Under the agreement, Intelsat, now operating as a subsidiary of SES, will extend the operational life of the IS-22 satellite and its hosted ultra high frequency (UHF) payload until at least 2033, with scope for further extension should the capability remain viable.
The arrangement includes the flexibility to reposition the satellite as required, alongside comprehensive logistics, training and operational support to keep ADF personnel connected across land, sea and air.
A new Australian-based ground antenna facility will also be established as part of the contract and is designed to enhance sovereign control of critical communications infrastructure, support domestic industry participation, and reinforce the long-term resilience of the ADF’s tactical communications network.
Construction of the site is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Assistant Secretary of the Space Systems Branch Michael Hunt said the contract delivered significant national security and industry benefits.
“This agreement not only ensures the ADF maintains access to secure UHF satellite communications (SATCOM) and remains interoperable with our coalition partners, but it also supports Australian jobs and strengthens sovereign control of critical communications capability,” Hunt said.
Launched in 2012, IS-22 provides secure, continuous UHF communications that enable ADF personnel to coordinate operations, respond to emerging situations and support missions in remote or contested environments.
UHF SATCOM remains a vital component of tactical communications, particularly for maritime and land forces requiring robust, all-weather, beyond line-of-sight voice and low-rate data connectivity.
How this fits Into JP 9102 and Australia’s future SATCOM architecture
The extension of IS-22’s service life complements Defence’s long-term satellite communications modernisation effort under Project JP 9102 – Australian Defence Satellite Communications System.
JP 9102, awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia in 2023 but subsequently cancelled in 2025, was designed to deliver a sovereign, high-capacity, geostationary SATCOM constellation providing advanced Ka-band and military communications services to replace Defence’s reliance on the US-operated WGS system.
While JP 9102 focused on delivering a sovereign strategic and operational SATCOM backbone, the IS-22 extension ensures continuity of the ADF’s UHF tactical SATCOM capability, a function that would not be immediately replaced under JP 9102. UHF remains essential for secure voice command and control, especially for deployed forces, submarines, small vessels, rotary aviation and special operations elements.
By sustaining IS-22 through the 2020s and potentially beyond, Defence avoids a capability gap while broader sovereign SATCOM initiatives come online.
The new Australian antenna facility established under the contract will also integrate with the ground segment being built for JP 9102, further strengthening sovereign control and redundancy across the ADF’s communications architecture.
Hunt noted that extending IS-22 ensures reliability and operational continuity while future sovereign SATCOM capabilities mature, adding, “By extending the operational life of IS-22, we can continue to provide secure and reliable communications for our ADF personnel.”
The agreement marks another step in building an integrated, sovereign satellite communications ecosystem capable of supporting Australian operations across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.