The Growing Costs of RADARSAT-1 and -2 RADARSAT-1 Guarding He Canadian Space Agency Es- the Henhouse? Timates That RADARSAT-1 Cost That’S Nothin’

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The Growing Costs of RADARSAT-1 and -2 RADARSAT-1 Guarding he Canadian Space Agency es- the henhouse? timates that RADARSAT-1 cost That’s nothin’. Tabout $620 million. Of that, the I own it! taxpayers’ share was about 90%: $500 million from the federal government (81%) and about $57 million (9%) from four provincial governments (BC, On- tario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.)1 On the other hand, the corporate sector is said to have chipped in about $63 million (10%).2 However, saying that these companies ‘shared the cost’ of RADARSAT requires some Adapted from a cartoon by Noah Kroese. creative accounting. Since these were A sly fox offered to provide the farmer with a henhouse the same companies the government but asked for several months rent in advance. The farmer hired to build RADARSAT, we could paid the fox using taxes he’d collected from the hens. The say their share was also paid with public funds. Their contributions were, in fox then used their money to build a henhouse. The farmer effect, self-serving business expenses. thought it was a great deal because the fox had “invested” At best, their donations were “dis- in the project. The fox, who’s clever, always votes for the counts” offered in exchange for lucra- farmer; while the chickens vote for him because they’re not. tive contracts to profit their businesses. The $620-million pricetag does U.S. spy agencies, which have pur- RADARSAT-1 data, the government’s not include RADARSAT-1’s launch. It chased millions of dollars worth of ad- cunning plan for RADARSAT-2 was to was blasted into space on November 4, ditional RADARSAT-1 data and time. cover almost all of its costs while hand- 1995, by a Delta-II rocket from Califor- ing it over completely to MDA. nia’s Vandenberg Air Force Base. This RADARSAT-2 The public money spent on was arranged through war-industry go- ccording to the Canadian Space RADARSAT-2 was apparently not for liath, McDonnell-Douglas, with whom Agency (CSA), the “total building or buying the satellite. Rather, NASA has a launch-services contract.3 Aproject cost” for RADARSAT- the funds given to MDA are described The launch, worth some $50 mil- 2, including its launch, as advance payments “in exchange for lion,4 was done “in exchange for rights “is estimated at $525 million, with the data” once RADARSAT-2 is opera- to access the satellite on a pro rata ba- government contributing $434 mil- tional. While privatisation advocates sis.”5 So, in lieu of paying NASA for lion, and the balance of $91 million see this as a sensible way to do busi- the launch, Canada gave the U.S. gov- provided by [MacDonald, Dettwiler ness, others see evidence of a corpo- ernment a supposedly proportionate and Associates] MDA.”7 rate-welfare state gone awry. share of RADARSAT’s data and mis- That means the government, i.e., the Even those praising the busi- sion time. A NASA media release noted: taxpayers’, share is about 83%. ness acumen of standing ‘free enter- “U.S. government agencies will have The CSA reported that these prise’ on its head, may not like how RA- access to all 6-month-old archived cost estimates had doubled from the DARSAT-2’s costs skyrocketed while RADARSAT data and direct approxi- original contract, which it described as the satellite itself remained earth mately 15 percent of the satellite’s a “firm price agreement.” In December bound. Here’s the CSA account of how observing time.”6 1998, when the CSA and its prime con- costs grew from the “firm” $225 million: Because RADARSAT-1 has tractor, MDA, signed their “Master “In March 2000, Treasury Board ap- operated day and night—regardless of Agreement,” the CSA agreed to pay proved an increase of $47.1 million weather conditions—for 10 years, the $225 million (74%), while MDA would to cover the cost of changing bus U.S. government has been able to con- “invest” $80 million (26%).8 So, while suppliers...and an increase of $12.3 trol some 90,000 hours of RADAR- the government’s share of the costs million for upgrades to existing sat- SAT-1’s “observing time.” Besides giv- rose from 74% to 83%, private indus- ellite ground station infrastructures. ing the U.S. government this direct tries’ share dropped from 26% to 17%. In June 2000, Treasury Board ap- control of the satellite’s operations, the However, the ownership, con- proved an increase of $108 million deal also gave U.S. agencies unlimited trol and (burdensome) profit-making re- to cover...a commercial launch as a access to years of its archived data. sponsibilities of this project, were never result of NASA withdrawing from However, all that guaranteed intended to be shared with the people the agreement to provide launch for access was not enough for the U.S. De- of Canada. Following on the ‘success’ RADARSAT-2 in exchange for partment of Defense, the CIA and other of privatising the marketing and sale of data.... In June 2001, Treasury Board 28 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 approved an increase of $6 million References 5. Ibid. to cover...a potential future tandem 1. RADARSAT-1, Construction and Cost 6. NASA Media Release, “RADARSAT mission with RADARSAT-3. www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/ Launch Aboard Delta II Rocket Set Nov. .... Additional delays will require the radarsat1/construction.asp 3,” October 27, 1995. www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/ CSA RADARSAT-2 project office 2. Ibid. 3. The Delta II Vehicle, January 1995. 1995/107-95.htm remain operational..., at an additional 7. CSA Annual Report, 2005. cost of $3.8 million.”9 www.ilc-usn.com/conversions/propuls/ elv/delta/dedesc.htm www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/resources/ Until RADARSAT-2 is actually opera- 4. RADARSAT-1, Satellite Fact Sheet publications/report_mcp-2005.asp tional, one wonders how firm the cur- www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/ 8. Ibid. rent $434-million estimates really are. sat_radarsat_1.html 9. Ibid. Meet MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates RADARSAT Given to Subsidiary of U.S. “Missile Defense” Firm ormed in 1969 by John References MacDonald and Werner 1. Corporate Profile Dettwiler,1 MacDonald, 2. Today’s IPOs F www.smallcapstocknews.com/markets Dettwiler & Assoc. (MDA) _ipos.asp?rsRowcount=305&totalcount=392 soon began trading on the To- 3. 3rd Quarter Report 1995, Orbital ronto Stock Exchange.2 sec.edgar-online.com/1995/11/14/00/ On August 31, 1995, 0000820736-95-000018/Section2.asp MDA became a wholly-owned 4. “Orbital Seeking Sale of Canadian subsidiary of Orbital Sciences,3 MDA,” Space & Tech, Feb. 26, 2001. a top U.S. rocket maker and con- www.spaceandtech.com/digest/ sd2001-08/sd2001-08-005.shtml tractor for the “missile defense” 5. “Orbital & MDA Finalize Merger,” weapons program. Orbital’s Washington Business Journal, Septem- purchase of MDA US$67 mil- ber 8, 1995. lion4 was finalised in November Google cache: mgv.mim.edu.my/ 1995,5 the month of RADAR- Articles/00638/96020633.Htm 6. “RADARSAT/Delta II Rocket Ready 6 www.mda.ca SAT-1’s launch. When our for Launch Nov. 3,” October 27, 1995. government privatised the When RADARSAT-1 was launched in www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/re- $1.15-billion RADARSAT sys- lease/1995/114-95.htm tem, MDA was the beneficiary. 1995, a U.S. “missile defense” firm 7. Ibid. In Dec. 1999, Orbital sold purchased MDA for US$67 million. 8. July 9, 2000. 33% of MDA shares to Mon- When our government privatised RA- www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/2000 9. MacDonald Dettwiler & Association treal’s CAI Capital Partners, for DARSAT, MDA was the beneficiary. companies.infobasepub.com/ US$75 million.7 In four years, detail_pages/337.html MDA’s value had increased by 335%. gave Orbital a profit of about 390%. 10. Ibid. In July of 2000, Orbital sold During Orbital’s control of 11. Investor Group Exercises Rights to some more MDA shares on the Toronto MDA, the Liberal government priva- Acquire Orbital’s Shares in MDA Stock Exchange.8 Of the 6 million shares otpp.ca/web/website.nsf/web/MDA tised to MDA the marketing of all RA- 12. Marc Boucher, “MDA Back in Cana- 9 offered by Orbital for $14 each, it sold DARSAT-1 data and ownership of RA- dian Control,” April 19, 2001. about 1.5 million ($21 million). So, Or- DARSAT-2. This largesse accounts for www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews. bital still held about 62% of MDA.10 much of Orbital’s financial success. html?id=324 Orbital finally gave up its control of • Donations to Liberal Party: MDA made regular 13. Elections Canada MDA in early 2001, by selling 18 mil- donations to the Liberal Party, but no other, giving Orbital’s remaining shares included the include donations made to riding associations, to MPs 14. CPP Investment Board Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, between elections or to party leadership campaigns.) (latest data, Mar. 31, 2005). the BC Investment Management Corp. • Canada Pension Plan (CPP): The CPP has about and CAI Capital Partners. $7.5 million invested in MDA.14 15. Ploughshares Working This put MDA back into the • Industry Canada: The Defence Industry Produc- hands of Canadian investors after six Paper 91-2 and the In- tivity Program and Technology Partnerships Canada dustry Canada website. years of control by Orbital. This U.S. have given MDA grants of least $43 million.15 war-industry certainly did well by its purchase of MDA for US$67 million, MacDonald, Dettwiler & Assoc. 