Latest stories

'America First' would become 'Trump first' in a second term

China boxed out of high-NA lithography race to 1nm chips

China claims its radars closing in on US stealth fighters

Currently, the Australian Defense Force (ADF) uses a complex network of up to 89 different“capabilities” (military assets) that rely on satellite communications.

This existing system lacks the comprehensive security and coverage that JP9102 promised to deliver. Without it, Australia's military communications are potentially left vulnerable to cyber and electronic warfare attacks.

In its statement, the Department of Defense claims its“current satellite communications capabilities support the immediate needs of the organization.”

What can military satellites deliver?

The proposed satellite system was intended to create what experts call an“uncrackable data network” across the ADF.

These military-grade satellites would have provided secure communications for fighter jets, naval vessels and ground forces across the vast Indo-Pacific region.

Unlike commercial satellites, military satellites incorporate advanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities. This makes them significantly more resistant to cyber attack and electronic warfare.

Military satellites face sophisticated cyber threats from both state and non-state actors.

China and Russia are widely recognized as having advanced capabilities in this domain. They have the ability to jam satellite signals, intercept communications and potentially even take control of satellite systems. North Korea has also demonstrated growing capabilities in cyber warfare, particularly in signal jamming.

In 2014, Russian forces reportedly jammed and disrupted satellite communications during their operations in Crimea. More recently, at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, hackers disabled thousands of satellite modems that were part of the Viasat satellite network, causing disruptions to both military and civilian communications across Europe.

In the commercial sector, Iran has been accused of jamming satellite broadcasts and GPS signals. This demonstrates how even nations with less advanced military capabilities can pose significant threats to satellite communications.

JP9102 was considered a“bleeding-edge technology project.” It included plans for machine learning capabilities to increase agility and responsiveness. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has previously praised the project's potential for making room for future technological improvements:

A budget reality

The key takeaway here is the growing gap between Australia's defense ambitions and its budget reality.