BAES wins naval SATCOM upgrade

BAE Systems Australia has won the $72 million contract to provide the ADF with the Advanced Satellite Terrestrial Infrastructure System (ASTIS) to support a high bandwidth maritime satellite communications system under Phase 3E of JP 2008 - MILSATCOM.

Under the contract BAE Systems Australia will furnish the satellite communications infrastructure to give mobile and deployed forces the capability to transfer information for Command Control and the capability to access other information. This element of JP2008 aims to extend the strategic level Defence Information Environment (DIE) to the operational and tactical environments using the Defence-owned communications payload operating on board the recently launched Optus C1/D satellite.

Contracts for the land force component of Phase 3E will be let in the near future.

"The maritime communications system is a key component in the ADF's satellite communication infrastructure," the Minister for Defence, Senator Hill, said. "The system's high bandwidth communication capability will provide ships at sea with secure, high-speed communication access to the Defence information environment. This will enhance the flow of real-time information, coordination and administration between Maritime Headquarters and ships."

"This project is a vital element in the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) emerging battlespace communications upgrade. The win reinforces our position as Australia's leading prime systems integrator of military communications systems," said Andrew Makin, General Manager of C3I, BAE Systems Australia.

"BAE Systems Australia currently supplies the ADF with more than 90% of their mobile tactical and trunk communications equipment. There are natural synergies between the ASTIS project and the excellent satellite communications work being done by the BAE Systems Australia Parakeet team in Adelaide and Sydney," Mr Makin said.

The company has teamed with partners Astrium, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) and EM Solutions for the project.

The Optus C1 satellite, which was launched in June this year, 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

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. The company will also provide the initial through life support for the project under a separate five-year contract worth $4.6 million.