Page 97 - Australian Defence Magazine June 2021

JUNE 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
LAND FORCES
PROTECTION 95
several platforms to enhance ADF operations and to en- sure critical systems integration within joint and multina- tional task groups.
The various phases of JP2008 Defence Satellite Com- munications aim to ensure more reliable and effective communications for Australia’s ground forces. This long- running project promises a significant increase in De- fence’s satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities, including a networked monitor and control system that supports deployed headquarters.
Projects that involve satellites add many layers of com- plexity and risk. Full compatibility with the US Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) standards was an essential re- quirement for JP2008. Considering that the starting point was so well defined, it’s surprising that the project came so close to going completely off the rails. Yet while the investment and risk have been high, the value of reliable communications for our forces is inestimable.
JP2008 Phase 5B1 Tranche 2 Combined Communica- tions Gateway Geraldton (C2G2) will embed Australian- owned SATCOM equipment into a US facility to be con- structed at the Australian Defence SATCOM Station near Geraldton, WA. This new facility will increase Australia's SATCOM anchoring capability.
The successor to these programs under JP 9102 (ADF satcoms) and JP799 (space awareness) will also deliver a huge leap in capability for the space based services that the ADF is increasingly relying on to fight and protect itself.
While satellite communications has dominated RF in- vestment, there remains a need for conventional High Fre- quency (HF) radio. Joint Project JP2043 Phase 3A High Frequency Modernisation will provide an enhanced HF capability for long-range communications. The network in- cludes four HF base stations in the Riverina, Townsville, Darwin and North West Cape areas, together with primary and backup Network Management Facilities in Canberra.
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) is well established technology that has protected our forces and Australian airspace for generations. JNT90PH1/AIR90 is upgrading military systems to Mode 5 IFF and the civilian system to Mode Select (Mode S). The new complementary tech- nology, Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ABS-B), will also be implemented. This upgrade is due to become operational by 2022.
CONTROLLING THE BATTLESPACE
Integrated air and missile defence and battlespace man- agement systems address the rapidly rising pace of modern conflicts. Artificial intelligence systems may become the only practical option for future commanders if they are to respond to threats in time; though as yet there seems to be a reluctance to remove the human from the loop.
ABOVE LEFT: A Lieutenant from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment delivers orders to his platoon before a patrol on Exercise DINGO FURY at Townsville Field Training Area.
RIGHT: Ground based radar plays an important role in protecting troops.
Project Land 200 Battlefield Com- mand System is delivering a software Battlefield Management System (BMS) and a mobile secure tactical radio com- munications network for Land Forces. A digitised Battlefield Command Sys- tem is key to conducting operations on the modern battlefield, where paper- based and voice radio systems are no longer adequate.
“WHILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS HAS DOMINATED RF INVESTMENT, THERE REMAINS A NEED FOR CONVENTIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY (HF) RADIO.”
While it’s essential to know where
enemy forces are located, it’s equally
important for commanders to know the exact positions of their own troops. Land 200 will implement a mobile, data- capable communications system, able to exchange combat information with other Land and Joint BMS. It will form the basis of a land combat identification (Blue Force Track- ing) system by providing commanders with a 'real-time' dis- play of friendly force locations.
INTEGRATED AIR AND MISSILE DEFENCE
Controlling the airspace is of continued concern for Joint Force commanders as technology evolves. The challenge is becoming ever-more complex. Even non-state actors now
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