Space

Australia and Military Space Projects

Commercial communications satellites can now relay tactical and other communications quickly and efficiently to and from remote locations. Satellites now collect volumes of imagery of the earth and its environment, providing a wealth of data for Defence. Mapping, terrain classification and environmental monitoring are mostly undertaken from space, while weather satellites provide continuous coverage of the globe.

Electro-optic sensors orbiting 600 kms above the earth can take high resolution digital photos that show houses or cars, while synthetic aperture radar systems collect images of similar quality through clouds or in the dark. Defence has to manage the wealth of data available from these systems and process it all into products useful to the war fighter and planner.

Australian access to space capabilities is often raised as a matter of concern with regard to national security. Provided at Attachment D is an April 2007 whole-of­ Govemment response to national security concerns raised by Senator Chapman's 2005 space policy proposal Space: A Priority for Australia. This response stated that it was the Government's assessment at that time that Australia has adequate access to space capabilities through commercial and inter-governmental arrangements.

Reliance on foreign-owned facilities is not unique to space technologies. Risk assessment mechanisms for space-dependent critical infrastructure are primarily addressed through the national critical infrastructure responsibilities of the Attorney-General. In addition, in 2005 the National Security Committee of Cabinet established a standing interdepartmental committee to monitor developments in commercial satellite capabilities. While the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet coordinated the creation of this committee, it is chaired by the agencies with the required technical capabilities. At present, these arrangements ensure that risks associated with Australia's reliance on space technologies, like other aspects of critical civil and military infrastructure, are assessed and monitored.

In addition, the Department of Defence is also adopting measures to manage its dependency on space-enabled services. 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.

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, today turned the first sod 28 September 2018 to mark the construction phase of a Defence Satellite Ground Station at Kapooka, in his New South Wales electorate. Deputy Prime Minister McCormack said the Wideband Satellite Capability project involved the acquisition and sustainment of a new Satellite Ground Station in the East (SGS-E) of Australia and the implementation of a Wideband SATCOM Network Management System (NMS).

“I’m pleased to be at Kapooka – The Home of the Soldier – today with representatives from the project’s contractors, Northrop Grumman Australia and Viasat, for this ground-breaking activity which will provide flexibility to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) wideband beyond line-of-sight communications,” Minister McCormack said. “The construction will be a boon for the Wagga Wagga region’s economy as this $24 million investment means goods and services can be sourced from local businesses throughout the construction phase and ongoing maintenance jobs. This is a wonderful result for the Riverina and Kapooka Army Base to remain a vital cog in Australia’s Defence Force network into the future.”

Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the new ground station would provide site and frequency redundancy to the Wideband Global Satellites visible from mainland Australia. “Today’s ceremony represents the beginning of construction work which is critical to the broader $220 million program to significantly enhance the communications capability of the ADF while providing local jobs during the construction phase,” Minister Pyne said. “Once completed in 2021 the ground station will provide the satellite communications gateway on the east coast of Australia, and in conjunction with the Wideband SATCOM NMS will deliver a holistic satellite communications network management and situational awareness capability to the ADF. This will ensure the ADF has an end-to-end communications service consistent with the operational need for network enabled operations.”