Airbus D&S signs new Skynet partners
Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has added three more service providers to deliver Skynet military satellite communication services to Australian, New Zealand and US forces.
The company has signed on SpeedCast, Inmarsat Government and Hughes Network Systems to its channel partner programme for Skynet services.
The Skynet service expanded in 2015 with the move of the Skynet 5A satellite from 6° East to 95° East to provide global X-band and UHF coverage in the Asia Pacific region. The network now offers global military coverage, expanding core service reach.
SpeedCast will offer the tactical secure communications services to the Australian and New Zealand government. Airbus D&S has also recently appointed SpeedCast to manage a new anchor station facility for the Skynet 5A military satellite, which is based at SpeedCast’s existing teleport in Adelaide, Australia.
Inmarsat Government will include Skynet services as part of their portfolio offer to US government customers.
Hughes will use the partnership offering services for the US government involved in tactical missions, primarily using the XEBRA service, which is a solution using the Hughes HM300 lightweight X-band satellite terminal and Airbus D&S’ Skynet capacity.
Richard Franklin, head of secure communications, Airbus D&S, said: ‘These new partnerships will enable Hughes, Inmarsat Government and Speedcast to offer Skynet services to their already strong existing customer base; the services will primarily be using the newly relocated Skynet 5A satellite and enable users to operate in both the US and Asia regions, and augment and compliment their existing services.’
The Skynet X-band satellite constellation consists of eight satellites and the ground network to provide all beyond line-of-sight communications to the UK Ministry of Defence. Airbus D&S’ contract also allows other NATO and allied governments such as members of the five-eyes community (besides UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) to use the Skynet system to augment their existing services.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
-
![US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts]()
US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts
Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.
-
![Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces]()
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
