UK Military Communications Satellite to Launch
The UK is set to carry on redeveloping its military satellite communications system with a new spacecraft due to be launched on the 9th November 2007. The Skynet 5B will be carried skywards by an Ariane 5 rocket. Once in orbit, it will link up with the Skynet 5A launched earlier this year, and which is already handling secure traffic for the UK military deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
With a total value of 3.5 billion pounds, the Skynet programme stands as the UK's largest single space initiative.
Speaking to the BBC, Patrick Wood - responsible for spearheading the development of Skynets 5A and 5B for EADS Astrium - described the launch campaign to date as "incredibly smooth". He added: "There are a series of umbilical connections and we communicate with 5B night and day. We're doing final battery charging, making sure it is optimised for launch."
Said launch will take place at 1904 hours tonight from Kourou - a spaceport located in French Guiana.
Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, British Army to benefit from Skynet
Skynet 5 will permit the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and British Army to transmit larger volumes of military data between command posts, and at a faster rate. Its bandwidth capacity marks a 2.5 times improvement over the older Skynet 4.
While they might resemble the majority of telecommunications space modules destined for the commercial industry, the Skynet 5s include a number of features exclusively for use within the military. These include four antennae, capable of being vectored - enabling Skynet to target data onto areas where it is required most; for example, to locations where the British armed forces are engaged in conflict.
Additionally, the platforms have been reinforced in order to stand up to interference (for example, attempts to put the satellites out of action, or to tap in to the secure data being transmitted).
"Hardened doesn't mean armour-plated, because the cost of launching a spacecraft like that would be phenomenal and the amount of useable payload in it would be very small", Mr Wood explained. "But Skynet 5 does incorporate electronic - and some physical - protection that will help the spacecraft in some types of adverse environment."
Skynet/ Predator Combo to Provide Rapid Taliban Data Feeds
The benefits provided by Skynet 5B will start to reveal themselves when the British military brings into the service the Predator UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) - in the role of troop support for forces in Afghanistan. The Predators will stream imagery of Taliban movements in real-time. Coupled with the powers of Skynet, the video images generated will be rapidly transmitted down to the UK for careful scrutiny, should the need arise.
Networked Enabled Capacity - Benefits and Drawbacks
Within the British armed forces, much recent talk has focused on Networked Enabled Capability, or NEC. The theory is that 21st century commanders will use superior data to make fast-paced decisions - allowing them to launch deployments of men and machinery with much more effectiveness than at any other point in history.
However, the need for this information to be properly managed, when provided in such large chunks, is paramount.
According to Jane's Defence Weekly's Tony Skinner, commanders within the British military conceded that the best methods though which such enormity of data could be handled were still being investigated. "As some of these new systems are coming online, and the communication bearers increase capacity, the armed forces have to work out the human processes, standards and protocols needed to use the information efficiently," he detailed.
"Also, your systems have to be interoperable, especially working in a coalition environment. It's all very well taking a video stream from a drone but can you share that with friendly forces, other bases and even back to the UK?"
Skynet's Funding Provided by Paradigm Secure Communications
Skynet's project cost has been a source of some concern - exacerbated by the fact that a private company had provided the financing. The firm in question is Paradigm Secure Communications - the winner of the Ministry of Defence contract to provide UK forces with a satellite capability.
Malcolm Peto, the managing director of Paradigm, described the procurement route taken as "...the way to do it."
He continued: "Other European militaries and procurement agencies have been sceptical that we could put this satcom network and services together. But with one satellite already in orbit, people are starting to take notice. With two in orbit we will have nothing left to prove."
Skynet 5A occupies a position overlooking the Atlantic. The new -5B, once aloft, will look over the Indian Ocean. Combined, both platforms will be able to survey an area stretching from east China to the East coast of America.
Source - Armed Forces International's Assistant Editor
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Further Resources:
Skynet/ Paradigm Secure Communications -
Paradigm Secure Communications
Skynet 5A Satellite Ready for Launch
UAVs -
