July 24, 2013 Source: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Today, at a congressional briefing sponsored by Rep. Doug Lamborn, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments released a new study on The Future of MILSATCOM. The study explores the difficult choices facing the United States as it plans the next-generation military satellite communications architecture.
The report’s author, CSBA Senior Fellow Todd Harrison, argues that if the U.S. military is committed to a strategy of assured access in the face of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, as the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance states, the Department must adapt the MILSATCOM architecture to operate in a more contested environment.
However, increasing protected MILSATCOM capacity by starting new programs or continuing to conduct business as usual is unwise given the fiscal constraints the nation faces.
This report offers a number of specific recommendations on how to bridge the gap between the capabilities needed and the funding available:
• Transition from a two-tier MILSATCOM architecture (protected and unprotected) to a three-tier architecture, creating a middle tier that extends a lower level of protection to tactical users, while exploring the potential of hosted protected payloads.
• Pivot to the Pacific in space by inviting key allies in the region, such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea, to be part of the middle tier of the architecture to improve our partners’ capabilities and interoperability, reduce costs, and complicate the planning of potential adversaries.
• Counter adversaries' cost-imposing strategies by steering the competition in a more favorable direction.
• Leverage current programs, namely AEHF, to build and evolve new capabilities rather than starting new programs to fill the gap left by the cancellation of TSAT.
• Do not force competition where it does not exist because competition that is not self-sustaining by natural market forces is not healthy for industry or cost-effective for the government.
• Consolidate MILSATCOM programs, budgets, and operations under one Service to create better alignment of authorities and budgets for MILSATCOM, reduce redundancy and overhead costs across the Services, and enable better control of MILSATCOM system synchronization.
Click here for the full report (57 PDF pages) on the CSBA website.
Several of the Agency’s flagship projects are in the air domain: air-to-air refuelling, air traffic insertion of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, military air transport activities, SESAR impact on the armed forces, as well as military airworthiness and governmental satellite communications. For the latter two the Agency organises high-level seminars during the Internal Paris Air Show “Le Bourget”.
Military Airworthiness
The high-level military airworthiness seminar will take place on 18 June and will feature speakers from the European Defence Agency, the European Aviation Safety Agency, the European aerospace industry as well as national Ministries of Defence.
The seminar will address the political implications of the harmonisation of military airworthiness, areas for closer cooperation with EASA, as well as the impact of harmonisation on current and future military airworthiness activities. Representatives from governmental, industrial and national military airworthiness authorities’ are invited to participate in the seminar.
The seminar will take place in the VIPARIS Conference Centre, Hall 2C, Salle 1, from 3 PM to 7 PM (including networking cocktail). For more information click here.
Governmental Satellite Communication
The high-level seminar on governmental satellite communication will take place on 19 June 2013 and is split between a seminar in the morning with keynote speakers and a dedicated workshop in the afternoon for government representatives only.
Military Satellite Communication (MILSATCOM) has been recognised as a very promising domain for Pooling & Sharing as synergies can mitigate the huge financial impact generated by the growing demand for resilient space-based communication in operations. The option to pool resources in the domain of MILSATCOM is particularly pertinent to the replacement of the current generation of space assets owned by France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, whose entire phase-out expected between 2018 and 2025 offers a unique opportunity to consider the establishment of a common initiative. In this perspective, the Agency has drafted a “Secure Telecom by Satellite” (SECTELSAT) concept presented to the Defence Ministers in April 2013.
The seminar will take place in the Auditorium (VI Paris Conference Centre) from 9 AM to 5.30 PM. For more information regarding the draft programme and how to register, click here.
EDA Defence Ministers have recently identified some particular areas where effective initiatives in the frame of Pooling & Sharing could lead Member States to optimise resources and enhance capabilities. One of these is Military Satellite Communication (MILSATCOM) which has been recognised as a very promising domain, where synergies can mitigate the huge financial impact generated by the growing demand for resilient space-based communication in operations.
The option to pool resources in the domain of MILSATCOM is particularly pertinent to the replacement of the current generation of space assets owned by France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, whose entire phase-out expected between 2018 and 2025 offers a unique opportunity to consider the establishment of a common initiative. In this perspective, the Agency has drafted a “Secure Telecom by Satellite” (SECTELSAT) concept presented to the Defence Ministers on 23 April and is being given a mandate to collect common requirements and explore how common fundings can be raised (ref. EDA SB Doc 2013-11).
High Level Seminar
A High Level Seminar on governmental Satellite Communication will take place on 19 June 2013 at the Paris Air Show "Le Bourget". This EDA event will be split between a seminar in the morning with keynote speakers and a workshop in the afternoon to draft an action plan. Please note that the afternoon session is open to government representatives only.
Agenda & Location
The draft agenda is available for download here. The seminar will take place at Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, Auditorium (VI Paris Conference Centre).
