nations, and NATO.
BACKGROUND
AF DCGS evolved from ISR programs dating back to the late 1960s, the current version of which can trace its direct lineage to the Contingency Airborne Reconnaissance System (CARS). Established at Langley AFB in 1992, CARS was housed in 27 deployable shelters and deployed to Saudi Arabia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 1994, Air Combat Command and the Pacific Air Forces signed an Organizational Change Request which established DGS-1 (Langley AFB), DGS-2 (Beale AFB), and DGS-3 (Osan AB). In 1996, CARS was renamed AF DCGS. The expanding weapon system then added units at DGS-4 (Ramstein AB) in 2003 and DGS-5 (Hickam AFB) in 2004.
Since its early inception, AF DCGS has evolved from a deployable transit-cased system to a resilient, reach-back global network which provides tailored analytic intelligence produced and managed by highly skilled professionals. AF DCGS is the Air Force’s primary sense-making node and, with its predecessor systems, has provided intelligence expertise during all major conflict, humanitarian, and coalition operations U.S. forces have been involved in for over 20 years.