[Satellite News 10-16-08] The U.S. military’s desire for a dedicated, exclusive military communications network has turned into a future partnership and dependency on commercial satellite operators. But that paradigm shift will not come easy.
    On a military satellite communications panel at Satcon 2008, Inmarsat Vice President Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch called the relationship between the U.S. military and the commercial satellite industry a "forced marriage" – the result of a financial and technological understanding between the two sectors.
    "[The U.S. Military] eventually realized that we can provide the assured access, encryption and bandwidth they needed at lower cost," said Cowen-Hirsch. "The [U.S. Department of Defense] currently makes up eight percent of the commercial industry’s customer base. It is an important partnership and one that was tested through non-contractual relationships."
    U.S. Air Force Brig. General Michael Carey said the non-contractual partnerships like the Mission Assurance Group, the neighborhood watch program for space and ground segment and the industry coalition group has indeed been successful and has lead to the U.S. military opening up to the idea of commercial dependency. Commercial satellite operators say they can do more.
    "There has to be a balance between contractual and non-contractual agreements," said Cowen-Hirsch.
    Carey agreed with Cowen-Hirsch. "Historically, the Department of Defense has not been interested in how a company does business," he said. "Now we are looking at commercial operators who have done well, like Inmarsat and Intelsat and looking at them as an opportunity to utilize existing technology instead of having to build from the ground up."
    Carey listed the projects that the military is working on with the commercial industry. "We continue to push efforts to maximize geolocation capability, command link encryption, cutting down on electro-magnetic interference, ground infrastructure protection and developing a secure operations central command," he said. "But of course, there will be top secret communications that will be exclusive to the military."
    Intelsat President Kay Sears said her company is more interested in other growth opportunities. "Defense bandwidth demands are not expected to slow down anytime soon," she said. "Beyond combat communications, increased usage of unmanned aerial vehicles and implementation of communications on the move, the increased implementation of IP and Internet over satellite communication all contribute to a significant increase in demand and not enough supply."
    These are the areas that Carey sees as an opportunity for commercial satellite to take the load off of military satellite communications. "The [U.S. Department of Defense] continues to look at new ways to partner with the industry to leverage these technologies. Our current projected requirement will outpace available bandwidth and commercial satellite communications will be a necessity."
    The idea of the U.S. military depending on commercial providers makes some defense officials nervous.
    U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Moyles has done extensive research on the relationship and said that the military needs to change its attitude towards the industry.
    "I have heard some military officers say that ‘we need to get off of commercial satellite by 2010,’ and I want to emphasize that this assessment is unrealistic," said Moyles. "Even some of the senior generals are starting to see that commercial satcom is crucial to the success of our missions. We need to get out of the idea of commercial satcom partnerships as leasing circuits. It is just not true."
    U.S. Army Colonel Patrick H. Rayermann of the National Security Space Office, who moderated a panel on satellite and military technology, said that General Carey, who is new to the commercial industry himself had to be assured on the issues of commercial satcom security.
    Moyles elaborated on the security issues. "The commercial industry already has the capability to provide not only encryption and assured communication, but the same level of protection to physical infrastructure as the military. There is just as much protection in commercials sectors – for builders, suppliers and launchers."
    Carey said that another concern of the military was the commercial industry’s ability to provide their services and guaranteed communication anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice. "We have no idea where the next conflict will be. It could be in Africa or it could be in the Middle East – nobody knows and we need to know that we can count on quick response for our communications."
    Sears also explained to her panel that one of the abilities that commercial operators brings to the table is customization. "Intelsat went to the military and said ‘tell us what you need," she said. "Our portability allows the Department of Defense to change our satellite’s connectivity mid-contact.
    Sears said that customization also involves budgeting. "We have minimum commitment models where the Department of Defense receives certain price thresholds for guaranteeing a certain annual amount of spending."