Vanguard Magazine

14 APRIL/MAY 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com is centered around how we provide Space effects to our operators. Space capabilities have historically been the purview of na- tion states, but decreasing costs and tech- nological advancements have changed the playing field dramatically. Commercial ac- tivity in space has increased exponentially – providing a congested and highly com- petitive marketplace that seeks to provide many of the same capabilities we would normally try to develop ourselves. We are now faced with options – what space en- ablers do we need to own and operate, and what can we share or contract in order to provide the effects we desire? Satellite communications is an obvious contender for competition, but increased private in- vestment in earth observation and space situational awareness has really expanded as well. All of this commercial activity, with parallel efforts from a number of our allies, has resulted in a myriad of potential solu- tions for any one issue – so I think we need to understand what capabilities we require, and then figure out the most effective way to get them – ownership, partnership, or a contracted service model. Q The Enhanced Satellite Commu- nication Project – Polar (ESCP-P) will provide the CAF with capabilities for Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) narrowband and wideband satellite communications (SATCOM), that are essential for Beyond Line of Sight communications in the Arctic. What is the current timeline for this project, and can it be accelerated? Also, should industry be given the task of project management of this project and would this get the project moving faster? A Request for Information (RFI), open to all interested parties, has been active on Buy and Sell since December 2017, and an up- date to this RFI was published by PSPC on 16 November 2020. The ESCP-P is cur- rently in the Options Analysis Phase, where it continues to research and evaluate pos- sible solutions to meet the project's high level mandatory requirements and pro- grammatic considerations. The next step will see the team continue to research and develop options through consultation with Allies and other Government of Canada Subject Matter Experts from research and space organizations, conducting detailed technical and costing studies, and through Industry engagement activities. These ac- tivities will result in a recommended option being selected and the commencement of Definition Phase activities, which are antici- pated to begin in Fiscal Year 2021/2022. We don't anticipate accelerated time- lines, but part of the evaluation process is to understand the options available, and given the pace of technological advance- ment, there is a potential that industry could propose a solution led by them that could deliver the capability sooner. In that eventuality, we would have to consider the operational requirements for the project in order to make sure we were still going to meet our mission needs. Q What is the current status on the Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2) project that will replace the current capability being provided by the Sapphire satellite? And when can we expect the Ground Based Observation and Space Based Operations to be operational? SofS 2 is currently seeking Project Ap- proval and Expenditure Authority for its definition stage from a Ministerial decision in October 2021. The proposed date for full operational capability of the ground- based sensor is 2025, and the space-based component should be operational in 2030. Q The Defence Enhanced Surveil- lance from Space - Project (DESSP) is the next big programme to replace the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) and Polar Epsilon 2. Is Canada looking to showcase unique capabilities in this new mission/project? At the moment, we have projects on the books for SATCOM, Surveillance from Space, and Space situational awareness. These are systems that will deliver, enhance or supplement important operational effects in support of Canadian and Allied operations worldwide. INTERVIEW Canadian Forces' first satellite, Sapphire, will act like an air traffic controller in orbit. Photo: MDA

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