DigitalGlobe signs contract with Australia
DigitalGlobe has signed a Direct Access Program (DAP) contract with the Australian Department of Defence (DoD), the company announced on 15 August.
The multi-year agreement will give the Australian government access to DigitalGlobe’s commercial satellite imaging constellation in support of defence and intelligence missions.
As a DAP partner the Australian DoD will be able to directly task and download imagery in real-time to its ground station from all five DigitalGlobe satellites.
The multi-satellite ground system will be supplied by DigitalGlobe partner MDA, to support tasking, reception and precision processing of imagery from the satellite constellation. Ground antenna systems that will enable direct tasking and downlink capabilities will be supplied by ViaSat.
In June 2017, the DoD announced some $500 million in funding to improve Australia’s space-based ISR capabilities via the accessing of commercial satellite services. At that time the DoD said that the capability would support Australia’s defence priorities including defence operations, border protection and humanitarian missions.
The contract is worth $83 million to DigitalGlobe over four years, beginning in January 2018.
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.
