Federal government commits $477 million to U.S.-led military satellite system
Ottawa is planning to spend as much as $477 million on a military satellite program. The goal is to have nine satellites hovering over different parts of the world, ready to provide high-frequency bandwidth for U.S. and allied forces wherever they may be operating. Australia has already contributed $800 million to the U.S.-led Wideband Global Satellite System project, while New Zealand, Luxembourg, Denmark and the Netherlands have expressed interest. But 10 years after it was initially announced, the project has so far been marred by cost overruns and manufacturing issues. Initially estimated to cost $1.3 billion for six satellites, the project is already 39.5 per cent over budget and it’s expected the final tally could climb to more than $3.5 billion.