Page 60 - Australian Defence Magazine April-May 2021

60 EW 9102
APRIL-MAY 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
“THE UK’S TIMESCALE IS QUITE SIMILAR TO JP9102, SO WE’RE EXPLORING CO- DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS, LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH NATIONS.”
While it is not yet clear wheth- er the Airbus bid will leverage the existing Skynet 5A ground station in Adelaide, Rowse says the facility is also used to sup- port the US in the region while maintaining a necessary opera- tional UK requirement.
“We believe that we can offer true sovereignty; freedom of ac- tion is absolutely necessary for Australia as it grows its presence in the Indo-Pacific and grows its operations and training arrange-
“We want to place the skills and capabilities in Austra- lia, so that Australians can start evolving the system to meet the country’s evolving needs. We can say with absolute con- fidence that we can build the most sovereign systems that can be provided,” he added. “The Indo-Pacific is a changing environment and the constraints on the ADF will be very difficult to manage in times where there is constant shift of dynamics. Australia taking the step of having that level of control is, I think, necessary for the future.”
Rowse says Australia may also wish to explore the option of minimising risk of transition from the current WGS network to the new capability delivered under JP9102 by negotiating an agreement with the UK to initially use the Skynet 5 con- stellation. However, for the long-term Australian Defence Satellite Communications System capability itself, Rowse points out that Skynet 6A development has been underway for the past five or six years and the UK has also embarked on a Skynet Enduring Capability (SKEC) program, aimed at delivering the next generation of satellite capability.
“The UK’s timescale is quite similar to JP9102, so we’re ex- ploring co-development options, looking at what can be done to make the most out of the development for both nations,” Rowse explained to ADM. “We think a Skynet 5-type solution with upgraded and developed spacecraft and ground stations may meet Australia’s requirements very well.”
ments,” Rowse added. “There are no requirements from Air- bus to share that system with allies and there’s no need to check with the UK MoD for anything they might wish to do. It’s sovereign in the sense that the ADF can do what it wants with the system, when it needs to do it, without any constraints and without having to check with a third party.”
Rowse says Airbus is keen to build a capability in Aus- tralia which will allow Australians to further develop the system, pointing out that Skynet 5 – in terms of the ground segment – looks very different to what it was when the pro- gram first began.