The Significance of Military Communication Satellites

A discussion of the long distance military communication trunking problem is presented with particular emphasis on the lack of flexibility and capacity in currently used methods. Satellite-borne radio relay repeaters are considered as a possible solution to the trunking problem. State-of-the-art limitations which restrain the establishment of a system meeting the total needs are discussed. A compromise solution consisting of a combination of real time and delay repeater satellites is presented followed by a brief outline of current R&D efforts in this area.