Canada has awarded a multibillion-dollar contract to satellite communications operator Telesat and manufacturer MDA Space to explore options for a military communications network to support the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.
Cost research 2,92 million Canadian dollars ($2,1 million) covering various orbital altitudes and frequencies for the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project - Polar (ESCP-P). The government said, that the program will be implemented by 2035 year, however, Telesat and MDA hope to do so much sooner.
ESCP-P is one of the first major procurement projects, which are implemented through the newly created Canadian Defense Investment Agency (THERE). This agency was established specifically to accelerate the acquisition process by involving industry early in the program definition phase – much earlier, than is the case in traditional procurement. Both companies said, that it is too early to determine the architecture of the ESCP-P group, which will cover narrowband and broadband communication in the Arctic regions, where communication is limited, and geopolitical interest is growing. As of today, it is known, that the program will strengthen sovereignty in the Arctic and reinforce the country's commitments to NORAD and NATO.
MDA also signed a contract with Telesat, its key customer, for supply 198 Lightspeed broadband satellites for low Earth orbit, which are based on the Aurora satellite platform. Telesat currently operates a fleet of geostationary satellites, that provide television broadcasting and communication services. The operator plans to launch a pair of Lightspeed test satellites in December 2026 year, and 96 satellites in 2027 year, to begin providing initial global broadband services to government and corporate customers, including arctic regions.
Demand for sovereign Arctic communications infrastructure is driven by climate change, increasing activity in the region and reviving competition between major powers, since geostationary satellites cannot provide reliable coverage, and existing military systems offer limited availability. With this strategic investment in military satellite communications, Canada will significantly enhance the capability of its Armed Forces to provide secure
and stable connection even in the most remote regions, and will also stimulate innovation and create new high-skilled jobs across the country.
Source: https://spacenews.com