SECRET UK EYES A
coverage requirement will remain based upon 1°W. If that satellite were to fail, the satellite at 33°W could be
moved to replace it, although this would remove coverage
from Central America. Two further satellites (SKYNET 4
Stage 2) are planned to be launched in 1997 and 1999 in order to maintain the existing coverage. A new satellite project (SKYNET 5) is planned for about 2003 onwards but is as yet undefined. It is expected to cover essentially the same areas, though the coverage could be extended to the north and south by using inclined orbits where
necessary.
b.
The UK has access to US, NATO and potentially other nations' satellites, but access is controlled by the authority owning the satellite and agreement to UK use for operations cannot be relied upon. The unique ability of SATCOM to provide the capacity needed to meet the increasing demands makes it highly desirable that the UK maintain its independent SATCOM capability and this is likely to remain the policy ('). The currently planned capability should provide the space segment capacity to meet foreseeable needs, notwithstanding the increases in those needs demonstrated by Operation GRANBY, though study is needed to ensure that the need could still be met in a hostile electronic environment. The planned capability does not provide worldwide coverage. Coverage could be extended by adding to the programme a series of low earth orbit satellites giving intermittent coverage of other areas of interest. It is possible for such satellites to be launched on demand to meet unforeseen contingencies, but the costs of maintaining such satellites in readiness, together with the lack of an independent UK launching capability and the major changes that would be required in telemetry, tracking and control for the management of non- geostationary orbits, make this an unattractive option. Access by military users to the commercial INMARSAT
'D/DCISS (C) 24/3/3/4 (254) dated 30 May 91 Satellite Communications (draft).
F-3
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The Way Ahead for
UK EYES A
SECRET
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