Part of the deal between the ADF and Lockheed Martin includes multiple ground stations across Australia. Source: Rawpixel
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has announced that it has selected Lockheed Martin Australia as the preferred tenderer for the delivery of a new Australian Defence satellite communication system.
In their press release, the ADF did not include specific details about the purpose of the defence satellites, but according to the Australian Department of Defence’s website, “Satellites provide the primary means of long range communications for the [ADF]”.
Military satellites are commonly used for intelligence gathering, military communications and navigation. A number of nations use military satellites for detecting intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICMBs) during different flight phases.
Australia is also a signatory on the United Nation’s Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which prohibits weapons of mass destruction from being installed in Earth’s orbit.
Lockheed Martin Australia will progress to the next stage of the ADF’s procurement process, which includes engaging in collaborative tender clarification and improvement activities.
Head of Air Defence and Space Systems Division, Air Vice-Marshal David Scheul, said the multi-billion-dollar project will deliver Australia’s first satellite communication system, that is sovereign-controlled, over the Indo-Pacific ocean regions.
“Currently across Defence there is up to 89 capabilities which depend on satellite communications,” said Air Vice-Marshal Scheul.
“Once delivered, the new system will increase the resilience, agility and flexibility of Defence’s military satellite capability.”
The ADF reports that the upcoming satellite communication system will include:
- ADF controlled and operated geo-stationary communications satellites
- Multiple ground stations around Australia
- Two new operations centres for satellite communications
- An integrated satellite communications management system
The ADF said the deal is important capability to Australia’s defence force, and that it looks forward to working with Lockheed Martin Australia in the delivery of the satellite system.
Lockheed Martin also notes the importance of defence satellites, as per its website:
“For the ADF, satellite communications are a vital capability, especially as it transforms into a force centred around advanced platforms with high bandwidth requirements utilised to support networked operations at greater distances. In short, the use of space has become a largely essential pre-requisite for many types of ADF contingency, especially those at the higher end of the war-fighting spectrum.”
You can read the Australian Government’s full media release here.