13800 Commerce Parkway, because its sales of MDA shares Richmond BC V6V 2J3 brought in about US$259 million. This Web: March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 29 Selling Off the Rights to RADARSAT and its Data he Canadian government priva- use of the data collected by the satel- tively “doubled” the volume of imagery tised the marketing and sale of lite until 2008.” The agreement was ex- that they were able to sell access to. Tall RADARSAT-1 data. Then, pected to “generate US$60 million in “RADARSAT-2 will provide ORB- the entire ownership and control of revenues until...2003, and US$10 million IMAGE with the ability to acquire RADARSAT-2 was privatised. In both per year until 2008.”4 imagery at night and through clouds. cases, the lucky beneficiary was Van- MDA, then owned by a U.S. With up to 75% of the Earth’s sur- couver-based MacDonald, Dettwiler “missile defense” firm called Orbital Sci- face covered by either darkness or and Assoc. (MDA). At the time of these ences, sold to another subsidiary of its clouds at any given time, its space- privatisation deals, MDA was wholly- parent company, namely ORBIMAGE, based radar imagery should double owned by Orbital Sciences, one of “the full rights to all economic ben- the effective imagery capacity of the America’s largest rocket manufacturers efit from RADARSAT-2, in exchange ORBIMAGE constellation of satel- and a major supplier for the “missile for certain payments to MDA dur- lites.”10 (Emphasis added.) defense” weapons program. At the time, ORBIMAGE Through the Canadian noted that “advanced imagery Space Agency, MDA received products generated by RA- government contracts to help DARSAT-2” were “expected to build two of the world’s most be of interest to users in a wide advanced satellites, namely variety of market applications” RADARSAT-1 and -2. including “national defense.”11 In 1995, the year RA- With this deal in place, DARSAT-1 was launched, ORBIMAGE began selling RA- MDA was purchased outright DARSAT-2 data to non-Cana- by Orbital Sciences for a mere dian customers, although the $67 million.1 (See p.29.) Consid- satellite was not yet launched. ering that MDA was to benefit Before the end of 1999, from the Canadian govern- ORBIMAGE acquired even ment’s privatisation more control over the of the world’s most The Canadian government privatised the marketing of sales of RADARSAT advanced commer- RADARSAT-1 data and the ownership of RADARSAT-2, images. In September, cial satellites, worth handing them over to MDA, which was then owned by US the two Orbital “affili- about $1.15 billion, “missile defense” firm, Orbital Sciences. RADARSAT-1’s ates” issued a joint this U.S. war indus- global marketing rights were sold off first to Lockheed media release to say try got a great deal. Martin, the world’s largest weapons maker and then to that ORBIMAGE had An even big- ORBIMAGE, another subsidiary of Orbital Sciences. been “appointed” by ger U.S. “missile de- MDA to be fense” contractor, Lockheed Martin, ing its construction and operation.”5 “the principal distributor for the sale which is the world’s top war industry, So, in exchange for making what was a of RADARSAT-1 synthetic aperture also got a piece of the RADARSAT relatively small investment in the build- radar (SAR) imagery in the U.S.”12 action. Lockheed Martin, had the ex- ing of RADARSAT-2, ORBIMAGE “ac- The companies’ joint statement said clusive rights to sell RADARSAT-1 data quired worldwide rights to the data.”6 “ORBIMAGE will offer RADAR- in the U.S. from the day it was launched The ORBIMAGE contract with SAT-1 imagery to other U.S. distribu- until September of 1999. The media re- MDA gave the U.S. firm the rights to tors and directly to customers lease announcing the launch noted that “exclusive distribution of the RA- through its Internet web site.”13 “Lockheed Martin... has distribution DARSAT-2 data”7 to clients in all coun- In February 1999, MDA made a rights in the United States.”2 tries besides Canada. It was “ten-year strategic purchase to gain control of exclusive license”8 that gave Radarsat International, a company cre- 1998: A Sweetheart Deal “beneficial ownership to all data or ated in 1989 “to market, process and In 1998, another wholly-owned subsidi- capacity of the [RADARSAT-2] sat- distribute data worldwide from Cana- ary of Orbital Sciences, namely Orbital ellite that was not used by the Cana- da’s RADARSAT-1.”14 RSI began as a Imaging (aka ORBIMAGE), signed a dian Space Agency.”9 “consortium of shareholders” com- sweetheart deal with its Canadian “sis- ORBIMAGE had also acquired prised of four big Canadian military-re- ter” company, MDA. ORBIMAGE thus the data-marketing rights for other sat- lated companies that built RADAR- received the “worldwide sales and dis- ellites besides RADARSAT. However, SAT-1: Spar Aerospace, Com Dev, Lock- tribution rights” for all of the imagery when it announced its deal with MDA heed Martin Astronautics and MDA.15 from Canada’s RADARSAT-2 satellite.3 in January 1999, ORBIMAGE gratefully When the government’s priva- In this “license agreement,” noted that its purchase of worldwide tisation deal gave MDA the “contract MDA sold to ORBIMAGE “exclusive rights to sell RADARSAT-2 data effec- from the Canadian Space Agency to 30 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 Foreign Marketing Rights for RADARSAT Data • RADARSAT-1 orbits at an RADARSAT-1 (U.S. Sales) altitude of 798 kms. 1995------>Lockheed Martin 1999------>ORBIMAGE Present • Since a $100 bill is 15.2 cms in RADARSAT-2 (All sales outside Canada) length, it would require 5.25 1998------>ORBIMAGE 2001------>MDA Present million $100 bills to reach as RADARSAT-2 (U.S. Sales) high as RADARSAT-1. 1998------>ORBIMAGE 2003------>MDA Present • The cost of RADARSAT-1 and -2 is about $1.145 billion. If placed end-to-end, the number of $100 bills spent on RADARSAT-1 and -2,

www.bankofcanada.ca would stretch from the earth’s surface all the way up to RADARSAT-1 and back down to earth again! In fact, there would even be $95 million left over, which is more than Orbital Sciences This $100 bill, issued in 2004, celebrates RADARSAT-1. paid for MDA in 1995.

build, operate and own the RADAR- ORBIMAGE transferred back to MDA MacDonald, Dettwiler [US]$60 mil- SAT-2 satellite,” it was a “was a natural the licence, purchased in 1998, to mar- lion in exchange for global market- step forward for MDA,” said its Vice- ket and sell RADARSAT-2 data to for- ing rights to data from RADARSAT- President Bernie Clark, to buy a con- eign clients, other than those in the U.S.. 2.... After ORBIMAGE paid about trolling interest in RSI.16 In other words, ORBIMAGE still re- half of that sum, the two companies “We are confident that teaming the tained all of its rights to sell RADAR- agreed to restructure the deal [in new capabilities of RADARSAT-2 SAT-1 and -2 data to U.S. customers. February 2001], cutting ORBIM- with the marketing experience of RSI, It was important for ORBIM- AGE’s total payment to [US]$40 mil- MDA and ORBIMAGE will ensure AGE to maintain this control over sales lion and limiting its marketing rights the highest level of market penetra- of all RADARSAT data to U.S. clients, to U.S. customers.”21 tion from RADARSAT-2.”17 particularly the lucrative government On the surface, things seemed With the “Canadian” subsidiary contracts. The prime U.S. purchasers to be going smoothly for these two of Orbital Sciences now firmly in the of RADARSAT data are, of course, U.S. subsidiaries of Orbital Sciences. In helm of RSI—which had overseen the military and intelligence-related depart- May 2002, RSI recognized the great job marketing of data from RADARSAT-1 ments and agencies (See pp.33-35.) that ORBIMAGE was doing in selling for ten years—it was just another off RADARSAT-1 data to the U.S. gov- “natural step forward” for even more 2001: Valentine’s Day ernment, by announced that it had data from this Canadian satellite to be ORBIMAGE’s February 14, 2001, me- given ORBIMAGE the “Outstanding handed over to the other subsidiary of dia release stated that it would: Distributor Award” for “excellence in Orbital Sciences, namely ORBIMAGE. “retain the exclusive distribution sales in Eastern North America.”22 By the fall of 1999, ORBIMAGE rights for RADARSAT-2 imagery to For its part, ORBIMAGE’s Sen- was appending a blurb at the end of its customers in the U.S., the largest ior Vice President of Worldwide Mar- media releases, saying: market in the world, and the world- keting and Sales, Timothy J. Puckorius, “ORBIMAGE also holds the exclu- wide satellite capacity necessary to said his company was sive, worldwide imagery distribution service this market. ORBIMAGE will “honored to receive this recogni- rights for the Canadian RADAR- return license rights to customers in tion... for our achievement in selling SAT-2 satellite and non-exclusive other parts of the world to MDA.”19 RADARSAT-1 data to the U.S. user distribution rights for the RADAR- In a simultaneous Valentine’s community.... We continue to work SAT-1 satellite.”18 Day announcement, MDA said that hard to provide our U.S. based cus- This whole arrangement of through its wholly-owned subsidiary, tomers with the best image products sweet-heart deals went along un- RSI, it would now control the “world- and services our industry has to of- changed for another year and a half until wide rights to RADARSAT-2 distribu- fer. RADARSAT-1 data...comple- February 2001. At that point, ORBIM- tion, except for the U.S.”20 ments our optical capabilities which AGE and MDA renegotiated their con- What led to these Valentine’s we hope to further expand with the tract regarding the rights to sell RA- Day business announcements? enhanced capabilities of RADAR- DARSAT-2 data outside of Canada. “In 1999, ORBIMAGE agreed to pay SAT-2.”23 March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 31 2003: The Break Up www.mda.ca/investor/mda_2004 References _annualreport.pdf Behind this facade, ORBIMAGE was 1. Orbital Sciences media release, “Orbital 10. ORBIMAGE media release, “ORBIM- going broke. They claimed that many Sciences Seeking Sale of Canadian AGE Acquires Worldwide Sales and of their financial woes were due to de- MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates,” Distribution Rights for RADARSAT-2 lays in RADARSAT-2’s launch. In early February 26, 2001. Imagery,” January 13, 1999. 2003, ORBIMAGE sued MDA www.spaceandtech.com/digest/sd2001- www.orbimage.com/news/releases/1- “alleging that it had been misled by 08/sd2001-08-005.shtml 13-99.html 2. NASA Media Release, “RADARSAT the Canadian firm about the 11. Ibid. Launch Aboard Delta II Rocket Set Nov. 24 12. MDA media release, “RSI Names progress on RADARSAT-2.” 