Summary: Pooling of access to pay-per-use satellite communications, particularly in a deployment environment.
At stake: Some advantage is presumably gained from current affiliation through simplifying the administration of bidding for access for satellite communication time. Over time however, as this becomes less commercial and intergovernmental, but also more institutionalised, it risks locking UK assets into EU Headquarters and planning environments.
What they say: “The conclusions of recent EU Operations have highlighted the usefulness to set up and run a cell providing space connectivity and related services” – EDA
Exposure: The UK is still listed as a contributing member.
Action: UK to ensure asset management is completely kept out of EU logistics framework planning (the “Market” was originally named the “Cell”). This is complicated by key satellites being Airbus constructs.
Deep dive: https://issuu.com/europeandefenceagency/docs/2014-09-30_factsheet_eu_satcom_mark
