Even before it got close to the launchpad, a mishap involving a tarpaulin will delay Japan’s first military communications satellite by up to two years, it has emerged.
The DSN-1 X-band satellite, also known as Superbird-8, was supposed to launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the spaceport in French Guiana. However, during its transportation from Japan in an aircraft hold on 25 May, a tarpaulin blocked valves designed to equalise internal air pressure as the plane descended in altitude.
This error damaged the satellite’s sensitive antennas supporting its high-performance Ku- and Ka-band transponders.
This satellite manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric
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The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
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