3,” October 27, 1995. However, by September 2003, ORBIMAGE Principal U.S. Distribu- www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/ tor of RADARSAT-1 Satellite Im- Orbital’s two subsidiaries resolved their 1995/107-95.htm agery,” September 23, 1999. spat and announced a settlement which 3. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ “essentially washes ORBIMAGE’s twiler Announces Worldwide Sales and pr1999092301.html hands of the RADARSAT-2 pro- Distribution Agreement for RADAR- 13. Ibid. gram. MacDonald, Dettwiler will pay SAT-2 Imagery,” Jan. 11, 1999. 14. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- ORBIMAGE [US]$10 million imme- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ twiler to Acquire RADARSAT Inter- pr1999011102.html. diately and another [US]$2 million national,” February 15, 1999. 4. “MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associ- 25 www.mda.ca/radarsat-2/news/ over the next two years.” ates,” Canadian Shareowner, March/ In exchange for this US$12 million from pr1999021501.html April 2001. 15. Ibid. MDA, ORBIMAGE agreed to “return www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ 16. Ibid. its limited licenses in RADARSAT-2 [re: mi_qa3642/is_200103/ai_n8929869 17. MDA media release, Feb. 26, 1999. op. cit. 26 sales to U.S. clients] back to MDA.” 5. MDA media release, “MDA Revenue www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ The September-2003 settlement Up 25% in 1st Quarter, Cash Earnings pr1999022601.html ended five years of RADARSAT-2 im- Up 39%,” April 24, 2001. 18. ORBIMAGE media release, “ORBIM- age sales by ORBIMAGE. ORBIM- www.spaceref.com:16080/news/ AGE Imagery to be Distributed by viewpr.html?pid=4619 AGE, however, still serves as the sole ESRI,” October 1, 1999. 6. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases. marketer of RADARSAT-1 images to twiler to Acquire RADARSAT Inter- customers in the U.S., just as it has done php?press_id=954 national,” February 26, 1999. 19. ORBIMAGE media release, “ ORBIM- now for seven years. As it says on the www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ AGE Modifies RADARSAT-2 License company’s “Radar Imagery” products pr1999022601.html Agreement with MDA,” Feb. 14, 2001. webpage: “In the U.S., ORBIMAGE is 7. Ibid. www.spaceref.com:16080/news/ pleased to offer the satellite imagery 8. MDA media release, Apr. 24, 2001. op. cit. viewpr.html?pid=3833 products of RADARSAT-1.”27 9. MDA Annual Report 2004. 20. MDA media release, “MDA Repatri- ates RADARSAT-2 Distribution Rights by Amending Distribution Agreement UK Military Agency “Top” RADARSAT with ORBIMAGE,” February 14, 2001. Distributor in Europe, Africa and Middle East www.mda.ca/radarsat-2/news/ pr2001021402.html n 1997, a branch of the UK Ministry References 21. Warren Ferster, “ORBIMAGE Settles of Defense (MoD), the Defence 1. MDA media release, “DERA wins ‘Top Dispute with MacDonald, Dettwiler,” IEvaluation and Research Agency Regional RADARSAT Distributor’ Space News Business Report, Septem- (DERA), received the “Top Regional Award,” November 21, 1997. ber 16, 2003. RADARSAT Distributor” award for www.radarsolutions.dera.gov.uk/ dev.space.com/spacenews/ “achievements in...sales and marketing pr03.html marketmonitor/orbimage_091603.html of RADARSAT satellite imagery” in 2. RadarSolutions (RS) media release, 22. Media release, “ORBIMAGE Pre- “DERA and RS win distributor award sented with RADARSAT Internation- “Europe, Africa and the Middle East.”1 second year running,” August 1998. al’s Outstanding Distributor Award,” DERA, and a consortium it es- www.radarsolutions.dera.gov.uk/ May 30, 2002. tablished called RadarSolutions, won pr06.html www.orbimage.com//news/releases/05- the RADARSAT International award 3. RS media release, “RS consortium hon- 30-02.html again in 1998,2 19993 and 2000.4 oured for third year,” October 8, 1999. 23. Ibid. DERA, which began selling www.radarsolutions.dera.gov.uk/ 24. Ibid. RADARSAT data in 1995,5 does most pr09.html 25. Ibid. of the MoD’s “non-nuclear research, 4. RS media release, “DERA and RS win 26. ORBIMAGE media release, “ORBIM- technology and test and evaluation” distributor award for the fourth year,” AGE Announces Agreement that Clears June 2000. Remaining Hurdle to Exiting Bank- work. With 12,000 staff, it is “one of www.radarsolutions.dera.gov.uk/ ruptcy Protection,” Sept. 15, 2003. Europe’s largest...research organisa- pr10.html www.orbimage.com/news/releases/09- tions.” Its facilities include “ranges for 5. RS media release, “DERA signs RA- 15-03.html air, land and sea launched weapon ef- DARSAT license agreement,” Novem- 27. Radar Imagery, Products fectiveness trials [as well as] underwa- ber 9, 1995. www.orbimage.com/prods/radar_ ter target ranges.”6 6. RS media release, June 2000. op. cit. imagery.html 32 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 U.S. Warfighters get Hands on RADARSAT Data mong the top clients of RA- nite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity con- DARSAT-1 and -2 data are U.S. tract... [for] RADARSAT-1 imagery” Amilitary and intelligence with orders to range from [US]$1,500 agencies. The fact that Canada’s to $1,000,000. “Direct downlink satellite images are highly coveted providers shall provide services by U.S. warfighters is evident in for RADARSAT-1 data to all mo- the corporate timeline of RA- RADARSAT’s bile systems (...Eagle Vision...) 6 DARSAT contracts which is jux- top customers and all fixed systems.” taposed below with major U.S.- include the U.S. Aug. 23, 2001: The led wars in which Canada USAF Research Lab. an- was/is a leading member. military and various unnamed “defense” nounced it had given and “intelligence” Northrop Grumman, Elec- Mar. 1, 1996: “The tronic Sensors and Sys- Defense Mapping Agency agencies. tems Div., “a contract requires procurement of worth [US]$389,888 for RA- RADARSAT imagery of the DARSAT data collection.”7 earth’s surface... in digital and pho- tographic form. Data shall be...in Fine Im- .ceo.ncsu.edu October 7, 2001 www age Mode and 10 meter ground resolution.”1 U.S. invades Afghanistan. Mar. 18, 1999: The Electronic Systems Oct. 24, 2001: “The tragic events of Sept. Center at Hanscom AFB, announced it was seeking 11 and the failed launch of OrbView-4 ... are causing “to improve the Eagle Vision I synthetic aperture radar longer-term changes in the marketplace, including...in the imagery processing time [to] reduce processing time for ra- priorities of some of our customers.... The long-term also dar imagery [including] RADARSAT ... from the current 40 presents opportunities for our [i.e., MacDonald, Dettwiler 2 minutes to less than two minutes for a 50x50km scene.” and Assoc., MDA’s] various intelligence, defence, surveillance, policing capabilities and information products.”8 March 24, 1999 NATO begins aerial bombing of Yugoslavia. Nov. 1, 2001: “MDA announced... the completion of a 3-D terrain map covering Colombia, South America. The de- May 15, 2000: The ISR Integration Program Office, tailed country-wide Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is derived from images acquired by Canada’s RADARSAT-1. Ter- Hanscomat AFB “wishes to identify potential sources...to process...satellite imagery. The system must be capable of rain heights are accurate to...30 metres. The Colombia DEM ingesting ...RADARSAT sources.”3 was initiated by...NIMA, an agency of the U.S. DoD.... NIMA’s mission is to support America’s national security.”9 Dec. 11, 2000: “The USAF Research Laboratory an- NIMA gave MDA a 3-year contract of nounced ...it awarded Northrop Grumman...[US]$688,888 for July 24, 2002: 10 RADARSAT data collection.”4 about $8 million for “RADARSAT-1 data for 3-D mapping.” Mar. 15, 2001: The USAF’s Information Exploitation Nov. 5, 2002: MDA reports a one-year, $1.2 million Systems Program Office issued a “request for information” contract that “enables the USAF to routinely receive RA- 11 for a contract to “upgrade Eagle Vision through the addition DARSAT-1 imagery” at three Eagle Vision stations.” of...RADARSAT 2 capabilities.”5 Oct. 23, 2002: MDA reported a “big win in Geo- April 9, 2001: NIMA began competition for an “Indefi- graphic Information Products,... over $9.3 million in contracts” to provide “satellite imagery for defense and defense-re- 12 Abbreviations: “Defense”? lated agencies in the U.S. and Europe.” AFB Air Force Base As usual, when reading Feb. 20, 2003: MDA’s “business with defence and DoD Department of Defense documents from govern- defence-related agencies continued at a steady pace as we ISR Intelligence, Surveillance, Re- ment, corporate or military secured over $10 million in contracts [for] geospatial infor- connaissance sources, the term “defense” mation products from satellite imagery.”13 MDA MacDonald, Dettwiler & Assoc. does not necessarily have NIMA National Imagery & Mapping anything to do with “de- March 19, 2003 Agency fense.” Rather, it means RSI RADARSAT International military or war-related. U.S. declares war on Iraq. USAF United States Air Force DMA→NIMA→NGIA: U.S. “military intelligence” is a major user Mar. 20, 2003: The USAF Information Exploitation of RADARSAT. Initially called the Defense Mapping Agency, then Systems Program Office issued a “solicitation notice” “to NIMA and now NGIA, this self-described “major intelligence and upgrade Eagle Vision through the addition of RADARSAT 2 combat support agency of the U.S. DoD” provides “timely, relevant satellite capabilities....for use in the combat commander’s and accurate geospatial intelligence in support of national security.” mission planning/rehearsal and intelligence gathering sys- March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 33 tems. The added RADARSAT 2 capability will allow Eagle March 1, 2004 Vision to program the satellite, receive and archive the te- U.S. and Canada occupy Haiti. lemetry, and process the data.... Total contract value is an- ticipated to be under [US]$2 million.”14 June 2004: The USAF gave a US$2.1 contract to MDA April 23, 2003: “We [MDA] continued to book de- to evaluate “the ability of the Canadian RADARSAT II...to fence intelligence work worth $3.8 million. We also completed provide all-weather imaging capability at 3-meter resolution an important order to provide the U.S. NIMA with a multi- for support of target detection..., homeland defense [and] level landcover database for more than 50% of the