White Paper

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE:

EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

IHS Janes is pleased

to present this Satellite
Communications White
Paper, which outlines
current and future
applications for Satellite
Communications
within the European
military and defence
environment.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Operational Realities and Priorities Post-Afghanistan

Continued Expeditionary Requirements

4-5

Managing Lagging European Military Investment

Enhance Force Capabilities through Satellite Communications

Lessons from recent operations Satcom Provides Real Operational Value

5-6

Going Forward - Exploiting New Resilient Ka-band Services

6-7

SATCOM Structure

Using Satellite Communications to Enable New Capabilities

Acquire More and Better Integrated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Develop True C4ISR Integration

8-9

Adopt More Advanced Second Line Services

10

Retain Personnel with Improved Welfare Communications

10

Enable New Terrestrial Networks through Satellite Communications

11

Conclusions

12

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

ABOUT IHS JANES:

The IHS Janes Aerospace & Defence and Security & Risk consulting teams provide bespoke
analysis of future military capability requirements, alongside analysis of trends in aerospace and
defence markets, for both industry and government clients. This incorporates assessments of
existing and emerging defence, security, and aerospace technologies, military requirements and
capability development, and outlooks on market and industry trends, and the impact of changing
budgets, and procurement priorities. Our business solutions allow aerospace and defense primes,
their suppliers, and industry investors and stakeholders to better understand the market dynamics
driving opportunity and risk across the global A&D industry. We support our clients most
critical decision workflows by providing confidential and tailored advisory services around
opportunity identification and evaluation, price-to-win, product positioning and market
communications, market entry strategy, and transactional due diligence and support. In
addition, we also provide government entities with expert assessments of emerging requirements
and market dynamics, platforms, systems and price points, which enables more informed
procurement decisions and more effective budget allocation.
Executive Summary
IHS Janes is pleased to present this Satellite Communications White Paper, which outlines current
and future applications for Satellite Communications within the European military and defence
environment. The main points covered in this paper include:

The combined impact of lessons learned from recent expeditionary operations and the
shape of likely future requirements will drive military planning for improvements in C4ISR
(Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance) capability.

New developments in satellite communications solutions, in part driven by the adoption of

Ka-band services, can provide a cost-effective means for military planners to overcome the
challenge of C4ISR capability development, while managing reduced defence budgets.
The growing use of satellite communications will improve existing capabilities, while also
enabling European militaries to meet new requirements, particularly through the use of the
additional capacity provided by new Ka-band services.

Improved use of satellite communications will facilitate truly integrated C4ISR, enabling
better use of UAVs, more advanced administrative, support, and personnel welfare services,
while also providing connections to new terrestrial communications networks that will
increase operational agility.

The key considerations for European forces in using satellite communications to enhance military
capability are to acquire solutions that are:
easily scalable, so that they can be built upon incrementally as demand for communication
services increases;
adaptable, to ensure that they fit the changing requirements of varied operating
environments;
secure, to provide maximum utility to military users; and
interoperable, based on agreed international standards, since future expeditionary
operations for European militaries are highly likely to be multinational and potentially
to blur the boundaries between defence and civil security forces.
IHS Janes analysis shows that satellite solutions that can meet these requirements will be well
positioned to aid military planners in modernising the C4ISR capabilities of European forces in a
cost-effective manner. The growth in satellite communications capabilities is likely to play an
increasingly important role in enabling forces to operate in less predictable circumstances. This
will be vital in an era when militaries are anticipating deploying to varied operational environments,
where communications infrastructure may not be available, while handling greater information
flows than ever before.

The growing use of satellite

communications will improve
existing capabilities, while
also enabling European
militaries to meet new
requirements, particularly
through the use of the
additional capacity provided
by new Ka-band services.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

