What is the role of satellite communication (SATCOM) in military operations?

Satellite communication (SATCOM) plays a pivotal role in military operations by providing long-range communication capabilities essential for modern warfare. Military forces often operate over vast distances and in environments where traditional communication infrastructures may be limited or non-existent. SATCOM enables secure, reliable communication among units that are far apart, ensuring that commanders can maintain situational awareness and coordinate actions effectively.

This long-range capability is crucial, especially in scenarios involving joint operations, where forces from different branches or even allied nations need to communicate seamlessly despite geographical barriers. The use of SATCOM allows for voice, data, and video transmission, providing a versatile communication tool that can adapt to various needs in the field.

While creating internal communication systems, reducing communication costs, and enhancing local area networks are important aspects of military communication, these aspects do not fully capture the extensive operational scope that SATCOM provides, which is fundamentally about connecting forces across long distances in diverse and challenging environments.