Having recently received an official government mandate to expand Kazulia's capabilities in the area of space defence, the
Kazulian Intelligence Service has stated that it intends on launching at least ten (10) reconnaissance satellites into orbit by
4750. It’s a moderate and achievable timeline for an unprecedented new satellite system being orchestrated by the intelligence
service but Gregers Dinesen, Director of the National Observation Centre (a subordinate body of the Kazulian Intelligence
Service), said his agency has every intention of materialising the request. That confidence might seem surprising, especially
since a typical military satellite constellation might take 10 years from its first design work until its working on orbit, to
say nothing of the fact that the National Observation Centre's vision is unprecedented in its size and scope. The NOC was
clandestinely established 5 years prior to take a new approach to building space-based capabilities. With a focus on smaller,
cheaper, and more replaceable satellites, the organization envisioned a Space Reconnaissance Network based on various satellites
operating in GEO. The network will be comprised of multiple layers of satellites each providing a unique capability, from
detecting and tracking ballistic missiles to providing detailed imagery for geospatial intelligence to monitoring to the movement
of aircraft and combatant vessels across the globe. Most military satellite systems are comprised of just a handful of satellites
operating in geosynchronous orbit. The Advanced Frequency system which provides highly secure communications will be made up of
six satellites in geostationary orbit. Likewise, the proposed Brolus satellite constellation that will provide early warning
missile detection will be made up of five satellites—three in GEO and two providing polar coverage.
To get there, the NOC plans to use a spiral model. Instead of waiting until the entire system with all of its capabilities is
built and ready to launch, the NOC will launch an initial string of three satellites in the fiscal year 4620. Those satellites
will provide a couple of new capabilities initially, but importantly, they will also serve as prototypes for subsequent launches
of satellites. “We have a completely different model for doing space acquisitions than the department has historically done.
We’re going to fly new satellites every two years. Phase 0 is the prototype for Phase 1, which is the prototype for Phase 2,
etc.,” said Dinesen. “We’re taking technology that is available to fly within 2-3 years, and that’s what we’re going to continue
to do for each of the phases.” Every two years after that initial tranche, a new tranche of satellites will be placed on orbit,
adding capabilities while growing the agency’s footprint in low earth orbit. In 4720, Dinesen said the NOC will have enough
satellites on orbit to offer regional persistence. And by 4750, they will have full global coverage. Because the initial
satellites are anticipated to have a relatively short lifespan, less capable satellites will quickly be replaced by more advanced
technology built on the lessons learned from those first phases. “The plan (following Phase 0) is to build on the order of one
satellite a week per layer and then launch those—so Phase 1 would have a handful of satellites. The satellites are designed to
last for five years, so you won’t replace all of the satellites on those 30-year phases, but you’ll add new capabilities and then
the satellites will be replenished basically in two and a half phase cycles,” explained Dinesen. Dinesen stated that the
programme in total could cost the Department of Defence around billion krona, with each satellite costing around 100 million
krona. The first phase will be made up of two kinds of satellites: transport layer satellites and tracking layer satellites. The
transport layer will provide a mesh network to serve as the core of the network. It will also provide a direct path from a
space-based sensor to the weapons systems and warfighters that need that information such as fighter aircraft.
Dinesen stated that the intentions of the expansion of Kazulia's satellite array into a more organised and useful system come
amidst the intentions of the Space Exploration and Exploitation Directorate (SEED) to decommissions the GAMS-1 and 2 satellites.
The GAMS (Global Aerospace Monitoring System) series of satellites were initially launched by Kazulia at the height of the
Northern Council as a means of increasing its capabilities to monitor combatant aircraft in the northern hemisphere. Concurrently
the satellite is being used to monitor the movement of Kazulian aircraft in the northern hemisphere, with its southern
hemispheric counterpart, GAMS-2 still being used to monitor all aerospace traffic in the southern hemisphere. Dinesen stated that
whilst his official orders from the Department of Defence were to bring down GAMS-1 and 2, he intends on lobbying with Defence
Minister Astrad Stenmark.
