Satellite Communication

In 1998 the Australian Defence Force announced plans for the design and construction of a satellite communications payload to be launched early in the next century. Phases 3 and 4 of the ADF's Joint Project 2008 will see the acquisition of a Global Broadcast System (GBS) for the ADF, supported by a military payload forming part of the civil Optus C1 communications satellite. This is expected to be launched by Optus Communications, Australia's largest privately-owned telephone utility, early in the 21st century.

Official funding approval was not expected until the 1998/99 defense budget is announced in May 1998, but the total program cost may amount to more than Aus$500 million. The Department of Defence hoped to sign a contract with a payload supplier by the third quarter of 1998.

At that time, the Department of Defence leased a communications transponder on the existing Optus B1 commercial communications satellite, launched in 1992. This has a 'footprint' designed primarily to cover Australian-based telecommunications users and operates in the Ku radio waveband which is used principally by the civil community for telecommunications and other traffic.

Most military satellite communications use dedicated satellites operating in the X-band. The ADF uses X-band facilities on satellites owned by the US and other allies, but wants to have its own X-band satellite payload with a 'footprint' covering more of Australia's region and over which it can exert its own control.

Initially, this would be used to communicate with RAN ships and aircraft, RAAF aircraft and the emerging generation of ADF command and control systems which require very high bandwidths to handle large amounts of data.

A steerable beam which allows ADF units to use it when outside the satellite's normal footprint was a 'desirable feature' according to sources in the JP2008 project office in Canberra. But this is one of several cost, engineering and systems integration issues which need to be resolved between the ADF, Optus Communications and the contractor.

The Department of Defence and Optus Communications discussed the detail of the proposal, including issues such as launch schedules and costs. The company examined options for replacing older satellites and building extra satellite capacity to meet growing demand in Australasia and south-east Asia.

Optus examined the business issues impacting on a launch decision. The company didn't need to have a new satellite in place until approximately 2003/03 at the earliest, and needn't make a decision on it before the end of 1998. A main board decision would be needed in 1999 to allow design, construction and launch of a satellite (with provision for launch failures) to meet this schedule.

But if customer interest in some of the satellite's services justify an earlier investment in the extra capacity, the decision-making process could be accelerated. Optus provides communications facilities to a number of corporate and government customers in Australia.

Acquiring an X-band satellite communications capability may mean upgrading much of the Army's mobile communications equipment. The Army's principal battlefield trunk communications switching and satellite communications system, Parakeet, operates in the Ku-band to exploit the existing satellite capacity.

The Parakeet prime contractor, British Aerospace Australia Ltd, was issued with a sole-source Request for Tender to supply additional quantities of equipment and carry out a minor technology upgrade in Phase 6 of Project Parakeet. This does not include provision of X-band communications facilities, but a mid-life upgrade of the Parakeet system (Phase 7) scheduled for funding approval in 1999 incorporated provision of X-band facilities.

The Defence Capability Plan 2006-16 announced greater funding for the Australian Defence Force's military satellite communications capability, with more than $1 billion to be invested in next generation satellite and ground station infrastructure to ensure continuity of service and flexibility through digital content. In October 2007, the Department of Defence announced it had opted to participate in the US Air Force Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) program, giving it access to up to six new high-capacity communications satellites.