Introduction

By providing unequalled capabilities for command and control in remote and austere
environments with little or no infrastructure, satellite communications (SATCOM) has
become an entrenched part of modern military operations. Particularly following ten years
of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq after the attacks on the 11th of September
2011, both the utility and use of SATCOM for military applications have expanded greatly.
As operational requirements have grown and technological innovation progressed at a
rapid pace, bandwidth requirements grew exponentially, as did the number of applications
fielded. As a result, C4ISR, along with an array of administrative and support functions,
today relies heavily on satellite communications to help address the challenges faced by
modern deployed forces.
This white paper examines the tremendous growth in military SATCOM over the previous ten years
and explores how further adoption of such systems and services may support the goals of European
Armed Forces, both in terms of further modernisation and in the face of new operational realities.
While further cuts to military budgets in Western Europe will be an impediment to procurement
in general, satellite communications could provide the capabilities needed to continue effective
modernisation even within a constrained financial environment. Planning to meet future operational
requirements is necessarily fraught with uncertainty. Nonetheless, as has been demonstrated by
NATOs Libya operations, the anti-Piracy missions off the Horn of Africa and humanitarian aid
missions such as those in Haiti, sustained deployments in austere environments are highly likely to
remain a core part of operational reality for European militaries.
By refocusing procurement efforts on SATCOM systems that are modular, scalable, and adaptable
to a wide range of applications and operational contexts, European militaries can ensure that their
deployable forces possess communications capabilities that are affordable and able to support a wide
range of missions, while significantly reducing the risk of cost-overruns and potentially damaging
failure of acquisition efforts. IHS Janes believes that such innovation will provide cost effective
solutions to the challenges of the coming decade and beyond, and could help narrow the gap
between US and European capabilities within key areas such as surveillance and reconnaissance and
deployed communications.
OPERATIONAL REALITIES AND PRIORITIES POST-AFGHANISTAN
The current environment for defence procurement is likely to provide significant challenges for
both government and industry. In addition to the financial crisis, the ramping down of operations
in Afghanistan and the drive for rebalancing forces to face a wider threat spectrum after 2015 will
impact on both the levels of procurement funding and the direction and pace of such investments.
Nonetheless there are some key factors which will continue to drive investment in C4ISR in general
and satellite communications in particular, and which will likely ensure that such capabilities will be
in demand despite budgetary cutbacks and changing operational requirements.
CONTINUED EXPEDITIONARY REQUIREMENTS
With the initial drawdown of force initiated, operations in Afghanistan by most European forces
are likely to be completed around 2015. Nonetheless, as a steady stream of humanitarian relief and
peace keeping/peace enforcement operations have continued to demand European attention, it is
highly probable that similar types of operations will continue. This is an explicit assumption by
some countries, such as the United Kingdom, while other countries clearly have this as an implicit
assumption. Even though the operations may not be of the same size, intensity and duration as
operations in Afghanistan or Iraq, the need for increasingly capable C4ISR solutions to support
deployable forces will continue.
As a result, force structures must continue to be developed with a view towards supporting deployed
operations of varying intensity, which will require flexible mixed arms units with an ability to remain
on sustained deployments for extended periods of time.
With a major strategic shock on the European mainland being a less likely probability, these
capabilities are likely to provide the greatest return on effort amidst a challenging economic

By refocusing procurement
efforts on SATCOM systems
that are modular, scalable,
and adaptable to a wide
range of applications and
operational contexts,
European militaries can
ensure that their deployable
forces possess
communications
capabilities that are
affordable and able to
support a wide range of
missions

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

environment. Even though some rebalancing of forces will likely take place after 2015, the
universal importance of C4ISR as a force multiplier for any type of deployment, investment in
these systems and capabilities is likely to continue as a core focus of future force development
within Western Europe.
MANAGING LAGGING EUROPEAN MILITARY INVESTMENT
A major challenge to the continued ability of European states to provide effective military
contributions for international crisis management is the lagging investment of most European armed
forces in terms of advanced communications and reconnaissance capabilities. This has been a
pressing issue throughout the post-Cold War era, and despite some recent investment, they have
failed to close many of the major gaps which continue to exist. As then US Secretary of Defence
Robert Gates noted in a speech on 10 June 2011 regarding the Libyan operation:

Frankly, many of those allies sitting on the sidelines do so not because they do not want to
participate, but simply because they cant. The military capabilities simply arent there.
In particular, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets are lacking that would
allow more allies to be involved and make an impact. The most advanced fighter aircraft are
little use if allies do not have the means to identify, process, and strike targets as part of an
integrated campaign.
In some areas, satellite communications would play an important part in closing this gap, though
European militaries will need to manage the integration of modern satellite communications into
existing communications and reconnaissance architectures if they are to make full use of the
additional high-bandwidth capabilities on offer. Until now this factor has driven continued
investment in lower bandwidth systems such as UHF and commercial satellite telephony, which
often provides only voice or very low bandwidth data. The interest in these systems has come
because they can more easily be integrated with existing networks. However, this has been a
short-term solution, which has been used until a broader overhaul of communications capabilities
can be carried out. More capable, yet cost effective solutions will be required to drive future
development.
ENHANCE FORCE CAPABILITIES THROUGH SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
In order to address the combined effects of continued expeditionary requirements and of lagging
modernisation of military communications architectures, IHS Janes believes that European armed
forces should seek to emphasise investment in such capabilities, even in the face of budgetary
cutbacks and a drawdown of operations in Afghanistan. This is strengthened by experience from
recent operations which provide strong examples of the short and long term value of satellite
communications. Combined with the introduction of more capable Ka-band services, satellite
communications has the potential to act as a powerful enabler for forces seeking to reap the benefits
of improved C4ISR while ensuring affordability.
LESSONS FROM RECENT OPERATIONS
SATCOM PROVIDES REAL OPERATIONAL VALUE
From Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, the Haiti relief efforts as well as other military operations over the
past decade, a distinct set of operational lessons have been drawn which will likely shape the use of
satellite communications for the coming decades. It has also demonstrated how satellite
communications can become a key tool in ensuring that European forces develop the capabilities
required to meet both current and future operational requirements.
First, SATCOM has proven itself invaluable as an early-entry tool and in establishing a bridgehead
in a new operational theatre. SATCOM can be deployed quickly and act as a funnel for
connectivity with other forces and with national command authorities irrespective of the distances
involved. Somewhat counter-intuitively, this is often true even when deploying a force to a base
that may already be used by allied or friendly forces, due to the fact that while the ground
infrastructure may well exist to support the organic forces, the communications infrastructure is
rarely capable of handling the requirements of significant numbers of additional forces and
systems are often not completely compatible. This was demonstrated in the Libyan operation
where several countries, including smaller contributors such as Norway and Denmark, also
deployed its own communications links, even at large, well established bases such as US Naval Air
Station Sigonella.
Second, satellite communications are especially important in ground operations in rough terrain,
allowing for independence from the operational limitations of the forces own and local terrestrial

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

infrastructure. Modern SATCOM provides high quality communications in even the most remote
and austere environments, something no other technology can offer. Forces can be deployed over a
vast area with little or no local communications infrastructure, operating across difficult terrain and
still remain connected to other forces.
Third, while the growing use of SATCOM for real time transmission of images and video receives
the bulk of press, voice communications across SATCOM remains a key requirement to be fulfilled
for most militaries. Among the greatest growth areas during the operations in Afghanistan has been
in voice communications using narrow UHF channels from small units, such as patrols and squads
to connect to other forces bases in theatre in order to receive orders and call for support in the form
of medical support or indirect fire support. Even when a force may otherwise have a very limited
and poorly developed downrange communications capability, a small number of man-portable voice
communications can make a significant difference in their ability to remain operational.
Driven by the high operational tempo of the last decade and the growth of military expenditure
during that period, SATCOM has achieved a strong momentum and continues to see rapid
innovation and expansion in its ability to provide services that meet a growing list of military
requirements. The role of commercial satellite communications in satisfying these requirements has
also been significantly expanded, with additional security features, both in the form of national
security standards, such as the US TRANSEC standards and NATO STANAG standards being
added to allow them to fulfill a wider set of roles within the military.
While procurement of military SATCOM through urgent requirements is likely to decelerate in
Europe as operations in Afghanistan conclude and military budgets come under pressure, a number
of factors will continue to drive capabilities and capacity forward.
GOING FORWARD - EXPLOITING NEW RESILIENT KA-BAND SERVICES
Due to the recent growth in requirements, both governments and industry have invested in new
high-bandwidth systems that will offer better services over a wider region at a lower cost than
previously possible. Exploiting these capabilities could allow European Armed Forces to develop
new capabilities even in the face of severe budgetary cutbacks, and help address future requirements
as they develop.
The first major project is the US government sponsored Wideband Global SATCOM programme
(WGS), previously known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite. The programme is expected to replace
the DSCS III constellation and offer vastly greater throughput rates compared to existing systems,
with the first launch taking place in 2009. A second programme is Franco-Italian Athena-Fidus,
which aims to launch a single geostationary EHF/Ka-band satellite in 2013 for use by the French,
Italian and Belgian Armed Forces, as well a French and Italian civil protection agencies. The third
programme is the Inmarsat Global Xpress constellation which is planned to include three Ka-band
satellites. Beginning operations in 2014, and based on the same satellite design as the US WGS
constellation, the system will provide nearly complete global coverage, and by excluding the X-band
component of the WGS system, the Global Xpress constellation can offer even greater bandwidth in
Ka-band for both commercial and government applications.
Both WGS and Athena-Fidus are notable as they demonstrate efforts to develop bilateral relationships aimed at providing capacity for several user nations. WGS for instance, while launched by the
US, has significant participation from other countries, such as Australia as well as Canada, Denmark,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Athena-Fidus, originally launched by Italy and
France, has also secured participation from Belgium as an end user. This programme also seeks to
provide services other than purely military users, and hence represents an example of cross
government collaboration. Both programmes are however most notable due to the fact that they
show the value of bilateral collaboration between states and agencies in addition to multinational
pooling and sharing agreements such as those operated by NATO to provide capacity for interested
parties. The commonality between these systems also allows for extensive use of services from
different providers using the same subscribing equipment, increasing the chances that the user has
access to key services at all times. This applies to both civil security and defence applications, which
will have to integrate more closely in an age of austere government budgets.
The overall effect of these programmes is that the available capacity in terms of bandwidth for
second line, or resilient communications, will grow dramatically. For the United States and its

Modern SATCOM provides

high quality communications
in even the most remote
and austere environments,
something no other
technology can offer.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

partners in the WGS programme, it will provide them with the possibility of running high
bandwidth systems, such as UAVs over a dedicated military system instead of procuring such
capabilities from commercial providers. France, Italy and its partners are also planning to run
their future UAV fleets over Athena-Fidus More than just facilitating further growth, the
introduction of these systems is also likely to encourage further use of high-bandwidth systems
in both old and new applications. European states should endorse and exploit the capabilities
provided by these new systems in order to ensure continued future modernisation and
capabilities development.
SATCOM Structure
A model commonly used to outline the current structure of the market and the way armed forces
use satellite communications is described using three concentric circles.
The centre represents dedicated hardened military communications, often referred to as survivable
services or sovereign assured communications. This typically consists of X-band and UHF-band,
and has military-specific anti-jamming, hardening and encryption. This form for communications
remains important and continues to see significant investment. Some government users are also
increasingly adding a second subsection to this central circle, known as military assured to reflect
the use of shared hardened satellite communications services.
The second circle represents networks which act as a second line for most armed forces, often known
as resilient services. These networks can be
operated by the military themselves or
by commercial providers. They have
more security features than regular
commercial communications,
something which has been particularly
enhanced over the last 10-15 years,
though not to the extent of the
Hardened military
communications
hardened central networks, and instead
typically emphasise higher bandwidth
and data transfer rates. Most of the new
Resilient services
resilient Ka-band services being
introduced are found in this section
of the market.
Standard services
The third circle represents standard
commercial networks, often known as
standard services, which have played
an increasing role for military and
defence users. This has been enabled by these systems being fitted with advanced security features,
including TRANSEC and FIPS compliant features, though many have much more limited capabiliStandardat
services
ties and are targeted
the corporate and consumer market. This includes several commercial satellite communications and telephony markets, as well as most commercial broadcasting services. These
are often contracted in for welfare communications where security requirements are lower and where
low cost and high throughput are the main
objectives.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

USING SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TO ENABLE NEW CAPABILITIES

Satellite communications has a wide range of current and potential future applications which can
act as powerful enablers towards developing a more powerful C4ISR architecture. The following
provides a brief overview of some of the most important of these applications, and a discussion of
its operational and financial value for end users.
ACQUIRE MORE AND BETTER INTEGRATED UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
Recent operational experience has also proven the value of more capable surveillance and
reconnaissance solutions. A prominent example of such assets are UAVs, which are able to bring real
time surveillance and reconnaissance to military commanders at multiple levels of command. These
systems have been vital resources in both Afghanistan and Iraq, especially due to their endurance,
which allows for extended surveillance of targets of interest. This capability was demonstrated most
recently when both US and French UAVs supported the efforts to trace down former Libyan
dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The capabilities offered by UAVs have also been particularly valuable
when combating asymmetric attacks such as IED emplacement, as continuous or near continuous
surveillance greatly enhances the likelihood that a device will be located prior to detonation and
that the bombers can be found and fixed. Even countries that are not investing in larger UAVs are
frequently procuring smaller tactical systems, the ground control stations for which require
integration with a wider intelligence architecture, with timely transmission often only available
through use of SATCOM assets.
UAVs are also improving rapidly, as manufacturers increase their capability by providing greater
payload, improved sensors, increased range, and low observability, including internal weapons
carriage in the case of armed UAVs. In particular, increasing stealth characteristics on UAVs
promise to make them even more flexible tools as they will become more effective in high-end
combat scenarios with a contested airspace. This development notwithstanding, the majority of the
systems introduced across European forces before 2020 will continue to be smaller tactical systems.
Larger systems, commonly known as MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) and HALE (High
Altitude, Long Endurance), which rely on dedicated high bandwidth satellite communications links
for both command and control and sensory data, will only begin to see widespread service after
2020. These smaller systems will however be far more effective if they are able to integrate closely
with a capable ground infrastructure. Satellite communications have a potential to play a pivotal
role in ensuring that the data collected provides the highest value possible considering the substantial
investment such systems represent.
DEVELOP TRUE C4ISR INTEGRATION
A closely associated application is using SATCOM resources to ensure broader dissemination of
intelligence data from ISR platforms, including real time dissemination of still images or full motion
video up and down the chain of command. By utilising the added power of new resilient Ka-band
services, commanders at much lower levels than previously possible can have access to up-to-date, or
even real-time data and information, that can enable them to execute their missions more effectively
and potentially with a lower risk to personnel and other assets.
The advantages of making greater use of SATCOM are clear, both in the use of UAVs and in
land-based systems. More and better data allows for improved situational awareness at multiple
levels of command, thereby allowing for better coordination between units and more efficient use
of high-demand assets. For example, the ability to transmit real-time data back to centralized
all-source analysis centres, while also communicating analysis back to commanders can allow for
greatly improved mission effectiveness without the risk and expense of locating these assets in
forward operating areas.

The advantages of making

greater use of SATCOM
are clear, both in the use
of UAVs and in land-based
systems. More and better
data allows for improved
situational awareness at
multiple levels of command,
thereby allowing for better
coordination between units
and more efficient use of
high-demand assets.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

One example of an initiative seeking to provide this capability is the UK Solomon programme.
Even in the face of budgetary cuts and technological challenges this programme is being pushed
ahead with the aim of providing an integrated communications architecture by the end of the
current decade, which will require the transfer and dissemination of considerable amounts of data.
The UK Ministry of Defence has signalled its intention to pursue the development of better
information sharing, as stated in the MOD Information Strategy 2011:
Collaboration is key to enabling Information Superiority and the ability to make better
decisions. By collaborating across organisational and national boundaries we will achieve
improved shared awareness, which in turn will contribute to more effective and agile
outcomes. Collaboration means creating, sharing and exploiting information with our
allies, industry partners and OGDs, which is appropriately protected and secured
This push towards better integration is in support of a continuing trend towards more
network-enabled capabilities. Though this development has been reassessed in the face of
experiences from recent operations, it remains a clearly defined ambition for both large and small
European countries to pursue advanced capabilities within C4ISR and communications, including
better intelligence sharing and more capable data communications services. SATCOM could also
enable better collaboration and information sharing between partner nations which in turn could
achieve improved shared awareness. As more and more systems are transferred to an all-IP structure,
integration between different communications systems will become more effective and the use of
such systems will thereby strengthen the overall C4ISR integration further.
A potentially significant development within this application is the introduction of so-called
SATCOM on-the-move terminals on ground vehicles. These consist of a tracking antenna, which
by the use of other advanced technologies are capable of compensating for the movements of the
base platform, usually a vehicle, and keeping a near-continuous link with the orbiting satellite while
underway. They allow for fast-moving offensive forces to maintain relatively high bandwidth
communications without having to stop. In order to guarantee continuous connectivity to the
satellite even when travelling at high speeds, SATCOM systems should be equipped with high-speed
COTM features such as Doppler Compensation and beam switching mechanisms to guarantee a
seamless connectivity as remote units are travelling between areas of satellite beam coverage. This
could avoid some of the issues faced in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when mobile forces outran their
communications elements and often had to pause to re-establish communications and coordinate
efforts. Introducing such capabilities at key points within a future communications architecture
would support a close C4ISR integration force-wide by allowing for the dissemination of
high-bandwidth data to field commanders even within remote units.
Another development is in lighter and more capable man-portable systems, which provides light
forces with an ability to rapidly establish relatively high bandwidth connections while on the quickhalt. This is ideal for quick response, marine or airborne forces which cannot or would prefer not
to rely on vehicle-mounted systems. Vendors of these systems have been steadily decreasing the size
and weight of man-portable systems, with integrators introducing new systems, all contributing to
ensuring that they are sufficiently compact that they can be carried by a single soldier within select
units and thereby provide an easily deployable communications solutions. This will be particularly
important if European forces are going to make advances towards deploying more dispersed land
units, with fewer soldiers, as portable communications technology would enable deployed personnel
to receive and exchange the requisite level of information they are likely to need.
Advances in portability also have the potential to be of particular use to Special Forces, which have
played a pivotal role in nearly every major operation over the past decade. This role is likely to be
sustained post-Afghanistan, particularly as the focus changes from large deployed operations to
strategic capabilities with limited strikes in support of political objectives, likely requiring further
investment in capable communications and reconnaissance solutions. In carrying out their missions,
such forces are highly dependent on accurate and timely intelligence and reconnaissance data. These
forces also frequently act as reconnaissance assets themselves and, if electronic emissions conditions
are favourable, will often rely on satellite communications in order to complete their missions. As
they are often operating in austere environments or in unprepared locations where use of local
infrastructure is impractical or unwise, they can increasingly rely on more portable and secure
SATCOM systems to provide such information and connectivity and to integrate with a
comprehensive C4ISR network.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