Earth. moving target indicators...as an upgrade when integrated NIMA will use the new landcover information for a variety with the...Eagle Vision Deployable Satellite Imagery Receiv- 15 of logistical and planning purposes.” ing and Processing Station.”22 July 24, 2003: “MDA was awarded $6.4 million in land June 23, 2004: “MDA...has been awarded a competi- 16 information orders from Defense Intelligence customers.” tive contract ...under the USAF Foreign Comparative Test Sept. 23, 2003: “MDA...has been awarded a contract program to evaluate RADARSAT-2 information reception worth several million dollars by the and processing capabilities to one of its European Aeronautic De- Eagle Vision (EV) mobile ground stations. fence and Space [EADS] Within weeks of the Iraq The first delivery will enable the USAF Co. to participate in war’s onset, in March to test the use of RADARSAT-2 infor- the delivery of an 2003, a U.S. military spy mation to provide in-theatre support for additional mobile agency ordered RADAR- the warfighter.... EV is the U.S. DoD’s only deployable ground station SAT data covering “more to the U.S. gov- commercial ground station capable of di- ernment. The than 50% of the Earth.” rectly receiving and processing critical new EADS MDA said the data, would imagery information from commercial re- ground sta- fulfil “a variety of logi- mote sensing satellites directly for the tion will en- stical and planning pur- warfighter inside the battlefield rhythm. This dynamic system has been deployed able Eagle Vi- poses.” MDA later di- sion to obtain in the theatre of operations in support information vulged that 2003 was a of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi from Canada’s “record year” for the Freedom and Global War on Terror mis- RADARSAT-1 “defence intelligence” sions. RADARSAT-2 will provide un- satellite.... MDA aspect of their business, classified information...to support... mission planning and rehearsal, and time- President and CEO which received $70 ...said [MDA]: ‘is con- critical targeting. RADARSAT-2...can tinuing to make inroads into million in orders. aid in identifying a wide variety of sur- operational strategic U.S. defence face features and targets.... projects, as we provide mission-critical systems to this grow- This is [MDA’s] sixth EV contract. MDA’s EV ground ing market.’”17 station technology and...Flight Path Safety System are...deployed by the USAF at locations around the world.”23 Oct. 9, 2003: Through the ISR Integration Program Office at Hanscom AFB, the USAF posted a “Solicitation July 16, 2004: An “existing [USAF-MDA] Eagle Vi- Notice” to “upgrade the Eagle Vision Systems through the sion/RADARSAT 2 contract...to modify the RADARSAT 2 addition of a capability to directly receive... imagery from satellite” was changed “in support of the RADARSAT Tan- commercial satellite vendors [including] RADARSAT.... [One dem Topographic Mission... [to] design, build and test two... stipulation was] the ordering agency (Eagle Vision) cannot antennas on RADARSAT 2 for frequency synchronization be disclosed to the public or associated with the imagery in between RADARSAT 2 and the Tandem satellite.”24 the satellite vendor’s database or imagery catalogue.”18 Oct. 6, 2004: RADARSAT International (RSI) “has Oct. 24, 2003: The USAF announced a sole source signed four contracts, worth a total of US$2.35 million, with contract to MDA “to provide for the RADARSAT 2 upgrade three longstanding defense clients.... to Eagle Vision.... The added RADARSAT 2 capability will The defense clients include two unnamed RADARSAT- allow Eagle Vision to program the satellite, receive and ar- 1 network stations and a U.S. agency. The network station chive the telemetry, and process the data.”19 clients have signed downlink renewal agreements, and the U.S. agency has signed one contract for a mobile network 3rd Quarter, 2003: “The MDA Geographic Informa- station downlink renewal and another for a substantial vol- tion Products Group made major breakthroughs in the De- ume of RADARSAT-1 data. fence and Enforcement markets. MDA was awarded up to ‘RADARSAT-1 data supports... geospatial intelligence $58 million in land information business by various defence needs such as mapping, 3-D terrain modeling, target detec- intelligence customers.”20 tion and change in activity monitoring,’ said RSI president.”25 Feb. 17, 2004: “In defence intelligence, we [MDA] had The NGIA posted a “solicitation notice” a record year [2003] with total orders of about $70 million.”21 Jan. 9, 2005: 34 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 U.S. Army Space and for a “one-year [contract] extension... Missile Defense Command rapid access to commercial...satellite for the purchase of... RADARSAT-1 imagery data. This would include... data, products and services to DoD sensors such as...Canadian RADAR- and the Intelligence Community” for SAT [1] satellite. System needs...a “Geophysical Surveying and Map- small footprint to allow for flexible po- ping Services.”26 sitioning for tactical forces around the Feb. 22, 2005: “In the Defence world. System needs to be expandable market, MDA signed its second agree- to allow...new satellite sensors such ment to provide information solutions as...Canadian SAR satellite RADAR- [to] allow image products to be dis- SAT 2. The system will allow the unit tributed to commercial, defence and in- to request specific data or automati- telligence customers primarily in the cally receive compressed...imagery..., U.S.”27 process the data within the area of operations,....[and] enable global cov- April 14, 2005: The U.S. Army erage and imaging under all environmen- Space and Missile Defense Command, and tal and lighting conditions. Delivery of data Army Strategic Command, posted a “request must occur within 90 minutes of collect, pref- for information” saying they required a “Multi- erably via direct downlink to an existing military Sensor Virtual Ground Terminal... [that] enables mobile ground station.”28

References Highest Ever Quarterly Revenues - Net 20. MDA Brochure, Third Quarter 2003 1. “RADARSAT Fine Image Mode Im- Earnings Up 33%.” mda.co.uk/investor/MDA_q3_ agery,” Commerce Business Daily mda.co.uk/investor/MDA_q2_ 2003_brochure.pdf (CBD), PSA#1542 2002_brochure.pdf 21. MDA media release, “MDA Reports www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive/1996/ 11. MDA media release, “USAF to Expand Year End & 4th Quarter 2003 Results.” 03(March)/01-Mar-1996/99sol004.htm use of RADARSAT Data.” www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ 2. “Eagle Vision - Synthetic Aperture Ra- 12. MDA media release, “2002 Third Quar- pr2004021701.html dar Processor and Ocean Surveillance,” ter Results.” 22. RDT&E Budget Item Justification, CBD, PSA#2305 www.spaceref.com:16080/news/ February 2005. www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive//1999/ viewpr.html?pid=9610 www.globalsecurity.org/military/ 03(March)/18-Mar-1999/Ksol001.htm 13. MDA media release, “MDA Reports library/budget/fy2006/dod/OSD_ 3. “Eagle Vision Data Integration Segment,” 2002 4th Quarter & Year-End Results.” BA6.pdf CBD, PSA#2600 www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ 23. MDA media release, “U.S. Air Force www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive/2000/ pr2003022001.html to Test RADARSAT-2 Information 05(May)/15-May-2000/Ksol003.htm 14. “RADARSAT 2 Upgrade to Eagle Vi- Provision to Warfighters.” 4. “C-Band Bistatic Data Collection Pro- sion,” FBO Daily, #0475 www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ gram for RADARSAT,” CBD, PSA www.fbodaily.com/archive/2003/03- pr2004062301.html #2744 March/20-Mar-2003/FBO-00282015. 24. “RADARSAT II Downlink Reception www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive//2000/ htm and Processing Algorithms and Sys- 12(December)/11-Dec-2000/ 15. MDA media release, “First Quarter tems,” FBO Daily, #0963 aawd003.htm 2003 Results.” www.fbodaily.com/archive/2004/07- 5. “SPOT 5 & RADARSAT 2 Upgrade to www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ July/16-Jul-2004/FBO-00620845.htm Eagle Vision,” Federal Business Oppor- pr2003042301.html 25. MDA media release, “RADARSAT tunities (FBO) Daily 16. MDA media release, “Second Quarter International Signs $2.35 Million U.S. www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/2001/ 2003 Results” in Defense Contracts,” Directions. 03(March)/15-Mar-2001/58sol002.htm www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ www.directionsmag.com/ 6. “Books, Maps, And Other Publica- pr2003072401.html press.releases/index.php?duty= tions,” CBD, PSA #2825 17. MDA media release, “MDA to Par- Show&id=10307 www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive/2001/ ticipate in Provision of Military 26. “One Year Sole-source Extension of 04(April)/09-Apr-2001/76sol003.htm Ground Station.” RadarSAT Contract for Commercial 7. “C-Band Bistatic Data Collection with www.directionsmag.com/ Imagery,” FBO Daily, #1140 RADARSAT,” CBD, PSA #2921 press.releases/index.php?duty www.fbodaily.com/archive/2005/01- www.fbodaily.com/CBD/archive//2001/ =Show&id=7912 January/09-Jan-2005/FBO-00731790. 08(August)/23-Aug-2001/aawd005.htm 18. “Commercial Imagery Virtual Terminal htm 8. MDA media release, “MDA Reports to Support Eagle Vision Ground Sta- 27. MDA, “MDA Reports 4th Quarter Solid Third Quarter.” tion Operations,” FBO Daily #0681 &Year End 2004 Results.” www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ www.fbodaily.com/archive/2003/10- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ pr2001102401.html October/09-Oct-2003/FBO-00448807. pr2005022201.html 9. MDA media release, “MDA Delivers htm 28. “Multi-Sensor Virtual Ground Termi- 3-D Map of Colombia to U.S. Gov- 19. “RADARSAT 2 CAPABILITIES,” nal System for G2 SORC,” FBO Daily, ernment Mapping Agency.” FBO Daily, #06960 #1235 www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ www.fbodaily.com/archive/2003/10- www.fbodaily.com/archive/2005/04- pr2001110101.html October/24-Oct-2003/FBO-00457870. April/14-Apr-2005/FBO-00786824. 10. MDA media release, “MDA Records htm htm March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 35 Meet Eagle Vision: US Military Bridgehead to RADARSAT n exchange for launching RADAR- SAT-1 in 1995, the U.S. government Eagle Vision Ihas been controlling 15% of this Ca- nadian satellite’s observing time ever since.1 This guaranteed access is man- aged by the Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar Facility in Fairbanks.2 However, this was not enough. The U.S. Army and Air Force wanted to use transportable ground stations to control RADARSAT operations and directly downlink the satellite’s data. Eagle Vision was their solution. Basically, it is a satellite dish and a box- www.gd-ais.com like shelter chock full of electronic This U.S. military ground station operates and controls equipment. It can be flown around the Canada’s RADARSAT-1 and directly “downlinks” satellite world aboard one C-141 or two C-130 images to warfighters engaged in the battle. It has been military transport planes. A tractor- used in the Yugoslav, Afghan and Iraq wars. trailer truck emerges from the war plane and—with satellite dish in tow—drives to the receiving station’s temporary C-141 home near the battlezone. Once there, C-130 the system takes about four hours to Eagle Vision is moved to warzones in

