The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability
National Gallery of Australia
1 December 2021
Final Report
Dr Robbin Laird
Synopsis and Program
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Handbook
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Presentations
Welcoming Remarks and Formal Close
AIRMSHL Geoff Brown AO (Retd) Sir Richard Williams Foundation
Introduction and MC
Darin Lovett South Australian Space Industry Centre
Australian Space Capability - Historical Perspective
Amy Hestermann-Crane The Central Blue
Threats to Space Operations
Dougal Robertson Sir Richard Williams Foundation
Presentation availability to be advised.
Sovereign Defence Capability and Space
Dr Malcolm Davis Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Not available - email info@williamsfoundaiton.org.au to request a copy
Space Domain Research & Development
Prof Tanya Monro Defence Science and Technology Group
Commercial Space-based ISR
AIRCDRE Richard Keir AM, CSC (Retd) Sir Richard Williams Foundation
Presentation availability to be advised.
Sovereign and Resilient Space Battle Management
AVM Chris Deeble AO, CSC (Retd) Northrop Grumman Australia
Presentation availability to be advised.
Space Domain Awareness
Nick Leake Optus
Presentation availability to be advised.
Space Control
AIRCDRE Phil Gordon Director General Air Defence and Space
Resilient Satcom in a Counterspace Age
David Ball Lockheed Martin Space
Presentation availability to be advised.
Sovereign Defence Space Considerations
Terry Van Haren Former Air Attaché Washington
The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability
AIRCDRE Ross Bender Commander Air Warfare Centre
National Perspective
Anthony Murfett Australian Space Agency
Pre-recorded video
AVM Cath Roberts AM, CSC Head of Air Force Capability
Video not available
Navy Perspective
CDRE Matthew Doornbos RAN Director General Navy Intelligence and Information Warfare (representing Chief of Navy)
No presentation
Army Perspective
BRIG Ian Langford DSC and Bars Director General Future Land Warfare
(representing Chief of Army)
Defence’s Vision for Space Capability
AIRCDRE Nicholas Hogan CSC Director General Space Domain Review
(representing Chief of Air Force)
Seminar Outline
When the United States Air Force conceived and established the Space-based Global Positioning System in 1973 to enable more accurate military navigation, few would have imagined the impact it would have on modern society, the Western national security apparatus, and the Australian way of life.
Fast forward to 2021, global economic security is now dependent on Space-based capabilities, and Defence must play an increasingly prominent role given the quantum of global trade which passes through the region, a third of which transits through the South China Sea.
There are now over 2,600 satellites in orbit and the Australian Defence Force has become increasingly dependent on a sophisticated blend of Space-related technologies which must now develop and accelerate to meet the demands of integrated multi-domain operations to counter new threats and new risks. These demands include resilient long-range communications, and greater levels of situational awareness with the ability to sense, track and identify targets in and from Space in all orbits.
On the supply side, current Space capacity is insufficient to meet these demands, and the need for a sovereign capability must be driven by a better understanding of the full spectrum of Space-related requirements across policy, process, infrastructure and technology. The imperative to develop Space capability must consider the people and organisational aspects which leverage Australia’s relatively small but highly skilled population. It will require a national effort to leverage people, technology and Australia’s vast geographical area of interest and highly favourable environmental conditions to conduct activities in and from Space.
Space is becoming increasingly congested and contested and likely to become a warfighting domain in future high intensity conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as an essential campaign enabler for Shape Deter and Respond missions and tasks. This will drive the need for increased survivability of Space-based systems and the ability to counter and deny competitors across the spectrum of conflict.