1. MoD Satellite Communications
Captain Dave Moody Royal Navy
JFC – Deputy Head of Space
Defence Space Conference: May 18

2. Future Operating Environment
Cluttered
Contested
Connected
Constrained
Congested

3. Warfare in the information age: evolution
Explosion of data, processing power and connectivity
Integration
Innovation
Information
JOINT ADVANTAGE
Operationalizing and executing Information Age Warfare is not an optional extra …
… it is the heart of our transformational capability strategy to give UK Military a competitive edge in how we fight in a dangerous and unpredictable world.
Increased choice of effects (range /accuracy) with stealth
Impacts on Defence
Exploitation through commercial enterprise
General Deverell
COMD JFC
Autonomous systems and robotics across environments
Securing access to specialist skills
Exploiting commercial capacity and capability
Building resilience in space-based & space-enhanced services
Developing space control with allies
Promoting rule of law and international norms
FFC - Jul 2017
General Barrons
Former COMD JFC

4. SKYNET 5 – Current Capability
4 x SKYNET 5 satellites (plus 3 x SKYNET 4 satellites)
Terrestrial Links
PFI delivered by Airbus Defence and Space to 2022
Space and Ground Segments
Satcom Services
Assured SHF & UHF
Nuclear hardened, Anti-jam capability, Secure Telemetry, Tracking and Control
Additional capacity and services contracted via PFI
Welfare, Broadcast, IPLCs
MoUs with Allied Nations
Commercial Satellite Communication Services
PFI contract also provides:
Deployable land ground segments and terminals
Maritime terminals
Lightweight Mobile Terminals
Terminals exploiting bearers of opportunity
Commercial Services
IPLCs

5. SKYNET 6 – Future Requirements?
SKYNET 6 system of systems
Sovereign
Allied
Commercial
Illustrative coverage from requirements providing global coverage
SKYNET 6 Candidate Key User Requirements
SKYNET 5 PFI
SKYNET 6 Enduring Capability 6A
Service Delivery Wrap
SK6A Launch
End of PFI
2022
2040+
2025
~2028
“A resilient, protected and assured worldwide X-band, UHF and wider communications capabilities to enable information superiority for UK Force Elements in the delivery of Defence Tasks and Contingent Operations.”

6. SKYNET 6 – Requirements
COVERAGE
The user requires access to fit for purpose services within…DSD16 coverage areas
The ‘few’ vs the ‘many’
Science + innovation + leveraging the commercial market …….all need to be considered and balanced

7. SKYNET 6 – Requirements
Over 99% availability…
Resilience, Redundancy and survivability…
Anti-Jamming capability
Radiation Hardening and Nuclear Hardening (HANE)
Satellite linking to reduce ground footprint?
AVAILABILITY
Congested Contested and Competitive EM environment
Benefit of low cost, quick to replace tech.
Maintenance & update in Space?

8. SKYNET 6 - International Collaboration
INTEROPERABILITY
Interoperable service …across Gov’t, Allies and Partners
Filling the capability gap through international collaboration
NATO Obligations US FR
NSP2k
AEHF
MoU already present and negotiations underway for operation into 2030’s.
MUOS
UK MoD keen to collaborate but still identifying opportunities to engage within US offer
Wideband AoA
Active desire to be a part of the solution set
WGS
Mechanisms already present for reciprocal exchange of capacity/connectivity
COMSAT NG
Possible mutual support mechanism and pooling and sharing agreement
Future NATO SatCom
CP9A0130
Meeting desire to continue to grow their SatCoM capability through burden sharing
SYRACUSE III/IV
Additional route for meeting the Allied contribution through collaboration.
CJEF burden sharing.
Norway / Canada EU
Polar SatCom
GOVSATCOM
UK Space Agency lead for possible future pooling and sharing arrangement. Viability demonstration of pooling and sharing already being progressed.
Exploring opportunities regarding polar SatCom
Resourcing collaborative activity is a key challenge for UK

9. SKYNET 6 - Industrial Engagement
Aligned
Technologies
SatCom on the move
In-orbit servicing / life-extension
High Capacity Satellites
Mega-constellations (LEO/MEO)
Commercial Provision
Hosted Payloads
Responsive launch
Operational Flexibility
Exploiting commercial capacity and capability wherever possible
Technological developments have you engaged with MoD?
Securing access to specialist skills inside and outside of Defence
Building resilience in space-based and space-enhanced services

10. SKYNET 6 Challenges Accurate prediction of future demand
Achieving the right mix of protected, sovereign capability, collaborative access and commercially available capacity
Insufficient horizon scanning capacity/capability
Spectrum/orbital filing availability
MOD Space Policy & Strategy development
(Anti-satellite) threat development
Mitigating current lack of MOD SQEP...and building a future cadre

11. Conclusions
UK MoD current solution supports flexible use and development of capability but…
UK MoD continues to be challenged to:
Develop itself as an Intelligent Customer
Define future requirement by translating concepts into concrete needs
Prioritise and define a suitable capability mix that can:
exploit emerging technologies
challenge conventional/fixed assumptions about BLOS capability
mitigate the future threat environment and remains affordable
UK continues to look towards all communities to collaborate to deliver capability, resilience and learn lessons.