A Strategic Analysis of Commercial Satellite communications Enterprises and their Role for the Warfighter of the Future.
Abstract
Satellite communications capabilities is today, and will be in the future, the critical enabler in achieving information dominance needed for Joint Vision 2010. This paper will discuss why this is so by baselining the current communications requirements as well as the emerging requirements of JV2010 and comparing the currently programmed capabilities in the -military satellite communications architecture as defined by the DOD Space Architect and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Space. After initially setting the baseline, the paper will discuss the ability of the exploding commercial satellite communications market to meet some, if not most of the uniquely military requirements (the pros) as well as the difficulties raised and/or military risk assumed (the cons) in exploiting the commercial offerings. In doing so a dozen or so serious commercial ventures are discussed. The paper also addresses how the DOD should leverage from the commercial systems. The following commercial enterprises are discussed: Transponded and trunked service - Intelsat and the like; Mobile Services - Iridium, Globalstar, Odyssey, ICO; Switched Bandwidth Systems - Spaceway, Astrolink, Cyberstar, Celestri, Teledesic.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA342255
Entities
People
- Richard Gonder
Organizations
- United States Army War College