The Ministry of Defense and aerospace subsidiary Astrium have launched a military satellite equipped with “anti-jamming” capabilities into orbit. The British-made Skynet 5D communications satellite was created to “bolster and extend the UK’s military telecommunications system.”
“The launch of Skynet 5D marks another milestone in this very successful program,” Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said. Skynet 5D complements three other military communications satellites already in orbit as part of the Skynet system.
“These satellites provide essential secure communication channels for our armed forces in Afghanistan and allow all three services to communicate with each other,” Hammond added.
The satellite’s communications payload, constructed in Portsmouth, is capable of detecting the power equivalent of a 60 watt light bulb from the satellite’s operational height of 22,000 miles. Skynet 5D is also equipped with greater fuel capacity than its predecessors, as well as “hardened structures” to avoid being disabled by lasers and a special antenna to prevent signal jamming.
“Skynet 5 satellites feature an onboard active receive antenna, which can shape beams around sources of interference, providing a unique anti-jamming capability,” Astrium said in a statement.
Skynet 5 is expected to remain operational for at least 15 years.
