MILCOM - February analysis
Doing it for Themselves
Armada’s February Military Communications Newsletter includes an article entitled Supporting Space Autonomy. The piece looks at the European Union’s new Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite programme. IRIS2, as the initiative is known, will provide secure, wideband government and military communications to European Union (EU) member states, both inside and beyond the EU area. Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM) services also form part of the IRIS2 remit.
The IRIS2 constellation should start providing these services from 2030. The programme will cost the EU taxpayer $6.7 billion, the remaining $4 billion required will come from the private sector. This works out at around $15 per EU inhabitant. The advent of IRIS2 could not come at a better moment. Militaries can never have enough connectivity, and EU armies, navies and air forces are no exception. Secure, broadband SATCOM provides line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications. Better communications mean better and quicker decision-making, translating into better and quicker strategic, operational and tactical action.
Strategically, IRIS2’s realisation makes sense. The so-far tepid support of NATO by the new US administration makes it vital that the EU can go it alone if Uncle Sam choses not to help out in the event of a continental crisis. Part of this autonomy is European Union sovereign ownership of force enablers like broadband SATCOM which will help deepen EU military interoperability.
Relying on the provision of private sector broadband SATCOM can have its own challenges. Starlink terminals have been provided by SpaceX to Ukraine and have been vital on the battlefield. Nonetheless, SpaceX’s founder, CEO and chief engineer Elon Musk has threatened in the past to deactivate Starlink provision to Ukraine. On at least one occasion the order was allegedly carried out. There are clear and present dangers in allowing secure military SATCOM to be at risk of such capricious actions. Fortunately, IRIS2 places the reigns firmly in the hands of the EU.
MILCOM Analysis - February
High Frequency in the High North
New analysis comes to light regarding high frequency trunk communications used by Russia’s strategic integrated air defence system.
Polish Comms Modernisation
The Polish Army is overhauling its tactical radio inventory with a new domestically designed, developed and produced handheld transceiver.
Supporting Space Autonomy
16th December 2024 marked an important date in the evolution of European Union satellite communications strategic autonomy.
February Radio Roundup
Armada’s monthly roundup of all the latest news in the military communications product, programme and operational domains.
MILCOM Analysis - January
Comms Collapse
The rapid end of Syria’s civil war, and the fall of the Assad regime, may have highlighted shortcomings in Russian tactical communications, and the proficiency of Turkish electronic warfare.
Change of Name, Change of Culture?
A bureaucratic reorganisation in one of China’s combatant commands may be indicative of problems and challenges the Chinese military is experiencing in modernising its military communications.
Of Strelets and Andromeda
A new book sheds light on the organisation of Russian land forces’ command and control, and the digital battle management systems they employ at operational and tactical levels.
January Radio Roundup
Armada’s monthly roundup of all the latest news in the military communications product, programme and operational domains.