At a high-level seminar on governmental satellite
communication (SATCOM) at the International Paris Airshow
“Le Bourget” on 19 June the European Defence Agency (EDA)
presented and discussed its “Secure Telecom by Satellite”
(SECTELSAT) concept for future governmental SATCOM.
Currently, five European nations operate military
satellite communication assets: the United Kingdom, France,
Italy, Spain and Germany. In the timeframe 2018-2025 all
these assets will need to be replaced. This creates a unique
opportunity for Pooling & Sharing this type of satellites
which EDA is promoting with its “Secure Telecom by
Satellite” (SECTELSAT) concept for a European-wide use of
governmental SATCOM. The intergovernmental approach proposed
by EDA suggests a cross-use of future governmental assets on
a broader basis and significant synergies if future
programmes can be coordinated.
“With its European Satellite Communication Procurement Cell
(ESCPC), the European Defence Agency has already delivered a
concrete Pooling & Sharing tool in the area of commercial
satellite communications. Our proposal for governmental
SATCOM goes one step further. Pooling & Sharing of critical
assets is an opportunity as much as a necessity in times of
tight defence budgets and eroding capabilities”, says
Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the European
Defence Agency, at the opening of the high-level seminar.
Secure Telecom by Satellite
EDA’s concept includes the pooling of future assets with
a coordinated approach to collect and harmonise national
requirements of EU Member States that operate MILSATCOM, and
possibly to pave the way for future cooperative ad hoc
programmes. At the same time, it proposes to share future
assets by leasing parts of governmental SATCOM for defence
and security services to additional Member States (including
Norway and Switzerland) with significant requirements.
Future assets would also be shared by offering a new
capability package that could benefit from EU funding for
its internal and external connectivity needs through more
resilient networks.
High-Level Seminar
The high-level seminar was divided into an open seminar
on SATCOM policies and plans with speakers from the EDA, the
EU Military Committee, the European Commission, the European
Space Agency, EU Member States and industry representatives.
During the closed afternoon session capability planners and
governmental SATCOM programme managers discussed the way
ahead, an action plan as well as possible Pooling & Sharing
options.
Background
In military operations satellite communications are
fundamental for Communication, Command and Control. They
also allow operational effectiveness of Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms, including
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. In 2012 the Agency
launched the European Satellite Communications Procurement
Cell (ESCPC) to pool and share commercial satellite
communications services. Five Member States (France, Italy,
Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom) participate in a
framework contract the Agency concluded with Astrium
Services to use commercial bands. ESCPC can for instance
support outsourced logistic services with the provision of a
backbone network for any national, EU-led or coalition
operation.
