New dishes for Defence


By Jonathan Nally
Tuesday, 11 July, 2017


New dishes for Defence

Australia’s deployed military forces will receive a major communications boost following the award of a $223 million contract to Northrop Grumman Australia for the acquisition, construction and support of a new satellite ground station.

The station will be built at Kapooka in New South Wales and will include an integrated network management system.

Subject to Parliamentary Works Committee approval, Australian company Hansen and Yuncken will start construction later this year.

When completed in mid-2021, the facility will be serviced by a small number of maintenance personnel and operated remotely.

“The satellite ground station will enable deployed forces across the Pacific and Indian Ocean region to connect to Defence’s strategic information networks back in Australia,” said Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne.

“The Kapooka ground station will operate in conjunction with a satellite ground station in Western Australia to provide Defence with the level of wideband satellite communications, capacity and survivability needed in the future,” added Minister for Defence Marise Payne.

“The network management system will introduce best practice planning and management of all Defence’s wideband satellite communications assets.

“The system will enable reduced operational response times for establishing and restoring satellite communications services, significantly helping deployed forces,” Minister Payne said.

Image ©Commonwealth of Australia 2017

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Related Articles

Designing resilience: advanced power strategies for critical infrastructure

Designing power systems for critical infrastructure now involves more than capacity — it...

Private 5G supports vehicle manufacturing for JLR

Ericsson Private 5G is enhancing the production of Range Rover vehicles by supporting...

A fairer future: RSM's fees review and what it means for NZ's radio comms sector

The NZ radio comms industry is closely watching the outcome of the Radio Spectrum Management...


  • All content Copyright © 2025 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd