Tags: Skynet, United Kingdom, Astrium, Satellite Launch
Publication: BBC.co.uk
Publication Date: 12/19/2012

Artist’s rendition of the Skynet 5D satellite. Image credit: Astrium

Arianespace successfully launched the five-tonne Skynet-5D satellite from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The new British telecommunications satellite will complement the mission of three other satellites already in operation to allow the country’s armed forces stay connected around the globe.

The Skynet system includes radio equipment deployed on ships, vehicles and on the field directly into the hands of troops. It has been reported as the United Kingdom’s largest space project.

Skynet is run by a public-private alliance between Britain’s Ministry of Defense and Astrium. The United Kingdom pays an annuity to the company in order to receive guaranteed bandwidth with space capacity to sell to allies. The system offers high security, with capability to resist attempts to disable it using lasers or jamming the operations with rogue signals.

The 5D satellite’s UHF payload has been updated to allow it to provide more than double the number of channels compared to its partner satellites, the 5A, 5B and 5C. This means the satellite will support connectivity for soldiers in forward deployments with backpack radios and other “comms on the move” operations.

According to reports, Astrium is planning on buying more X-band capacity from a Canadian satellite scheduled for launch next year. This would give the UK almost full global coverage.

The 5D satellite will most likely be the last on this Skynet system generation. It has been reported that Astrium and the Ministry of Defense have engaged in talks for a possible follow-on.

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