The United States and Australia's military leaders have signed off on an agreement under which Australia is committing more than 800 million U.S. dollars for a guaranteed share of new U.S. military satellites, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The pact, which had been expected, means that the proposed 1.8 billion dollar project called Wideband Global Satcom will be expanded to at least six high-earth-orbit satellites, versus the five-satellite constellation previously under contract, said the report.
The move also boosts efforts by the U.S. Defense Department to foster international cooperation on some of its big-ticket space programs and to get foreign governments to underwrite part of their price tag, the report added.
The Global Satcom project -- originally conceived as a stopgap solution until the U.S. military could field a more-advanced and capable network -- is designed to offer at least 10 times greater bandwidth than any existing space system to send data and video to forces around the globe.
Australia's financial commitment includes the cost of launch, ground support equipment, upkeep and other continuing expenses, according to the report.
The space communications project is two years behind schedule, but the first satellite is slated to be launched as early as next week. The full constellation isn't slated to become operational before 2013, said the report.
Source: Xinhua
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