Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is
set to provide a ‘game-changing’ capability for armed forces demanding flexible
and cost-effective connectivity almost anywhere in the world, industry leaders
suggested at the Global MILSATCOM conference in London this week.
Describing the emerging demand for increased signals
from forward-deployed units across the contemporary operating environment, Airbus
Defence and Space’s head of global secure communications, Richard Franklin,
described LEO satellites as a ‘huge capability’ moving forward.
Airbus, which is currently contracted to support
the UK Ministry of Defence’s Skynet 5 and 6 geo-stationary satellite
programmes, is currently considering the design and development of