Satellite ground station up and running in WA

The Satellite Ground Station near Geraldton, Western Australia, is now operational; a milestone for the Morrison government’s commitment to building Australia’s sovereign satellite capability.

Satellite Ground Station – West will provide an anchoring capability to Wideband Global Satellite-Communications satellites primarily located over the Indian Ocean.

The Station is delivered under Joint Project 2008 Phase 3F in partnership with BAE Systems Australia and 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.

The new Station in WA has achieved Final Operating Capability, marking the first of three Defence satellite ground station projects to be completed. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the Defence Satellite Communications Program will provide a suite of strategic and tactical satellite communication capabilities for the Australian Defence Force.

“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,” Minister Reynolds said.

Image courtesy USAF.