The Australian Department of Defence is expecting final government funding approval within six weeks for the development of a A$100 million ($56 million) space-based surveillance capability in a joint programme with another nation, believed to be Singapore.
Funding for the JP2044 project was included in the classified portion of Australia's defence budget in May. However, the project still requires a green light from the cabinet's National Security Committee to allow the allocation to be spent.
The Singapore Ministry of Defence declines to comment on the project, which is understood to be based on Australia having its own ground station for radar data from Singapore's soon to be launched constellation of intelligence satellites. Singapore finalised a deal with Israel in late 2000 for the supply of an undisclosed number of satellites equipped with electro-optic and radar payloads.
Funding is being sought for two project phases, 2A and 2B, according to defence department documentation. Previous project information, released in June last year, indicated that funding would not be sought until 2004. It was based around a single element Phase 2 to "provide information technology, communications and training infrastructure to support a space-based surveillance capability" and a Phase 3 in 2010, also worth A$100 million, to maintain the system's capabilities.
The acceleration of funding indicates a significant overhaul of the project late last year, which is believed to have been driven by increased concerns about illegal immigration.
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $498 million contract for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency military satellite communications system development and demonstration phase.Source: Flight International