set up and can begin programming RA- two C-130s or one C-141 aircraft. US Space & Missile Command Defense www.fas.org DARSAT-1 operations and capturing to control where and when the satellite timelines....The integration of the its images. directs its gaze, as well as to adjust all CET and EV II into the Army’s space Its purpose is to receive, proc- of its settings, parametres and modes inventory will greatly improve the ess and relay data to warfighters while of operation. timely delivery of space support to they are engaged in battle. The idea is This direct access and control the warfighter.”8 to get useful satellite imagery straight of RADARSAT is very much appreci- The importance that the U.S. into the hands of U.S. soldiers as ated by the U.S. military because it places on putting space-sensor data quickly, efficiently, securely and “provides in-theater, real-time acqui- into the hands of warfighters, has not cheaply as possible. Eagle Vision is “a sition and processing of commercial gone unnoticed in Canada’s military. Al- cornerstone of the [U.S.] military’s com- satellite imagery into formats re- though our government paid about one mercial imagery exploitation.”3 quired by users.... The Data Acqui- billion for the RADARSAT system, be- There are now five operating sition Segment...performs satellite fore handing over its management and ground stations in the U.S. military’s sensor programming, satellite telem- control to MacDonald, Dettwiler and growing Eagle Vision (EV) “family”: etry reception and processing.”6 Assoc., Canada does not (yet) have its EV I: U.S. Air Forces Europe (Ger- Eagle Vision II (EV II) operators own US$10-million Eagle Vision station. many). from 1st Space Battalion of the Army The advantages of the system were EV II: U.S. Army Space and Missile Space and Missile Defense Command however discussed at a 2002 sympo- Defense Command (Colorado). can “schedule, track and receive com- sium on space power, sponsored by EV III: Air National Guard (Nevada). mercial imagery data from SPOT 2, SPOT Canada’s Chief of Air Staff: EV IV: Air National Guard (S. Carolina). 4, [and] RADARSAT”7 satellites. This “Military uses of commercially sup- EV V: Air National Guard and Pacific Commercial Exploitation Team (CET) plied imagery have increased dra- Air Forces (Hawaii).4 “provides the warfighter access to matically over the past decade, but Once Eagle Vision operators directly downlinked commercial im- one of the biggest advances has have programmed RADARSAT-1 to agery.... The advantage a deployed been to provide this information di- gather the images that they want, they CET brings to warfighters is access rectly to deployed forces. For exam- downlink that data directly to their sta- to commercial imagery in a timely ple...Eagle Vision II, is...designed to tion. Eagle Vision stations have been manner, rather than waiting for it to provide military commanders direct upgraded so that they will also be able be processed and disseminated from access to multiple imaging satellites to manipulate, and receive data from, the U.S.. While the National Geospa- ....to directly provide the warfighter RADARSAT-2, after its launch in De- tial Intelligence Agency currently with unclassified imagery...that will cember 2006. provides warfighters access to com- help...visualize the battlespace and Each Eagle Vision system is able mercial imagery,...this process often develop precise terrain and geo- not only access RADARSAT,5 but also doesn’t meet tactical or operational graphic data.”9 36 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 Iraq War 1991 after the launch of RADARSAT-1—the Vision’s deployment in the ongoing As the following quotations explain, world’s first Synthetic Aperture Radar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: the U.S. military developed Eagle Vision satellite—the U.S. military began a “This dynamic system has been de- as a result of lessons learned during study to have Eagle Vision exploit ployed in the theatre of operations the 1991 war against Iraq: “higher resolution electro-optical in support of Operations Enduring • “The genesis of the Eagle Vision pro- and all weather synthetic aperture Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Global gram was a result of lessons learned radar imagery collected by multiple War on Terror missions.”17 during the Gulf War. Tactical ground foreign satellites: Canadian RA- “Soldiers also deployed...to support commanders lacked sufficient im- DARSAT, Indian Remote Sensing Special Operations Forces during agery, and national imagery was clas- (IRS) and European Radar System Operation Iraqi Freedom by provid- sified too high for it to be easily proc- (ERS).... Under this effort, a RADAR- ing commercial imagery from the Air essed by tactical air commanders’ air SAT satellite capability was added Force Eagle Vision I system.”18 planning software.”10 to the [Eagle Vision] system, but IRS “Eagle Vision 1, which we [USAF] and ERS were not due to funding • “The Eagle Vision family emerged from deployed to Al-Dhafra Air Base in constraints.”14 the Desert Storm combat command- the United Arab Emirates during er’s operational demand for digital Eagle Vision at War both Enduring Freedom and Iraqi imagery to support air and carrier- Since its appearance on the scene just Freedom for three months at a time.... based mission planning/rehearsal 10 years ago, Eagle Vision has been has been in the U.S. Central Com- and intelligence gathering systems, used in numerous U.S.-led wars and mili- mand theater of operations almost 19 as well as Army and Marine Corps tary operations. It stands to reason that constantly since 9/11.” topographic units.”11 once the military has access to useful (Note: U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, is centred on the Middle • Eagle Vision “evolved from a Desert technology they will basically use it East and covers 25 countries from the Storm need for a timely and respon- whenever and wherever they can. Horn of Africa to Central Asia.20) sive method to acquire broad-area im- Eagle Vision was, for instance, U.S. military budget estimates agery for Air Force applications dur- “used extensively in the Balkans [dur- published in 2004 reveal that not only was Eagle Vision used in the previous year “to provide imagery to forces engaged in combat in both Iraq and Af- ghanistan” during operations “Endur- ing Freedom and Iraqi Freedom”21 it was also used in Operation Southern Watch, during which the U.S. attacked Iraqi warplanes flying in southern Iraq. The Space News Business Re- port of March 31, 2003 (less than two weeks after the U.S. declared war on Iraq), included what is perhaps the most telling description of Eagle Vision’s im- www.psywar.org portance in the Iraq “theater” of war: “We can see everything” “The U.S. Air Force’s Eagle Vision 1 This was among 17 million leaflets dropped on Iraq in 2003 mobile satellite-imagery ground sta- before the war began in March. This flier said the U.S. tion, based at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, has been deployed “coalition,” with its “superior satellite technology,“ could to the Iraqi theater of operations and detect the “transportation of nuclear, biological or chemical is working well, according to a Pen- weapons.” Despite access to RADARSAT data, U.S. tagon source. The ground station is warfighters didn’t find any such Iraqi weapons, which had capable of receiving imagery from... provided the convenient pretext for war. Eagle Vision did Canada’s RADARSAT.... ‘It’s doing great things,’ the source said. ‘It’s however provide data for targeting U.S. weapons. working like gangbusters.’”22 ing contingency operations.”12 ing] Operation Allied Force,”15 i.e., the That same issue also reported Since it began receiving fund- NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia in that on March 18, 2003, the U.S. Air ing in 1992, Eagle Vision has undergone 1999. A U.S. Air Force magazine con- Force dropped Arabic fliers on Iraqis a series of modifications to keep up with firms this, saying “during the Kosovo warning them that with surveillance 23 developments in “emerging technolo- conflict... Eagle Vision incorporated... spacecraft “We can see everything.” gies” such as “higher resolution/all nine RADARSAT scenes.”16 (These flier’s were among the over three weather satellites”13 like RADARSAT. Numerous military and industry million leaflets dropped on March 18 24 In March 1996, just four months publications include mention of Eagle and 19 alone. ) The reverse side of this March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 37 leaflet told Iraqi citizens that: EV III and EV IV “Vexcel Corporation “The coalition has supe- Provides RADARSAT Data Processing to U.S. Air Force,” August 30, 2001. rior satellite technology www.dtsi.com which allows coalition Google cache: cartome.org/sar.htm forces to see the prepara- EV V: MDA media release, “MDA to Participate in Provision of Military tion and transportation of Ground Station,” September 23, 2003. nuclear, biological or www.directionsmag.com/press.re leases/ 25 chemical weapons.” ?duty=Show&id=7912 However, despite 6. Selected AF