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Conference: The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability - Program and Presentations

The Requirements of a Sovereign Defence Space Capability

National Gallery of Australia

1 December 2021


Final Report

Dr Robbin Laird









Synopsis and Program

Download PDF


Handbook

Download PDF


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.

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