X-band satellite operator Xtar has been working to expand its sales opportunities in new markets worldwide while making inroads into technology challenges faced with government customers always operating under stringent budget environments. Some of its strategies include developing its fleet to support the needs of current and future military requirements and supporting developments in government hosted payload use.
   Xtar Vice President of Global Sales Andrew Ruszkowski plays a key role his company’s interaction with the U.S. government, including sales, business development, and policy matters. He recently spoke with Via Satellite about the potential for hosted payloads to achieve the goals laid out in the U.S. National Space Security Policy and Strategy, in conjunction with the Pentagon’s resilency requirements.

Via Satellite: You participated as a military session panelist at our Hosted Payload Summit event in October. What were your thoughts on what came out of those discussions?

Ruszkowski: First off, I was delighted with the turnout and the apparent engagement that we saw from a variety of the event’s government participants. That was encouraging to see and be a part of. We’ve had these events in the past where the industry side of a government-focused topic is always well represented. But often times we don’t see enough representation from the government side. The hosted payload summit seemed to be the exception to that. 

Via Satellite: During the keynote address, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ambassador Gregory Schulte asserted the Pentagon’s intentions to cooperate with commercial satellite companies in leveraging hosted payload capabilities. Did you agree with the focus of his approach on “resiliency?”

Ruszkowski: I believe Mr. Schulte was being very genuine and honest about how he sees the partnership his department has with commercial entities. His focus, in my opinion, accurately reflected the top-line policy of the U.S. military. Clearly, the U.S. space strategy and corresponding policy are written in such a way that hosted payloads are presented as an obvious choice and path for the government to follow. However, I do think that there is still a gap in the bureaucracy catching up with the policy. That’s frustrating for a lot of people in our industry, including myself, but I don’t think anyone would tell you that they are honestly surprised with that. 

Via Satellite: How can the commercial industry and government work together to bridge that gap?

Ruszkowski: I think what it’s going to take is a very concerted will on the part of everyone in government to admit that hosted payloads are an opportunity that the U.S. military cannot pass on. They have to be willing to put the effort into leveraging these capabilities, and in some cases, spend some political capital into putting them into place. One of the themes that was spoken about frequently at the summit, especially the panel I was on, was that the political leadership is mission – not just in the White House, but in the Pentagon and elsewhere. I agree entirely with that point. Leadership is what’s needed to make hosted payloads more of the norm than the exception.

Via Satellite: How much longer can the government and military wait to find its leadership with this issue?

Ruszkowski: I think now is the time when Hosted Payloads make sense and where we have an opportunity to make them more common. I’m optimistic that people in the industry and in government will seize on this moment. The momentum is going to have to build. Every U.S. Air Force Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) and every Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) payload launched brings legitimacy to the hosted payload model and proves the case financially and operationally to other potential hosted payload users. When we get the news out that these things have occurred, that’s good for the industry.

Via Satellite: Finally, in a recent interview with Satellite News, South African National Defense Force Brig. Gen. Ian Fordred of the Command and Management Information Systems Division said he sees X-Band as a key to the nation’s milsatcom strategy. Would a future partnership with Xtar make sense for South Africa?

Ruszkowski: I think it makes perfect sense for South Africa. It is no surprise that their military would try to take more of a leadership role in Africa by exploring X-band potential, and the potential of other bandwidths. I know the South Africans are being encouraged by several other countries including the United States to take a greater leadership role in African continental security. If you think of Africa as a whole continent, the capabilities of X-band make a lot of sense in that initiative.