The new Satellite Ground Station near Geraldton, Western Australia is now operational, marking an important milestone in the Morrison Government’s commitment to building Australia’s sovereign satellite capability.
Satellite Ground Station – West, delivered under Joint Project 2008 Phase 3F in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, will provide an anchoring capability to Wideband Global Satellite-Communications satellites primarily located over the Indian Ocean.
The Program includes two military hosted payloads on commercial satellites, a military satellite as part of the United States Wideband Global Satellite-Communications system, ground infrastructure across Australia and deployed terminals with accompanying network management capabilities.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the new Station in WA, which has now achieved Final Operating Capability, marked the first of three Defence satellite ground station projects to be completed.
“The Defence Satellite Communications Program is providing the Australian Defence Force with a suite of strategic and tactical satellite communication capabilities,” Minister Reynolds said.
“Satellite Ground Station – West will provide Defence with greater access to the overall capacity available from Wideband Global Satellite-Communications satellites.
“This offers real-time operational and logistical information which is essential for command and control of deployed forces.”
