Page 118 - Australian Defence Magazine Sep-Oct 2022

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Time for change in mission-critical communications
Commanders tasked with the responsibility of communications support love nothing more than discovering a secret weapon to bring certainty to a complex task. That can be in the
form of a soldier who understands technology and can manipulate it to squeeze more capacity out of a network;
a sailor who cannot only work onboard IT, but enable the best use of it despite the emissions control constraints; an airwoman who intimately understands SATCOM and is able to keep data flowing to support airbase operations, despite changing circumstances on the ground.
Discovering these talented specialists who can illuminate
an area of complexity were always a joy to me when I was serving, as they provided a combat multiplier to assigned missions. Similarly, being innovative and an early adopter of new technology will provide our defence force with an edge.
My experience in uniform consistently highlighted examples of process interfering with technological opportunity, especially in the communications arena. For example, ‘rapid’ procurement processes applied by CASG to purchase off-the-shelf SATCOM for the Middle-East refurbishment took three years from an identified operational use requirement (OUR) through to a working dish. Harris
radios, the workhorse of Army’s tactical communications, were operating in New Zealand (who accepted the risk of learning as they operated the new digital environment) 10 years before Australia could procure a similar capability.
Today, Australia’s defence communications are hampered by a constraining master-contract with CIOG that gives the right of first reply to one company, and consigns the ADF to a single source. This limits innovation, competition, and pricing pressure on the incumbent provider. It also creates a significant threat vector – only one company
to attack, with great effect, across the enterprise. We can, and must do better.
The use of emerging technologies with a considered risk appetite will enable our ADF to have an edge that can see them fight and win on the world stage. Learning what does not work is just as important as learning what works well.
Enabling capability management in this way leads to faster adoption of the right technology. To use a military shooting analogy, this is a “bold adjust” to enable sights to be adjusted before loading a full magazine for the main event.
Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations offer accessible high-bandwidth solutions that simply did not exist two years ago. This capability can easily fill gaps in primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency communications plans, whilst
a deliberate approach is determined. LEO services, such as Starlink, are a game changer, but to date, have only been trialed in small batches at best efforts. This technology will mature, and adopting it now will allow for partnerships with industry to enable LEO to develop with ADF first-mover needs in mind.
Vocus, as a DISP member, has a significant defence industry customer base. Success has been achieved in supplying communications services to those developing, delivering, operating and sustaining new mission critical capabilities – particularly the Defence Industry Prime Systems Integrators (PSI), who provide critical infrastructure and support services to the Commonwealth.
Leveraging disruptive technologies has underpinned the Commonwealth’s grey-zone efforts, enabling our nation to compete at both the strategic and diplomatic levels with infrastructure already widely available throughout our near region.
Finding an expert that provides a significant boost to capability is highly valued amongst ADF commanders. Finding an Australian sovereign company that can provide a significant boost to ADF capability and national power projection should also be highly valued. Vocus is such a company that already serves many Federal Government departments for mission- critical communications requirements. It is time that our military discovered this capability and put it to good use.
Dr Matthew Ilic, Development Manager, Government & Strategic Projects, Vocus
Dr Ilic previously served in the Australian Army in the role of Staff Officer Grade One Communications, Information Systems, Electronic Warfare at Headquarters Forces Command.