ADOPT MORE ADVANCED SECOND LINE SERVICES

Advanced administrative and support systems such as video teleconferencing and telemedicine have
the potential to provide significant advances in the ability to undertake complex operations
efficiently and safely in hostile environments. Commanders are increasingly able to communicate
directly with domestic decision makers to keep them continuously briefed on the progress of
operations and planning for future missions, either over conference calls or by using video
teleconferences, which require high bandwidth connections. This is vital in an age where small
events in areas of operation such as Afghanistan or Somalia can have global effects within hours
thanks to the proliferation of modern broadcast and social media. Ensuring that decision makers are
aligned and can act with common purpose and understanding is therefore more important than ever,
and video teleconferencing is developing as an important tool in achieving this.
Video conferencing and high-speed data connections also enable more extensive use of remote
experts, the most important example of which is telemedicine. Telemedicine allows medical staff to
communicate directly with specialists and with larger facilities to improve the care for casualties and
provide for better coordination of operations, whether these facilities are in Afghanistan, in the UK
or elsewhere. Individual medical personnel may also be able to access patient data at any point
during the treatment of casualties to allow for the right measures to be taken already from an early
stage. One example of this application is the 2 Mbps link, using commercial Ku-band capacity,
which exists between the British field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and medical staff in
the UK.
While the application of teleconferencing, distance learning, and telemedicine are currently
delivered via C- and Ku-band services, these second line services are likely to benefit from the
increased bandwidth that will become available. By introducing new systems in these applications,
and transitioning existing systems towards newer Ka-band services, European armed forces will be
able to improve their ability to plan, lead, and execute, complex operations. This will especially
apply to the increasingly unpredictable and interconnected operational scenarios they are likely to
face, enabling them to better operate in line with the expectations of combat commanders and
decision makers. They may also be able to significantly improve their ability to support deployed
forces with medical and other administrative services, which could ultimately save lives.
RETAIN PERSONNEL WITH IMPROVED WELFARE COMMUNICATIONS
No overview of satellite communications drivers would be complete without a discussion of the
impact of welfare communications, which have become a particular priority in Afghanistan. Military
personnel now expect and demand access to internet services and voice communications with family
while on deployments. Allowing deployed personnel the ability to contact their loved ones at home
regularly has a tremendous effect on morale, something which is ever more important in light of
the growing professionalization of European armed forces. This development is likely to continue as
commercial communications services improve, and thereby grow the expectations from personnel as
to the level of service they should receive while on deployments, and while social media applications
are not widely use as of yet, these may also drive further requirements in the future.
This is of particular importance in the current environment, where a growing number of
European armed forces are transitioning towards all-volunteer forces, the latest examples being
Sweden and Germany. Recruiting and later retaining qualified personnel will become a key
priority for these forces, with welfare services, often supported by satellite communications being a
vital component of achieving this objective. This is an area where the US military has taken a lead
in determining policies and best practices around the use of social media by deployed personnel.
However, generational change is likely to mean that the use of such applications increasingly
becomes the norm worldwide, which means that European militaries will also need to address the
demand for soldiers to have secure internet access.
A potential connected development is the ambition to develop local wireless networks, connecting
soldiers individual devices, thereby providing them access to both tactical and administrative
information and enabling them to feed tactical information back into the network, such as their
location, images and reports. Such a system is currently being trialled by the US Army, and would
undoubtedly require even more capable systems than those currently available. This could also have
tactical applications where personnel are able to use smaller handheld devices to combat networks by
using advanced soldier radios as connectors, providing that adequate security features are available.

