AUS: Defence Acquires Satellite Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

THE HON. JOHN MOORE, MP

Minister for Defence

Sunday, 24 October 1999 MIN 317/99

Defence Acquires Satellite Communications Capability

The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today announced that contracts totalling $340 million had been signed with Cable and Wireless Optus (CWO) for the supply and support of a new satellite communications capability for the Australian Defence Force.

The Australian Defence Satellite Communications Capability (ADSCC) will comprise a Defence owned communications payload aboard the CWO C1 satellite, plus associated ground based infrastructure for the control and management of the Defence payload.

"This project is an excellent example of the cooperative arrangements Defence can make with industry that provides benefits to both parties," Mr Moore said.

"The ADSCC will significantly improve the communications services available for deployed forces, and will support new command, control and communications systems fielded by the ADF early in the next century.

"Australian industry will provide though-life support to the ADSCC and will supply most of the ground based infrastructure," said Mr Moore.

It is expected that the CWO C1 satellite will be launched in early 2002 and become fully operational following a short period of in-orbit testing.

The Defence communications payload will provide communications services in X, Ka and UHF bands and will be controlled from ground facilities that will be established in Canberra. The CWO C1 satellite will also carry a commercial Ku-band communications payload which is owned and operated by CWO.

The satellite bus telemetry, tracking and command functions will be undertaken from the company's satellite control facilities at Belrose, New South Wales, and Lockridge, Western Australia.

The design and construction of the satellite will be undertaken by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan, and United States companies Space Systems Loral and Raytheon.

Email: J.Moore.MP@aph.gov.au Website: www.defence.gov.au

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