Page 44 - Australian Defence Magazine Nov 2020

44 SPACE SATCOMS
NOVEMBER 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
JOINING UP THE DOTS ON SPACE SERVICES
Space was one of the big winners in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020
Force Structure Plan, with four explicit programs identified under the space stream, with additional capabilities also apparent in the Defence Enterprise and Information/Cyber streams as well.
KATHERINE ZIESING | CANBERRA
ALL up, there is roughly $10-$13 billion on space technologies resident in the funding streams announced by government. “As recognised in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan, space is of increasing importance for Australia’s security and prosperity,” Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, Head of Air Force Capability said to ADM. “Defence is dependent on space based capabilities for space domain aware- ness; communication; position, navigation and timing; and in- telligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. All Australians are dependent on space based capabilities for precision navigation and timing (e.g. car navigation systems and mobile phones), communication, broadcast information and entertainment.
“Space services span the provision of satellite commu- nications and position, navigation and timing that are es- sential for command and control of deployed forces. These systems enable the sharing of real time information, navi- gation and synchronisation of Defence assets.
The anchor to the next generation of satcoms program under JP 9102 Australian Defence Satcom System (AS- DSS). Building on the successful parts of JP 2008 (see breakout box for more on this), the next generation of sover- eign satellites and the services they provide will benefit the entire ADF that is increasingly reliant on space generated and supported information
“Defence will deliver a sovereign owned and controlled satellite communication system to provide long range com- munications capability that is resilient, flexible and agile to provide real-time operational information,” AVM Roberts said. “Australia will also continue to cooperate with inter- national partners and seek to become a contributor to the
ABOVE: Space services are more than just what’s high above our heads with the ground segment a key part of the system.
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