10

By introducing new systems

in these applications, and
transitioning existing systems
towards newer Ka-band
services, European armed
forces will be able to improve
their ability to plan, lead,
and execute, complex
operations.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

ENABLE NEW TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS THROUGH SATELLITE

COMMUNICATIONS
While innovation continues in SATCOM, new terrestrial communications technologies will also
provide important developments in several key applications. These will affect both the overall
bandwidth requirements of deployed forces, as well as supplementing satellite communications in
some current lower echelon functions, ensuring that an all pervasive network architecture is
possible across the force. The overall effect is likely to be that satellite communications bandwidth
faces increased pressure due to the data generated and distributed through these networks which will
need to be connected to higher command authorities or other force elements.
A key consideration in this regard is the fact that a large portion of satellite communications demand
continues to stem from intra-theatre communications, which consumes large volumes of available
capacity. If more capable terrestrial communications can absorb more of the future anticipated
bandwidth requirements, the available SATCOM capacity can instead be used in applications where
there are no viable alternatives, using systems such as new SATCOM on the move solutions. By
ensuring that all communications are conducted at the lowest level possible this also reduces the
reliance on a single system and the potential for vital services being made unavailable through
technical failure or enemy action. This entails a careful balancing and above all integration of satellite
communications and terrestrial systems to ensure that the most appropriate carrier is used at any
one time. As such, it becomes increasingly imperative for SATCOM systems to be able to easily
integrate with terrestrial networks. In doing so, they need to be set up to handle terrestrial routing
protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and Quality of Service (QoS) mappings, to better
integrate them into military networks, thus guaranteeing the highest quality transmission and user
experience.
These areas of innovation include three different applications, the first being the deployment of
wireless local area networks that create a bubble of connectivity which allows for personnel or
platforms to be connected to other forces through one or more base stations using technologies such
as WiMax, WiFi, TETRA and even GSM. A second innovation is advanced point-to-point
microwave links. These have been used as battlefield backhaul systems for decades, but in recent
years the capability of these systems has improved dramatically and they can now offer very high
data-rates at a very low cost. The final application made possible by advances in terrestrial
communications is the ability to deploy terrestrial ad-hoc mesh networks. This has been enabled
by the introduction of increasingly advanced software defined radios, both in the form of smaller
personal role radios for infantry as well as larger platform-mounted systems.
There are also other developments that may impact on the use of satellite communications in the
longer run, notably the use of unmanned aircraft as airborne relay stations. The US Army during the
summer of 2011 tested both using aerostats and smaller tactical RQ-7 Sparrow UAVs as airborne
relay stations. These systems will however have to prove their value in less benign air threat
environments before they can have a role outside operations such as those in Afghanistan. They do,
however, provide a potential back-up option for extending the reach of communications for smaller
units not carrying dedicated beyond the line of sight systems.
By combining these terrestrial capabilities with satellite communications, which can provide added
bandwidth and range at critical points, forces will be able to develop the operational agility required
across different operational scenarios. Satellite communications has a vital role to play in this effort
by connecting different network elements and to ensure that such connections are as seamless as
possible and unconstrained by geographical distances or obstacles. In an age of coalition operations,
this will also have to provide interoperability and adhere to established standards for
communications interchange between allied forces.

