Australian Army recruits from Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, practice bayonet fighting drills during recruit training at Blamey Barracks, Kapooka, New South Wales. Photo: Australian Department of Defense.

Northrop Grumman has selected ViaSat as a key partner in the delivery of a next-generation satellite communications network to the Australian Defense Force (ADF). Under a program known as Joint Project 2008 Phase 5B2, a large multiphase project to deploy an integrated wideband satcom system for the ADF, ViaSat will provide its ground stations and dual-band Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite Earth terminals.

Specifically, prime contractor Northrop Grumman will work with ViaSat to deliver a satellite ground station at Kapooka Military Area, Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and a wideband satcom network management system to support home station and deployed forces.

According to the ADF, the WGS constellation is a vital military asset providing Australia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand with reliable and secure communications services worldwide.

ViaSat also recently delivered a number of complete ground stations for Australia’s National Broadband Network program.