Australia has approved the purchase of new satellite terminals for deployed land forces, upgrades to existing satellite terminals and terminal monitoring and control systems, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense.
The acquisition is part of Joint Project 2008 Phase 5B1. The equipment, which will be provided by Raytheon Australia and its subcontractor L-3 Communications, is valued at approximately A$180 million.
“The project will provide a significant increase in Defense’s satellite communications capabilities, including the first large terminals capable of adequately supporting deployed headquarters,” the Ministry of Defense said. “It will also upgrade existing terminals and establish networked terminal monitoring and control systems.”
The acquisition will also increase the Australian military’s use of the U.S. Wideband Global SATCOM system.