Registration
Registration is mandatary and can be done by email capabilities(a)eda.europa.eu by 14 June 2013.
Apr 25, 2013 (SPX)
Petah Tikva, Israel - The SatTrooper-1000 will provide Israeli soldiers with dependable data, video and telephony at broadband speeds.
Gilat Satellite Networks reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has selected its SatTrooper-1000 military Manpack terminal for advanced tactical field communications.
The Manpack was tailor made to address the unique field requirements of the IDF ground forces.
The SatTrooper-1000 will provide Israeli soldiers with dependable data, video and telephony at broadband speeds. Weighing only 13 kilos, the compact and easy-to-carry terminal is highly efficient and can be set up in minutes by a single warfighter.
The rugged design of the auto pointing antenna enables rapid connectivity even in the harshest environmental conditions.
"Net centric warfare has increased the importance of quick-deploy satellite based communication solutions in today's battle field," said Res. Gen. Moshe (Chico) Tamir, Gilat's Vice President of Defense and Homeland Security.
"Intelligence superiority is a critical necessity on the battle field wherever and whenever required. Our SatTrooper Manpack was built taking into account the harshest and most demanding battle conditions, adhering to the stringent communication requirements of the IDF."
Skynet-5 - illustration Astrium.
16 April 2013 eads.com
Anik G1 launch and Skynet 5D service entry give Astrium Services world’s only commercially owned X-band milsatcom constellation with near-global coverage
Thanks to leased Anik G1 hosted payload, Astrium Services will extend its X-band coverage over the Americas and Pacific Ocean
Fourth Astrium built and operated Skynet 5 satellite, 5D, entered service on 2 April
Astrium, Europe’s leading space technology company, will soon be able to offer near-global coverage in X-band with the successful entry into service of Skynet 5D and the launch of its hosted payload on Telesat’s Anik G1 satellite.
Evert Dudok, CEO of Astrium Services said: “We are the only operator in the world providing near-global coverage reserved exclusively for government and military usage. Reaching from 180 degrees West to 135 degrees East with 75 X-band transponders our constellation has a total of 2.2 GHz - and we now offer more available capacity for our customers.”
Astrium Services has a 15 year contract with Telesat for the exclusive use of the X-Band hosted payload. The Anik G1 satellite launched on 16 April from Baikonur is due to be positioned at 107.3 degrees West. It will provide the first commercial X-band coverage across North and Latin America, with substantial coverage of the Pacific Ocean reaching out to Hawaii and Easter Island.
On 2 April, Astrium successfully brought its Skynet 5D satellite into service following its launch on an Ariane 5 in December 2012. It has been positioned over the Middle East at 53 degrees East – taking the place of Skynet 5B – becoming Astrium Services’ most active milsatcom satellite. Its larger fuel tanks will enable it to be repositioned more frequently to meet operational needs. The Skynet fleet now comprises eight satellites: Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, combined with three Skynet 4 satellites (C, E and F) and one NATO IV satellite (see below for orbital positions). The 10 UHF channels on Skynet 5D have already been fully sold to customers including Harris CapRock and the Netherland’s Ministry of Defence.
Skynet 5 is a highly successful PFI (Private Finance Initiative) programme worth £4Bn, signed in October 2003 with the UK Ministry of Defence. Through the Skynet concession, Astrium Services operates the Skynet military satellite constellation and the ground network to provide all Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications to the UK Ministry of Defence. The PFI has enabled Astrium Services to also provide Skynet-based communication services to other government institutions including the UK Cabinet Office and armed forces from other nations such as US, Canada, Australia and also to NATO.
Colonel Justin Hodges, Deputy Head for the Beyond Line of Sight team at the MOD’S Defence , Equipment and Support Organisation said: “Entry into service of the Skynet 5D is yet another significant milestone in this successful programme. It marks the culmination of a decade of hard work by the MOD’s ISS Networks Team and Astrium to provide additional communications capacity for the Armed Forces.”
Satellite orbital positions:
•Skynet 4C – 1 degree West
•Skynet 4E – 33 degrees East
•Skynet 4F – 34 degrees West
•NATO IVB – 35 degrees East
•Skynet 5A – 6 degrees East
•Skynet 5B – 25 degrees East
•Skynet 5C – 17.8 degrees West
•Skynet 5D – 53 degrees East
•Anik G1 – 107.3 degrees West
About Astrium
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. It is the only global company that covers the full range of civil and defence space systems, equipment and services.
In 2012, Astrium had a turnover over €5.8 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide.
Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation, the European prime contractor for launchers, orbital systems and space exploration; Astrium Satellites, a leading provider of satellite system solutions, including spacecraft, ground segments, payloads and equipments; Astrium Services, the Space services partner for critical missions, providing comprehensive fixed and mobile solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2012, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – g
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