https://spacewatch.global/tag/military-satellite-communications/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:08:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/military-satellite-communications/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-next-generation-uk-milsatcom-capability/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70736
Written by John Yates
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Skynet 6 satellites are obsolete before they have even been launched. So, what should the next generation of British Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) satellites look like? The four Skynet 5 satellites were launched into Geostationary Orbit (GEO) between 2007 and 2012. Assuming a typical design life of 15 years, the first would have exceeded its design life from 2022 and the remainder from 2027, to be replaced by the Skynet 6 satellites. Commercial satellites often remain in use beyond their design life, but that is not a desirable scenario for satellites used in potentially critical situations, such as MILSATCOM.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/10/us-space-force-boeing-military-satellite/ Mon, 05 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=26843&preview=true&preview_id=26843 U.S. Space Force awards $298 million military contract to Boeing]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/uaes-yahsat-government-solutions-looks-to-expand-into-military-market/ Fri, 17 Apr 2020 05:00:10 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21653 Yahsat Government Solutions (YGS), one of the leading providers of secure satellite communications for militaries and governments in the Middle East, is looking to use its L-band satellite communications service to expand its offering to government and military clients.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/protected-globally-aehf-6-satellite-actively-communicating-with-u-s-space-force/ Tue, 31 Mar 2020 05:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21044 The first national security launch for the US Space Force and the final satellite to build out the protected communications constellation is now connected.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/lockheed-martin-selects-seakr-wolverine-mission-processor-for-protected-tactical-satcom/ Wed, 25 Mar 2020 06:00:14 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20892 SEAKR Engineering announced on 23 March 2020 that it has been selected to join Lockheed Martin’s team to help design and build a prototype payload for the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (SATCOM), or PTS, program.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/11/viasat-terminals-undergo-uk-skynet-milsatcom-assurance-and-certification-process/ Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:00:44 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=16949 Viasat Inc. reports that its Multi-Mission Terminal (MMT), the AN/TSC-241, has started the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) Skynet satellite communications (SATCOM) architecture assurance and certification process, which will authorize the terminal's operation on the Skynet X-band system as well as other government and commercial networks]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/11/sudans-first-satellite-srss-1-launched-by-china/ Wed, 06 Nov 2019 06:00:53 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=16840 Sudan's first satellite, the Sudan Remote Sensing Satellite (SRSS)-1, was successfully launched in the morning on 3 November 2019 by a Chinese Long March 4B satellite launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s northern Shanxi Province, according to reporting in Space in Africa.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/11/egypts-tiba-1-communications-satellite-prepped-for-november-launch-by-arianspace/ Tue, 05 Nov 2019 06:00:11 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=16835 Processing is now underway with the TIBA-1 satellite passenger for Arianespace’s next dual-payload Ariane 5 mission, which is scheduled for a November liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/10/egypts-tiba-1-military-communications-satellite-headed-for-guiana-space-centre-launch/ Mon, 21 Oct 2019 05:00:59 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=16507 TIBA-1, the communications satellite for the Government of Egypt developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) left the Airbus Defence and Space clean rooms in Toulouse]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/09/uk-defence-minister-announces-industry-competition-to-operate-and-maintain-skynet-6-milsatcom-programme/ Mon, 16 Sep 2019 05:00:15 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15998 Speaking at the DSEi conference on 11 September 2019, the UK Defence Secretary outlined an ambitious and global vision for defence. He highlighted the UK’s decisive contribution to the fight against Daesh and RFA Mounts Bay’s role providing critical humanitarian relief in response to Hurricane Dorian.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/09/airbus-and-telespazio-to-sell-milsatcom-capacity-on-french-syracuse-iv/ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 05:00:58 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15983 Airbus and Telespazio (Leonardo/Thales) have set up a partnership to market military telecommunications services using the future Syracuse IV satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/05/spains-hisdesat-taps-airbus-and-thales-alenia-space-for-two-spainsat-ng-satellites/ Wed, 08 May 2019 05:00:20 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=13915 A four co-primes consortium formed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space (both in Spain and France) has been selected by Hisdesat Servicios Estratégicos S.A. (Spanish Governmental Satellite Operator) to build two SpainSAT NG satellites. Used for governmental communications, these new generation satellites will replace the existing SpainSAT and Xtar-EUR satellites. Airbus will act as lead partner of the consortium.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/02/uaes-yahsat-and-thuraya-unveil-milsatcom-solutions-at-abu-dhabis-idex-2019/ Wed, 20 Feb 2019 06:00:02 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=12812 Yahsat, the UAE’s leading global satellite operator, together with Thuraya, the mobile satellite services subsidiary of Yahsat, are displaying the latest government and military satellite communication technologies at this year’s International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 17-21 February 2019.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2018/12/indian-military-space-isro-successfully-launches-gsat-7a-communications-satellite-for-indian-air-force/ Fri, 21 Dec 2018 06:00:14 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=12043 An Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F11) successfully launched the GSAT-7A military communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, India, on 19 December 2018.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2018/12/egypt-receives-second-itu-extension-for-military-satellite-due-to-launch-delay/ Fri, 14 Dec 2018 06:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=11927 The Egyptian government has received a second extension from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to fill its orbital slot with a military communications satellite in an unprecedented and likely controversial decision by the international organisation, according to reporting in Space Intel Report.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2018/10/australian-defence-force-building-wgs-milsatcom-ground-station-in-nsw/ Wed, 10 Oct 2018 05:00:43 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=10759 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has started work on the construction of a new satellite ground station at Kapooka in New South Wales, Australia, as part of the ground segment of the Wideband Global SATCOM military satellite communications capability.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2018/04/u-s-africa-command-awards-ses-o3b-satellite-communications-contract/ Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:00:24 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=8286 The U.S. military's Africa Command (USAFRICOM) has contracted with SES-owned O3B to provide commercial satellite communications to better support its widespread operations across the African continent]]> https://spacewatch.global/2018/04/lockheed-martin-considering-satellite-assembly-saudi-arabia/ Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:00:17 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=8239 Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visited Lockheed Martin's satellite manufacturing facilities in California's Silicon Valley on 5 April 2018, where the prospect of a Saudi Arabian-Lockheed Martin joint venture to assemble satellites in the desert kingdom was discussed.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2017/12/ksas-saudigeosat-1-hellas-sat-4-satellite-assembly-completed-shipped-environmental-testing/ Tue, 05 Dec 2017 05:00:13 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=6538 This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2017/09/cairo-approves-establishment-egyptian-space-agency-receives-chinese-funding-space-programme/ Fri, 29 Sep 2017 07:00:54 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=5817 This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.]]>