British Army embraces SlingShot
Add-on kit turns UHF/VHF radio into a BLoS solution to support voice and data communications.
Skynet satellite. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Fundamentally, modern warfare is increasingly reliant on satellite constellations for beyond line-of-sight communications, data links to unmanned systems, intelligence gathering and surveillance activities. Moreover, many national agencies rely on these assets, thereby increasing the complexity of priorities, management, command and control.
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Add-on kit turns UHF/VHF radio into a BLoS solution to support voice and data communications.
The MOESS programme intends to deploy a sovereign Australian tactical electromagnetic sensor capability, installed on a constellation of CubeSats. DEWC is developing a sensor that can conduct radar electronic support in defence-relevant radio frequency bands used by assets such as ships and aircraft.
The US is progressing with its HBTSS project, having overcome an important obstacle.
Plans for Russia to build its own orbital station could enable geospatial intelligence-gathering missions and onboard military experiments away from international observers.
Europe ceded the initiative on reusable launcher technology in 2014 and only now is it trying to claw back the lost ground.
Commercial satellite constellations may find favour with the DoD for low Earth orbit solutions.