Skynet 5: UK MoD’s Innovative SATCOM Solution

Skynet 5 satellite model

When militaries around the world have wanted to expand their satellite communication (SATCOM) capacity, they traditionally have had 2 choices – either pay a satellite manufacturer billions of dollars to build a satellite constellation and then own and operate the constellation themselves or lease capacity on commercial satellites, with all the attendant concerns about availability and security.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) came up with an innovative approach to expanding its SATCOM capacity called Skynet 5.

Through a GBP 3.6 billion UK MoD private finance initiative (PFI), EADS Astrium manufactures the Skynet 5 satellites and Paradigm owns, manages, and operates the Skynet constellation. The satellites are built to UK military specifications and the UK is committed to purchasing satellite capacity from Paradigm, an EADS Astrium subsidiary.

Come Together: DISA, GSA Streamline $5B Commercial SATCOM Procurement

A 2004 study by the Satellite Industry Association found that 80% of all US military satellite communication during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq was carried on commercial satellites. Then-US assistant secretary of defense for networks and information integration, John P. Stenbit, estimated that the US military purchased between $200 million and $300 million worth of commercial satellite services during the first year of the war.

Commercial satellite providers remain a mainstay of the US Department of Defense’s satellite communications capability. To streamline the process for the US military and US federal government agencies to lease communications satellite capacity from commercial providers, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) undertook an effort in 2009 to combine the commercial satellite communications (COMSATCOM) service contracts for the US military and US civilan government agencies into a 10-year, $5 billion contract vehicle…

$48M to SSI for USAF Space Launch Services

SSI launch facilities

Spaceport Systems International (SSI), a Lompoc, CA-based partnership between ITT Corp. and California Commercial Spaceport, received a $48 million contract to provide launch services for the Launch Test Squadron within the USAF Space and Missile Systems Center/Space Development and Test Wing.

Under the contract, SSI will provide launch site services for USAF space launch missions.

SSI provides payload processing and launch services to the US military and other US government customers…

Plug and Play Satellites: Short Order Space Capability

PNP Satellite Concept

The era of the huge military satellite programs that cost tens of billions of dollars appears to be over. At least as far as the US Congress is concerned. Last year, lawmakers shut down the $20 billion plus Transformational Communications Satellite (TSAT) System program after huge costs overruns and skepticism about the system’s unproven technology.

At the same time, the US Air Force is moving ahead with development of small satellites that can be developed quickly in response to tactical needs and launched within days. These small satellites would be constructed using preexisting modules to meet the communications and ISR needs of commanders in the field. They are called plug-and-play (PNP) satellites and are being developed by the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).

AFRL recently awarded a contract worth up to $200 million for work on the PNP satellite architecture…

US Navy Beefs Up Commercial Satellite Capacity for Ships

Intelsat satellite

In the early weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the US military satellite communications capacity was overwhelmed by the demand from US troops for satellite bandwidth to transmit voice and data communication. In response, the US military dramatically increased its use of commercial satellite capacity to meet the explosion of demand.

A study by the Satellite Industry Association found that 80% of all US military satellite communication during the Iraq invasion was carried on commercial satellites. Then-US assistant secretary of defense for networks and information integration, John P. Stenbit, estimated that the US military purchased between $200 million and $300 million worth of commercial satellite services during the first year of the war.

Recognizing the military’s reliance on commercial satellites, the US Navy undertook an effort, called the Commercial Broadband Satellite Program (CBSP), to develop and deploy satellite communication terminals specifically designed to increase the Navy’s commercial satellite communications capability…

L-3 Gets $55.7M Order to Support US Navy Communications, IT Systems

L-3 Services, a Reston, VA-based subsidiary of L-3 Communications, received a $55.7 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N65236-07-D-5879) to support tactical satellite, telecommunications, information technology networking and psychological operations equipment for various US Navy customers.

L-3 Services will provide the following support: integration, production, test and evaluation, fielding, training, certification, maintenance, and life-cycle sustainment management…

ITT Provides Support to USAF Missile Ranges

WGS-2 Launches
from Cape Canaveral

ITT Corp.’s Systems Division in Cape Canaveral, FL received a $7 million task order to support the US Air Force’s Eastern and Western missile ranges.

The task order was issued as part of a 10-year, $1.3 billion contract awarded to ITT by the USAF.

The contract calls for ITT to modernize the USAF Spacelift Range System (SLRS). This work includes support for spacecraft launch, as well as ballistic missile and aeronautical testing.

NGA Awards $214.2M to GeoEye for Commercial Satellite Imagery

Commercial Satellite Imagery

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), a US Department of Defense combat support agency, awarded GeoEye (formerly Orbimage) in Dulles, VA a $214.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to supply satellite imagery to US government customers from the company’s satellite constellation.

Under the modification, the basic contract service level agreement (SLA) will be extended 4-month through Mar 31/10 ($50 million SLA value, $51.7 million miscellaneous), followed by one 9-month option (April 2010 to December 2010, $112.5 million). Work will be performed in Dulles, VA.

GeoEye’s predecessor Orbimage received the original NextView contract (HM1573-04-C-0014), worth up to $500 million, in 2004…

Harris Provides Operations Support for USAF 50th Space Wing

Harris Technical Services in Colorado Springs, CO received a $10 million contract modification for operations, maintenance, and logistics support to the US Air Force Space Command’s 50th Space Wing. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 50 CONS/LGCZW at Schriever Air Force Base in California manages the contract (FA2550-08-C-8011, P00032).

The 50th Space Wing is responsible for the operations and support of more than 170 US military satellites…

Azimuth to Research Ways to Protect Sensors from Directed Energy Threats

Space-based sensors
could be vulnerable

Azimuth Corp in Dayton, OH received a $50 million contract to conduct hardening and survivability research designed to protect sensors from directed energy threats. The contract is being awarded under the US Air Force’s Hardened Materials Research and Survivability Studies program, which is intended to study materials technologies, interactions, and/or applications to improve the survivability of military systems.

Air Force Research Laboratory Detachment 1 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio manages the contract (FA8650-09-D-5434).

A 2007 report by a US Defense Science Board task force identified the potential use of directed energy to disrupt sensors…