11

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

CONCLUSIONS
While there is unlikely to be any appetite for engaging in sustained, deployed, combat operations in
the immediate aftermath of Afghanistan, the growth of demand for SATCOM may be increasingly
focussed on how it can facilitate the adaptation of European militaries to a new era of short term
deployments, particularly joint crisis management operations, where SATCOM will have a vital
role to play. Lessons learned from operations in the past ten years have continually emphasised the
concepts of adaptability and interoperability, which highlight the uncertainty regarding the nature
of future operations along with the expectation that European countries are increasingly reliant
on each other and the US for overseas deployments. In this environment, operational agility will
remain the most attractive feature of future military units, and satellite communications have proven
to be invaluable tools for such forces in achieving this capability. The general uncertainty over future
operating environments could in itself act as a driver for growth in demand for SATCOM,
particularly for solutions that are rapidly deployable and easily scalable, a development which is
likely to be enhanced further by the rapid introduction of more capable Ka-band services.
As such, acquisition programmes are likely to favour SATCOM solutions which present low risk and
a high level of technological maturity. Financial issues, along with experience from recent challenges
in undertaking large and ambitious reform programmes, are likely to drive requirements toward
scalable commercial solutions that can be built-up and improved over multiple budget cycles instead
of highly customized military-specific programmes with high upfront costs, with the understanding
that these systems must be affordably maintained and sustained for an extended period. The recent
increase in commercial SATCOM systems with improved security features that meet military
standards, also supports this move. Together with further emerging international standards which
allow for greater interoperability between international forces while on deployment, this is likely to
put commercial systems on an even stronger footing when addressing the military market.
Expectations are also likely to grow for the level of connectivity provided for combat commanders
and support services such as medical facilities while deployed on operations. Video
teleconferencing, until now a very niche capability, is anticipated to increasingly become main
stream as a tool for planning and leading operations and for ensuring that the best possible service
is being provided for service members. In addition, expectations within forces for greater
connectivity back to home countries even while deployed will continue to expand. Thus, welfare
communications will continue to grow in importance and will increasingly become an integral part
of deployed military operations. This will include both extended access to VOIP over satellite as well
as continual internet access.
The exact implementation of these capabilities will however take time to achieve. As the resources
required to fully integrate their capabilities into all echelons are likely to be difficult to obtain, UAVs
and other data-heavy reconnaissance and surveillance assets will continue to largely be tactical
assets, at least until 2020. The assets that are deployed will however require additional investment to
ensure that they are properly integrated into the wider communications architecture. This is likely
to require additional investment in SATCOM architectures, which will be targeted to fit specific
requirements, rather than being driven by large-scale overhauls of communications capability.
Providers that are able to deliver flexible systems and services are likely to be best positioned
to capitalise on current and future market conditions and end-user operational requirements,
which will prioritise interoperable, versatile, and secure solutions
Even in the face of changing operational requirements and funding risk, however, satellite
communications will remain of vital importance to continued modernisation of European C4ISR
infrastructures. Beyond the use of UAVs, the anticipated desire for European militaries to maximise
the communications capabilities of smaller deployed land units, who are potentially more dispersed,
is driving SATCOM providers to developing increasingly portable solutions. In order to improve
their force effectiveness over the short to medium-term, militaries will have to pursue acquisition
strategies that acknowledge the challenges they face, both in adapting to varied operational arenas
and in securing funding for developing the new communications capabilities that could prove vital
to future deployments. This is likely to further emphasise the need for interoperable and robust, yet
also scaleable and adaptable, SATCOM systems and services over the coming years in support of
cost-effective C4ISR development. Providers that are able to deliver flexible systems and services are
likely to be best positioned to capitalise on current and future market conditions and end-user
operational requirements, which will prioritise interoperable, versatile, and secure solutions for
strategic and tactical communications networks.

12

Operational agility will remain

the most attractive feature
of future military units, and
satellite communications
have proven to be invaluable
tools for such forces in
achieving this capability.

MILITARY SATCOM MARKETS IN EUROPE: EMERGING DRIVERS AND APPLICATIONS

This White Paper has been produced by the consulting teams at IHS Janes, sponsored
by iDirect.
ABOUT IDIRECT:
iDirect, a subsidiary of VT systems, is a global leader in IP-based satellite communications
providing technology that enables our 350+partners to optimize their networks, differentiate and
profitably expand their businesses. The iDirect Intelligent Platform allows our partners to run
their entire business operations more efficiently via a single, unified IP-based satellite architecture,
whether its providing core IP applications to the enterprise or specialized services to any number of
diverse vertical markets. iDirect is the #1 name in global satellite communications in key industries
including maritime, military/government, and oil and gas, with 63% hub market share and more
than a quarter million remotes installed worldwide. In 2007, iDirect Government Technologies
(iGT) was formed to drive adoption of its IP-based solutions in the U.S. government market. In
2008, iDirect Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to enhance its value-add and responsiveness
to customers in the Asia Pacific region. For more information please visit www.idirect.net.

4601_0112 MW

13