Story ID: 361
Satellite Move Extends Airbus Coverage
By: David Donald
Caption: Moving Skynet 5A west has meant that it now covers the Asia Pacific market better for secure military communications.
Word Count: 163

Following the successful re-positioning of its Skynet 5A satellite from a 6 degrees East to 95 degrees West location last September, Airbus Defence & Space is offering resilient military satellite communications services in the Asia Pacific region. From its new position, Skynet 5A provides global X-band and UHF coverage from 178 degrees West to 163 degrees East, a region that includes the Indian Ocean.

Airbus has signed an agreement with CopaSAT to become a channel partner of Skynet, offering services to U.S. military customers. CopaSAT, in conjunction with Tampa Microwave, conducted end-to-end tests to prove the performance of the system with the satellite in its new position.

Skynet is an eight-satellite constellation, plus ground stations, providing the UK Ministry of Defence with hardened communications capability. As part of the contract with the UK, Airbus is able to allow NATO governments and the other “five-eyes” nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States) to use the system to augment their existing services.