Systems..., op. cit. quick access to imagery from 7. Pietrafesa and Matey. op. cit. satellites like RADARSAT— 8. Ibid. plus all of the other high-tech 9. “Affordable ISR Alternatives for Appli- Intelligence, Surveillance and cation in the Canadian Air Force,” Space Reconnaissance (ISR) ad- in the 21st Century, 2002. Google cache: 198.231.69.12/airsympos vantages of a rogue super- ium/fr/2001/2001.pdf power spending half the “The Eagle Vision system, deployed 10. Space in the 21st Century, op. cit. world’s total military bud- to the United Arab Emirates in 11. Capt. James Hartmetz, “Eagle Vision - get—the U.S. was not able Exploiting Commercial Satellite Im- to find any of the supposed support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, agery,” DISAM Journal, Summer 2001. Iraqi weapons of mass de- is an in-theater direct downlink of www.fas.org/asmp/resources/govern/ struction that had so con- commercial satellite imagery.” disamSummer2001.pdf veniently provided the pho- 12. Selected AF Systems..., op. cit. ney pretext for launching this illegal war. agery from commercial vendors 13. Hartmetz, op. cit. 14. Ibid. However, the use of Eagle Vi- through the NIMA.” 15. Ibid. sion did give U.S. warfighters valuable “Conclusion: The success of Op- 16. Ackerman, op. cit. access to space assets, like Canada’s eration Iraqi Freedom depended 17. MDA media release, “U.S. Air Force RADARSAT-1, which provide useful heavily on improved support and to Test RADARSAT-2 Info. Provision data for pinpointing Iraqi targets. force enhancement capabilities pro- to Warfighters,” June 23, 2004. It is appropriate to conclude this vided by Space-based assets. The www.rsi.ca/news/rsi_in_the_news/ look at Eagle Vision with excerpts from Army that fought in Operation Iraqi rs2_us_air_force.asp a U.S. Space and Missile Defense Com- Freedom was truly a Space-enabled 18. Pietrafesa and Matey, op. cit. mand document on “contributions and Force.... ISR capabilities are signifi- 19. “A snake’s-eye view,” op. cit. 20. Unified Combatant Commands lessons from Operation Iraqi Freedom”: cantly enhanced and multiplied by 26 deploymentlink.osd.mil/deploy/info/ “Eagle Vision System: A key ele- using satellite-derived data.” commands.shtml ment in establishing and maintain- 21. FY 2005 Budget Estimates, Feb. 2004 ing information and decision supe- References www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2005/ riority is timely access to theater im- 1. RADARSAT-1, Satellite Fact Sheet OSD/0605130D8Z.pdf agery. Accurate and timely imagery www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/ 22. “Mobile Satellite Ground Station Sent is the cornerstone of successful op- sat_radarsat_1.html to Iraq to Gather Imagery,” Space News, erational planning and execution 2. RADARSAT-1 Satellite March 31, 2003. and Operation Iraqi Freedom con- www.asf.alaska.edu/reference/general/ search.space.com/spacenews/ RADARSAT1.pdf archive03/digestarch_033103.html firmed the importance of having an 3. Robert K. Ackerman, “Commercial Eyes 23. Ibid. in-theater commercial imagery direct on the Battlefield Sharpen Focus,” SIG- 24. U.S. CENTCOM media release, “Coa- downlink capability to move com- NAL Magazine, March 2001. lition Forces Drop Nearly 2 Million mercial imagery more effectively to 4. “A snake’s-eye view: To support warf- Leaflets Into Iraq,” March 19, 2003. meet operational deadlines. The ighters, innovator looks to the skies,” www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/ process of obtaining imagery from C4ISR Journal, November 1, 2004. (An news/iraq/2003/iraq-030319- commercial vendors through the Na- interview with James “Snake” Clark, Di- centcom01.htm tional Imagery and Mapping Agency rector, USAF Combat Support Office.) 25. Propaganda war - U.S. leaflets (NIMA)..., however, can involve a www.c4isrjournal.com/story.php? news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ F=387412 ups/03/world_citizens_of_iraq_-_the lengthy process that degrades im- 5. EV I: Selected AF Systems Supporting _battle_for_hearts_and_minds/html/ agery timeliness and utility. IIW Missions 2.stm The new Eagle Vision system, www.iwar.org.uk/iwar/resources/iw- 26. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense deployed to the United Arab Emir- course/IW100%20Reading.doc Command media release, “Space and ates in support of Operation Iraqi EV II: Capt. Rob Pietrafesa and Capt. Missile Defense Command contribu- Freedom, is an in-theater direct Scott Matey, “Space experts provides tions and lessons from Operation Iraqi downlink of commercial satellite im- warfighters timely access to commercial Freedom,” October 14, 2003. agery. Using Eagle Vision proved imagery,” The Eagle, July 2004 www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/ appreciably faster than getting im- www.smdc.army.mil/PubAff/04Eagle/ report/2003/bernstein_ July04.pdf mccullough.htm 38 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 Some Canadian Military Uses of RADARSAT MARCOT (June ‘97) ations that linked tactical sensors moving on the ground. The...con- acDonald, Dettwiler and Assoc. and weapons systems to decision tract...[will] allow DRDC-Ottawa to M(MDA) provided Fast TRACS, a makers across three levels of com- assess MDA’s information solution “transportable satellite receiving sta- mand within the Canadian Forces.”6 and demonstrate its...utility to Ca- tion” to downlink RADARSAT data, for nadian Forces once RADARSAT- Phoenix Ram (Sept.-Oct. ‘05) Canada’s Maritime Coordinated Opera- 2...[is] launched in late 2006.... uring the Phoenix Ram combat tional Training (MARCOT) exercise. This [contract] will advance training war game at CFB Wain- FAST Tracs played “an integral part” D MDA’s expertise in providing robust wright in Alberta, the military used a in this war game, which involves U.S., defence information solutions which “satellite surveillance and intelligence British, German, Dutch, Portuguese and may have export potential to mili- information solution” provided by 6 Japanese forces. Fast TRACS supplied tary customers worldwide.” (Em- MDA. The company says this exercise “real time tactical imagery to exer- phasis added.) “successfully demonstrated that cise participants.... [It] was configur- commercial satellite imagery received References ed to obtain data from Canada’s directly in the field, as the satellite 1. MDA media release, “Fast TRACS Pro- RADARSAT.”1 passes over...can enhance...military vides Satellite Data for Navy Exercise,” In 1998, MARCOT combined operations.... Canada’s current sur- June 16, 1997. with NATO’s Unified Spirit wargame veillance and reconnaissance capa- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ with mostly U.S. forces simulating an pr1997061601.html bility does not include...this type of “amphibious assault onto the 2. Unified Spirit real-time satellite imagery.... beaches at Stephenville, Newfound- www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/ MDA’s satellite information solu- land [with]...a simultaneous heli- unified-spirit.htm tion is...successfully deployed by borne and surface assault.... Upon 3. Robert Edwards, “Future of Canada’s the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.”3 Maritime Capabilities,” June 18-20, seizure of the landing force objec- A main function of the war game was to 2004. tives, the amphibious task force as- prepare troops for duty in Afghanistan. centreforforeignpolicystudies.dal.ca/ saulted Green Beach to seize the port “There were approximately 7,000 pdf/RDSconf2004.pdf and airfield and to allow introduc- personnel...over six weeks and the 4. David Pugliese, “Canada Concentrates tion of follow-on forces.”2 on Maritime, Arctic Ops,” ISR Journal, exercise utilized...task forces slated October 31, 2005. Terrorists vs Greens (Aug. ‘04) for deployment to Afghanistan [in- www.isrjournal.com or 15 days in August 2004, Cana- cluding]...infantry, armour, artillery 5. DND Backgrounder, Atlantic Littoral Fda’s Army, Navy, Air Force, “Coast ...intelligence [and]...Tactical Psyops ISR Experiment, August 18, 2004. 4 Guard,...RCMP, Environment Canada [psychological operations].” www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/ and Transport Canada,”1 engaged in a view_news_e.asp?id=1432 Decision Making (Oct. ‘05) 6. Sandy Babcock, “Network Centric Op- round-the-clock Intelligence, Surveil- DA has won a $1.3-million gov- erations in the Canadian Context,” Brief- lance and Reconnaissance (ISR) war Mernment contract to help De- ing to MORS Workshop, Jan. 29 2004. game against terrorists in “control of a www.mors.org/meetings/oa_nco/ 2 fence R&D Canada (DRDC)-Ottawa to cargo ship” heading toward Canada. develop a means to get military nco_pres/Babcock.pdf The fanciful enemy in this “domes- “information from RADARSAT-1 im- 7. DND Backgrounder. op. cit. tic security and defence of Canada op- 8. DRDC Annual Report 2004-2005. agery.... This [contract] advances eration”3 was an imaginary www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/publications/an- MDA’s expertise in providing robust “terrorist organization suspected of nual/contribute_e.asp information solutions that transform targeting [an] Int’l Environmental 9. MDA media release, “MDA’s Satellite volumes of data to information used Information Solution Advances Military Congress in St John’s Nfld.” for critical decision-making.”5 Field Operations,” November 30, 2005. The list of “Forces” used in this www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ Atlantic Littoral ISR Experiment in- Moving Targets (Jan. 26, ‘06) pr2005113001.html cluded RADARSAT4 and an Uninhab- DA has been contracted to work 10. Exercise Phoenix Ram ited Aerial Vehicle that conducted a mari- Mwith DRDC-Ottawa on efforts www.calgaryhighlanders.com/ time ISR “targeting mission.”5 related to RADARSAT-2’s Ground 2005events/2005phoenix.htm A Department of National De- Moving Target Indicator technology. 