An Examination of the Governmental Use of Military and Commercial Satellite Communications

Abstract

This chapter provides information concerning the use by governments of military and commercial satellites systems for strategic and defense purposes. It discusses dedicated communications satellite systems designed for particular uses and the so-called dual use of commercial systems to support military and strategic purposes. It explains various pathways that can be followed by governments to obtain communications satellite services to support military uses. These paths include: (1) dedicated satellites, (2) hybrid satellites (both military and commercial payloads on a single satellite), (3) shared satellite facilities via intergovernmental agreements, (4) guaranteed long-term leases, (5) ad hoc leases of capacity on demand, and (6) a long-term partnership between a government and a commercial partner as is the case with the Skynet 5 program in the United Kingdom.

In this chapter the authors will also examine how various countries obtain their national satcom, how and why commercial capacity has become, and will continue to be, a significant part of national satcom capabilities. It will examine the present and future contracting approaches and procedures used in various countries but primarily in the United States and other NATO countries.

Finally, there will be a discussion of the issues involved when nations decide between purchasing nationally owned satellites and leasing capacity commercially. In this regard, it is noteworthy that in many cases the major investments in new technology for satellite defense communications systems are now more often coming in the commercial communications world. Governments are more and more changing their procurement models to take advantage of commercial procurements or long-term leases. This allows military communications units to spend their financial resources more strategically on any small adjustments to make their satellite acquisitions more military specific. Technology is typically moving too fast for a “normal” 5-year military R&D program followed by procurement cycles to be at the cutting edge of the latest technologies in today’s world.