However, Australia’s long-awaited Defence Strategic Review has insisted the existing Space Command be moved into the Joint Capabilities Group, effectively giving it more autonomy over its funding and resourcing.
The DSR has been described as the biggest shake-up in Australia’s defence policy in decades and will result in $19 billion being spent to implement its immediate recommendations.
The report — penned by former defence minister Stephen Smith and former defence chief Sir Angus Houston — also said a method should be established for building and sustaining a trained Defence space workforce, including a defined career path.
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The Australian Defence Force’s Space Command — currently a division of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) — commenced operations in March last year.
Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, AM, CSC, was appointed as its inaugural commander.
Among the responsibilities of Space Command is supporting space domain awareness, sovereign-controlled satellite communications, and space-based Earth observation and navigation.
The division includes personnel from all three services, as well as public servants and industry contractors.
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The news of an upgrade for Space Command comes weeks after it was announced that Lockheed Martin had won the $3 billion JP 9102 government contract to deliver a new military satellite communication capability for Australia.
The global prime beat off competition from other major contractors, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus.
The deal is arguably the most significant in the history of Australia’s space sector, with its goal of reducing the country’s reliance on the United States and its military assets.
Lockheed Martin’s position as “preferred tenderer” means it will now progress to the next stage of the Defence procurement process, which includes engaging in collaborative tender clarification and improvement activities.
Head of Air Defence and Space Systems Division, Air Vice-Marshal David Scheul, said the multi-billion-dollar project would deliver Australia’s first sovereign-controlled satellite communication system over the Indo-Pacific ocean regions.
“Currently across Defence, there is up to 89 capabilities which depend on satellite communications,” AVM Scheul said.
“Once delivered, the new system will increase the resilience, agility and flexibility of Defence’s military satellite capability.”
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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