A new satellite ground station in Western Australia that will provide an anchoring capability to wideband global satellite-communications satellites is now operational, the defense ministry has announced.
Delivered under Joint Project 2008 Phase 3F in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, the program includes two military hosted payloads on commercial satellites, a military satellite as part of the United States wideband global satellite-communications system, ground infrastructure across Australia and deployed terminals with accompanying network management capabilities.
Minister for defense Linda Reynolds said the new Station in WA, which has now achieved final operating capability, marked the first of three defense satellite ground station projects to be completed.
“The defense satellite communications program is providing the Australian defense Force with a suite of strategic and tactical satellite communication capabilities,” minister Reynolds said.
Another satellite ground station on Australia’s east coast is being delivered by Northrop Grumman under an AU$223 million contract. This project is expected to be completed in mid-2021.
