Navy to get increased satellite communications capability
Friday, 28 November 2003

The Australian Defence Force continues to move to the forefront of modern military capability following the signing of a contract with BAE Systems Australia Ltd today, Defence Minister Robert Hill has announced.

The contract, worth $72 million, will provide the ADF with a high bandwidth maritime satellite communications system.

"The maritime communications system is a key component in the ADF's satellite communication infrastructure," Senator Hill said.

Contracts for the land force component of the project will be let in the near future.

"The system's high bandwidth communication capability will provide ships at sea with secure, high-speed communication access to the Defence information environment," Senator Hill said.

"This will enhance the flow of real-time information, coordination and administration between Maritime Headquarters and ships."

The system will utilise the Defence payload on the recently commissioned Optus C1 satellite, which was launched from French Guiana in June this year. The satellite recently successfully completed in-orbit testing and has now drifted into its operational orbit. Its operations are supported by fixed ground anchor stations and control facilities at HMAS Harman in Canberra. The large and technically complex satellite was six years in the making and will be completed some $28 million under budget.
Senator Hill said the maritime satellite communications capability as part of an integrated communications system confirms the Government's commitment to a leading edge, network-centric backbone to support Defence operations.

BAE Systems in South Australia will undertake the project management and system integration work. BAE Systems will also provide the initial through life support for the project under a separate five-year contract worth $4.6 million.