Satellite Communications

The Royal Signals are responsible for the provision of all of the Army's tactical satellite ground terminals (SGT) which, in conjunction with the SKYNET 4 military satellite constellation, can provide high quality, high bandwidth communications links at very short notice anywhere in the world.

30 Signal Regiment are currently the only Royal Signals Regiment to permanently hold satellite ground terminals. These are operated by Radio Systems Operators and Area Systems Operators who undergo additional training when posted to 30 Signal Regiment. The unit currently holds VSC 501 and Talon satellite ground terminals, the VSC 501 SGT will be replaced by Reacher SGT when Skynet 5 is fully operational.

As well as providing operational communications all Satellite ground terminals are capable of providing welfare services to soldiers on deployment.

VSC501 Enhanced Satellite Ground Terminal

The VSC501 Enhanced is a landrover based mobile satellite ground terminal, which has recently been upgraded to automatically track satellites in their figure of eight orbit. This equipment entered service in the late 1980's initially with 249 (AMF(L))Signal Squadron (now disbanded) and then with 30 Signal Regiment . Its first major deployment was to Iraq during the first Gulf War and it is currently in service in Iraq on Operation Telic.

TALON Satellite Ground Terminal

Talon is a lightweight deployable terminal to fulfil both tactical and strategic roles, it uses the best of the civilian world packaged to provide a terminal suitable for military use. Talon is easily transported and set up, by a crew of 2 trained operators within 30 minutes. Control of the terminal is from a Ruggidised laptop at either the 'indoor' or remote location. Talon has been successfully used by the ARRC (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps) in Germany for one year and used extensively in the very harsh conditions experienced during Operation Telic in Iraq, one such terminal operating continuously for a period in excess of 5 months with no failures.

REACHER Satellite Ground Terminal

Reacher is designated as the replacement for the VSC 501 and will be provided in 3 types:

Reacher Medium - a fully Ruggedised next-generation land terminal specifically designed for X-Band Military Satellite Communications. Designed to operate with a Forward Operating Headquarters Unit, it is mounted on a MOWAG Duro 6 x 6 vehicle and has a detachable Intermediate Group cabin and associated trailer. Has a 2.4m Antenna.

Reacher Large - Mounted on the same vehicle as the Reacher Medium, this unit has a 4.5 m Antenna.

Reacher All Terrain - This Reacher terminal is mounted on 2 BV206 vehicle and associated trailers.

All Reacher terminals are transportable using Chinook helicopters, C130 Aircraft, sea and rail.

SKYNET 5

Skynet 5 will provide all three Services of the UK Armed Forces with the next generation military satellite communications services. It will be provide flexible, robust and fully integrated services exploiting advances in technology to improve reliability, survivability and security.

In the spring of 2002 the Ministry of Defence announced that the Skynet 5 contract would be awarded to Paradigm. Contract award was October 2003 and the In Service Date (ISD) was achieved on 23 Feb 2005. The company is tasked with delivering secure military satellite communications (Milsatcomms) to UK armed forces around the world. For the first time in history Milsatcomms will be provided by a contractor worth around 2 billion pounds over 20 years. This is the largest private finance initiative (PFI) of its kind.

With the diverse range of military operations and the information required in today's digital environment Milsatcomms are playing an increasingly important role in providing and sharing instantaneous voice, voice and data between ground, sea and air platforms.

Welfare Services

As part of the MOD's Operational Welfare Package (OWP) Paradigm Services provides entitled UK personnel on operational duty overseas with 20 minutes of publicly funded calls per week. On top of this personnel are enabled to augment their welfare allowance through the purchase of £10 and £20 pre-paid phone cards.

Forces families can add extra credits to the welfare card. All that is needed is their card number, a payment method and a call to Paradigm's Customer Support number (01438 282121).

In new theatres, internet access is available for personnel to both access Web sites and to send and receive e-mail.