11. MDA media release, “MDA Informa- fence agency, Defence R&D Canada, (See pp.14-18.) MDA is to tion Solution Potentially to be used by said this training/testing exercise Military,” October 4, 2005. “deliver an information solution that www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ “examined ways to integrate and extracts information about moving pr2005100401.html exploit...sensors within an Integrated objects on the ground from radar sat- 12. MDA media release, “MDA to De- ISR Architecture to support more ellite imagery. Canadian Forces velop Solution that Extracts Informa- rapid and informed decision mak- [want]...data from the new...RADAR- tion on Moving Objects,”Jan. 26, 2006. ing.... [and was] an opportunity to SAT-2 surveillance satellite to derive www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ understand the potential [of]...oper- actionable information on objects pr2006012601.html March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 39 Meet the Staff at ORBIMAGE: A Friendly Crew of “Missile Defense” Advocates who sell Canada’s RADARSAT Images to U.S. Warriors and Spies In 1998, ORBIMAGE began hiring a only firm allowed to sell RADARSAT-2 coterie of retired U.S. military officers data to U.S. buyers. In fact, between including some champions of the “mis- 1998 and 2001, their exclusive license sile defense” weapons program. covered all RADARSAT-2 sales outside Among their responsibilities was sell- Canada. Both firms were then owned ing data from RADARSAT-1 and-2. by Orbital Sciences, a U.S. “missile ORBIMAGE has been selling RA- defense” contractor. (See p.29.) DARSAT-1 images to U.S. clients since In Jan. 2006, ORBIMAGE acquired buying those rights from MacDonald, another firm, rebranded itself GeoEye Dettwiler and Assoc. in 1999. Between and became “the world’s largest com- 1998 and 2003, ORBIMAGE was the mercial satellite imagery company.” James Alan Abrahamson, Air Force Lieutenant General (retired) or decades, the now-retired U.S. people and skills required to carry Air Force (USAF) Lt. General out the responsibilities’.... To over- FJames Abrahamson, led the come these difficulties, [this study charge for “missile defense.” He joined recommended that the] SDIO should ORBIMAGE’s board of directors in reorganize and establish a Federally First Director, 1998, the same year that it acquired con- Funded Research Center.” Strategic Defense trol of RADARSAT-2 data sales to U.S. In July 1986, Abrahamson “directed Initiative Organization customers. By November 2001, he was that SDIO be reorganized based (now called the 1 Chairman of ORBIMAGE. upon the...Study of SDIO’s organi- Missile Defense Agency) Before that, Abrahamson had a zational requirements [that was com- long and “distinguished military ca- missioned by Abrahamson].”5 “global investment advisor and bank.”10 reer”2 with such accomplishments as As might be expected, follow- One of CIM’s top directors is James flying “49 combat missions over South- ing his January-1989 retirement from Woolsey, former Director of the Cen- east Asia.”3 He eventually became the the job of SDIO director,6 Abrahamson tral Intelligence Agency (1993-1995).11 “Project Manager for Maverick began juggling several “missile de- The founder and chairman of guided missiles, Director of the mul- fense”-related postings to corpora- CIM is Mansoor Ijaz, a “member of the tinational F-16 program, [and] Asso- tions. For instance, he “served as a sen- Council on Foreign Relations” and self- ciate Administrator of Space Flight ior executive at Hughes Aircraft Cor- professed expert on many financial and for NASA where he ran the Space poration”7 which is a well-known, U.S. political issues, who claims to have “ne- Shuttle program for three years.”4 war-related, aerospace firm that has— gotiated Sudan’s counterterrorism of- Abrahamson also had an early like so many others—done well feed- fer to the Clinton administration.”12 and pre-eminent role in boosting the ing from the “missile defense” trough. “Ijaz says he attempted to broker a “missile defense” weapons program. When Abrahamson became hand-over of Osama bin Laden from According to Dr. Donald Baucom, the chair of ORBIMAGE in 1998, he con- the government of the Sudan to the official historian of the Ballistic Missile tinued serving as Chair of Stratcom In- U.S. in 1996, since then he has criti- Defense Organization, Abrahamson ternational, which he founded in 1998. cized the Clinton National Security was instrumental in several milestones This company has long partnered with team of having failed to get their in the history of “missile defense”: the world’s top war industry, Lockheed man.... This [led] right wing press to Abrahamson became the first Direc- Martin. In 2003, Team Lockheed Mar- lay blame on Clinton et al for having tor of the Strategic Defense Initia- tin, including StratCom, won a US$40 failed to fight terrorism.”13 tive Organization (SDIO) on March million, Missile Defense Agency con- Clinton’s National Security Advisor, 27, 1984, when appointed by Presi- tract to develop High Altitude Airships Samuel Berger, had a different story dent Ronald Reagan’s Secretary of for “missile defense” applications.8 saying “Ijaz was unreliable because of Defense, Caspar Weinberger. Abrahamson is also a senior in- his oil investment interests in Sudan.”14 In December of 1985, “a study of the vestor and partner in a private-equity Regardless of this and other SDIO organization and manpower fund called Crescent Investment Man- controversies, Ijaz is highly regarded situation” that “was commissioned agement (CIM). It is described as a by many corporate media outlets that by General Abrahamson” “found “hedge fund...which focuses on na- provide him a platform, such as: that SDIO was ‘critically short of the tional security technologies”9 and a “CNN, CNNI, Fox News,...Germany’s 40 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 ARD TV, Japan’s NHK, ABC and pany called the Alliance Stars Group Homeland and Global security NBC....[and] the editorial pages of (ASG). Other “key partners” of ASG through...projects [including]…sat- London’s Financial Times, the Wall have included ellite imaging and dirigible-based tel- Street Journal, New York Times, Los • Kissinger McLarty Associates ecommunications platforms.”17 Angeles Times, Washington Post, In- • Kissinger Associates This reference to dirigibles and ternational Herald Tribune, News- • Project for the New American “Homeland and Global security... week International, Christian Sci- Century projects” probably refers to Abraham- ence Monitor,...National Review • The Rockefeller Foundation16 son’s company, StratCom International, [and] USA Today.”15 In May 2004, the ASG website de- and its partnership with Lockheed Mar- Ijaz’s CIM is one of the “key scribed CIM as being involved in a tin to build High Altitude Airships for partners” in an Israeli investment com- “multi-year program to improve U.S. the Missile Defense Agency. Gary Payton, Air Force Colonel (retired) nother “missile defense”-pro- 1990, he was the Assistant Deputy for moting USAF veteran, who Technology and executive officer to the Alanded a top executive posi- Director of the Strategic Defense Ini- tion at ORBIMAGE, was Gary Payton. tiative Organization (SDIO). It is the This retired Air Force Colonel became “missile defense” organization set up ORBIMAGE’s Vice President for Engi- to fulfil what became known as Presi- neering and Operations in July 2000. dent Reagan’s “Star Wars” initiative.23 His main responsibility was the Payton was the Director of “management and direction of OR- Theater Missile Defense Sensors24 and, BIMAGE’s satellite operations and between 1992 and 1994, he was Deputy engineering departments.”18 for Technology at the Ballistic Missile During his two year stint at Defense Organization (BMDO).25 ORBIMAGE, the company had exclu- Between 1995 and 2000, Payton sive rights to sell RADARSAT-1 and -2 entered a new phase in his career, work- data to the U.S. government. What ing directly for NASA. Based at their qualified Payton for this work? Payton headquarters in Washington, D.C., he had a life-long career in the U.S. mili- was their Deputy Associate Adminis- • Assistant Deputy for Tech- 26 tary. In 1967, he entered the Air Force trator for Space Launch Technology. nology, Strategic Defense academy and received his master of sci- All of this experience was ap- ence degree in astronautical and aero- parently excellent training for Payton’s Initiative Organization nautical engineering five years later.19 job at ORBIMAGE, which he held be- • Deputy for Technology, Payton’s official Air Force biog- tween 2000 and 2002. When hired, the Ballistic Missile Defense raphy says he was awarded a Vietnam company’s President and CEO at the Organization Service Medal. This means he served time, Gil Rye, was quoted as saying: • Deputy for Advanced Sys- in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia “We are excited to have Gary Payton “or contiguous waters and airspace” join us…. He has significant experi- tems, Missile Defense Agency sometime between 1965 and 1973.20 ence with NASA and the Department • Deputy Undersecretary, Air In 1973, he graduated from pilot of Defense, who are key customers Force for Space Programs training at Craig Air Force Base (AFB) for our imagery products and serv- in Alabama and became an instructor ices. Gary’s technical management for Space Programs. Here’s what this pilot there. Between 1976 and 1980, he expertise and leadership skills will current job involves: was a spacecraft test controller at Flori- benefit our satellite and production “He provides guidance, direction da’s Cape Canaveral. In 1980, he was operations as we prepare for the next and oversight for the formulation, selected for the USAF Manned Space phase of our business.”27 review and execution of military Flight Engineer Program and five years After two years with ORBIM- space programs. This includes over- later he was the “payload specialist” AGE, Payton returned to the U.S. mili- sight of all space and space-related aboard the STS-51C Discovery. This tary establishment. He went straight acquisition plans, strategies and as- space flight “was the first dedicated into the Missile Defense Agency and sessments for research, develop- Space Shuttle Department of Defense became their Deputy for Advanced ment, test, evaluation and space-re- [DoD] mission.”21 This made Payton Systems (2002-2005). He then led the lated industrial base issues.”29 “the first DoD astronaut to fly on the “technology program to enhance During Payton’s entire 33-year U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery.”22 