A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Australian Department of Defence and the U.S. Navy, which covers the arrangements for a joint military communications, ground station near Geraldton, Western Australia. This new ground station will support the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). This is a satellite-based mobile phone network that is designed to support both U.S. and Australian military users, including deployed forces.
The initial approval by the Australian government was on December 5th, 2005 and then announced on February 15th of this year. This is in accordance with caretaker conventions. Work should commence in early 2008. Expectations are that the ground station will become operational in March of 2010. The station will be collocated with the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station near Geraldton, but will be managed separately. The station will consist of three small buildings to house the electronic infrastructure; power and spares; three 19-metre satellite dishes; and two smaller antennas. Only call-out contractor maintenance support will be required.
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