2012 Australian Defence Capability Plan Space Projects

The Australian Defence Capability Plan has recently been updated (the 2012 DCP can be downloaded here) to include several space projects, including a new Space Surveillance project. Australia is growing both its defence uses of space and its capabilities in space technologies - a clear result of its recent investments in skills and training within the defence force in space related topics.

The 2012 DCP has a few interesting space related projects that are worth spending a bit of time on.

JP2008 Phase 5B.2 -Military Satellite Capability - Satellite Ground Station East and Network Management System. Following the Australian involvement in the US Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) project, JP2008 Phase 5B.2 will estabilsh new satellite ground stations in eastern and western Australia. These ground stations will deepen Australia's involvement in the WGS project, following Australia purchasing a 6th Satellite in exchange for access to the entire WGS constellation.

JP2044  Defence Geospatial Intelligence Capability  - JP2044 will upgrade Australia's ability to exploit geospatial data (such as satellite imagery) for Australian Defence needs. Whilst this does not include a space-based capability, JP2044 will ensure that the Australian defence forces will become an even more sophisticated user of Geospatial Intelligence.

JP2025 Phase 6  Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) will upgrade the JORN network to ensure that it's capability remains cutting edge. The JORN provides over the horizon radar surveillance through bouncing radar off the ionosphere.  This project will include emerging technologies into the JORN capability, where Australia remains a global leader - particularly through DSTO. Interestingly, some of the technology and skills required for JP 3029 Phase 1 will leverage Australia's experience with JORN.

JP 2078 Phase 2 - Hyper-Spectral Imaging is an early phase project examining the ability to detect targets through Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) - particularly targets associated with improvised explosive devices, weapons of mass destruction and deep hide military equipment. Whilst a final decision has yet to be made on the platform that will be used, a satellite capability is under serious consideration. The project will continue some early work done by DSTO and RPDE on this topic.

JP 3029 Phase 1 Space Surveillance is a new project related Space Situational Awareness. Currently Australia has very limited Space Situational awareness relying heavily on the US Space Surveillance Network for its knowledge. This project intends to relocate a C-Band radar from the US to Australia to support an initial Australian capability. In 2010 Australia and the US signed a partnership to cooperate with the US on Space Situational Awareness. In Parallel, the US will likely locate a new Space Fence facility in Western Australia to improve the accuracy of their in the Southern Hemisphere.

Overall, there is an increasing understanding with Defence of the importance of space information, space technologies and space capabilities. The 2012 DCP further demonstrates the increasing priority that Defence is placing on Space. No doubt we will see this  priority increase even further over the next decade.