ballistic missile defense sensor, work history, his two years at ORBIM- Between 1986 and 1995, Payton weapon and battle management ca- AGE was the only period that he spent served in a variety of postings that di- pabilities.”28 outside the military—if that is, you can rectly served the cause of “missile de- Then, in 2005, he became the consider working at ORBIMAGE to be fense.” For instance, between 1986 and Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force outside the military’s sphere. March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 41 Gilbert Rye, Air Force Colonel (retired) fter welcoming Gary Payton ally in the White House proved in- onboard in 2000, Gil Rye was valuable to NASA.”36 Amoved up to become ORB- Rye’s contributions to Reagan’s IMAGE’s Vice Chairman in November heady “Space and Intelligence” efforts 2001.30 Like Payton and Abrahamson, were the culmination of his 25-year mili- Rye also had a previous life in the U.S tary career. From about 1960, when he Air Force. And, like them, he was also joined up, until his retirement from di- involved in promoting the U.S. “mis- rect military service in 1985, sile defense” weapons development “Rye was an officer in the U.S. Air program. In fact, Colonel Rye was a key Force serving in various planning, figure in the struggle to push “missile project management and policy po- defense” when the effort was called the sitions related to systems procure- Director of the National Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). ment and space and intelligence Security Council’s Space Rye was a staff member of the policy/planning. His last assignment and Intelligence programs National Security Council (NSC) dur- before retirement in 1985 was as Di- ing President Ronald Reagan’s first and rector of Space and Intelligence Pro- for President Reagan second terms. Rye was on the NSC’s grams on the National Security Coun- Played “a leading role in Intelligence committee in 1982 and 1983, cil in President Reagan’s White initiating the ‘Star Wars”’ and was its Director of Space Programs House. In this position, Mr. Rye over- weapons program 31 in 1984 and 1985. He used his influ- saw the civil, commercial and na- Drafted President Rea- ential position there to play tional security sectors of the U.S. “a leading role in initiating the ‘Star space program, as well as providing gan’s infamous “Star Wars” Wars’ missile defense program…. support to the President on various speech of March 23, 1983. [But], to Rye’s dismay, the United technical intelligence matters.”37 States still has no workable shield Clearly, Rye’s contributions to military corporations, TRW. In order to against missiles.”32 the military and intelligence communi- settle the charges against it, It was, in fact, during Rye’s time ties, did not end in 1985. He went on to “TRW Inc. agreed to divest a por- on the NSC that the phrase “Star Wars” serve these previous masters during a tion of the systems engineering and was first hitched to what people now no-less-illustrious career in the corpo- technical assistance (SETA) opera- refer to as “missile defense.” Rye cer- rate world. Before joining ORBIMAGE tions of McLean, Virginia-based tainly knows a thing or two about Rea- in 1992, Rye worked for two private BDM International prior to complet- gan and, particularly, his infamous “Star companies largely devoted to facilitat- ing the [US]$942 million acquisition Wars” speech of March 23, 1983.33 ing access to satellite data for U.S. mili- of the company. In its complaint, the That’s when Reagan dramatically ad- tary and intelligence agencies. FTC stated that TRW’s acquisition dressed the U.S. television public and For instance, between 1985 and of BDM would substantially lessen stirred their imagination with the fanci- 1988, Rye was the president of competition in the market for re- ful idea that the U.S. could build a space COMSAT Government Systems, a “sys- search, development, manufacture shield to stop Soviet missiles. Gil Rye’s tems integration contractor” selling and sale of a Ballistic Missile De- little-known claim to fame is that “he “turn-key, satellite-based communica- fense System. was a drafter of the President’s ‘Star tions systems to the U.S. and foreign BDM...serves the [U.S.] Depart- Wars’ speech.”34 governments.”38 ment of Defense [DoD], international Rye is much better known how- From there, he went over to defense agencies...and commercial ever as having been BDM International, Inc., and was their clients. [In] 1996, the company ac- “instrumental in President Reagan’s Senior Vice President for Space Systems quired CW Systems, IG Systems, approval of the U.S. Space Station and Technology (1988-1990). Melco Systems, Advanced Systems Program and various space-related “Here he supervised over 300 peo- Design, RGTI Systems and Software intelligence programs.”35 ple and four regional offices that Engineering. An official NASA-history document provided technical consulting serv- TRW...and BDM were each in- records the following about Rye’s role ices to the intelligence community, volved in the DoD’s Ballistic Mis- at the NSC: other government agencies and the sile Defense program. The United “Responsible for space policy mat- private sector.”39 Missile Defense Corp., a joint ven- ters within the National Security BDM was later caught in the ture including TRW, was one of two Council staff at this time was Gil Rye, centre of a legal battle over “missile de- competitors for the Ballistic Missile an Air Force colonel who had worked fense” contracts. In 1998, the U.S. gov- Defense Organization [BMDO] Lead on space issues within the Penta- ernment’s Federal Trade Commission Systems Integrator contract. BDM gon before being detailed to the (FTC) laid charges against BDM’s par- is the BMDO’s sole supplier of SETA White House.... Having Rye as an ent company, one of America’s largest services for the LSI program.”40 42 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 Gary Adkins, Air Force (retired) et another former military man Federal and National Security gov- employed at ORBIMAGE is ernment sectors.”46 YGary Adkins, a retired “Air These are, of course, ORBIMAGE’s Force cartographer who heads ORBIM- most important sales sectors. War is AGE’s government sales.”41 He became good for the satellite business. The Iraq the company’s vice president of Fed- war in particular has even made it diffi- eral Sales and National Security Pro- cult for ORBIMAGE to meet demands: grams in February 2003.42 “Commercial satellite imagery opera- After 20 years in the Air Force, tors...are benefiting from the U.S. mili- Air Force cartographer with where he “held several technical and tary operations in the [Mid East] a 20-year military career. management positions related to the under their Nextview contract with use of remote sensing,”43 Adkins the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelli- Clayton, Chief of Space Policy, Space worked for Space Imaging Corp., La- gence Agency. Military operations and Missile Defense Policy Division, ser-Scan and the Geodynamics Corp.44 in Iraq, as well as political situations Deputy Directorate for Strategy and While at these firms, he was in charge in Iran and Syria, are driving a good Policy, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).48 of “program management, business de- percentage of the business for ORB- It was something of a coup to velopment, marketing and sales, and IMAGE, says Gary Adkins.”47 get a speaker of Clayton’s rank at this corporate management.”45 Adkins was on the planning “Commercial Satellite Remote Sensing When Adkin’s joined ORBIM- committee of a conference in Washing- Symposium,” because the JCS is Ameri- AGE’s “senior marketing staff,” he was ton, D.C. (May 13-15, 2003) that in- ca’s highest-ranked military organisa- praised as “an experienced veteran in cluded discussions about the impor- tion, composed of the Chiefs of the the remote sensing industry with a tance of commercial satellites in pro- Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine proven track record in federal sales.” viding data for military, including “mis- Corps.49 The JCS’s chairman is the top ORBIMAGE expected him to help lead sile defense” functions. One of the “military advisor to the President, the “marketing pursuits for the sale of speakers at that conference was a fel- Secretary of Defense and the Na- its satellite imagery products…to the low U.S. Air Force officer, Lt.Col. Max tional Security Council.”50

Bill Schuster, CIA officer (retired) n November of 2004, ORBIMAGE Although it is said that no hired William Schuster as its Chief one ever leaves the CIA, Schuster IOperating Officer to “manage their left “The Company” in 1995 and operations.” The company’s media re- went to work for several large, war lease proudly highlighted that he industries, including Lockheed “began his professional career with Martin, BAE Systems, Harris and the Central Intelligence Agency Loral Space and Range Sys- [CIA] where he spent nearly twenty- tems.62 Each of these weapons two years. Upon his departure from makers have their fingers deep in the CIA, he was recognized by Sec- the rich, “missile defense” pie. retary of Defense, William Perry, for When Schuster joined the pivotal role that he played in the ORBIMAGE, Matt O’Connell, conceptualization, development and the company’s CEO, commented: operation of several National Recon- “These are exciting times for This 22-year veteran of the CIA naissance Systems.”61 ORBIMAGE.”64 worked on National Reconnais- While embedded in the CIA, No doubt part of the ex- sance Systems and received the Schuster was kept busy in many citement about having people like “engineering and management po- Schuster—and other former mili- Intelligence Medal of Merit. sitions, designing in-house, quick- tary and intelligence officials— in 2004, the usefulness of contract reaction operational support and working within the ORBIMAGE family, wranglers, like Schuster, also has to do surveillance systems. Later, he be- is that they have the contacts, knowl- with the common “language” that these came the project manager and con- edge and skills that are needed to get men share with their customers. tracting officers’ technical repre- lucrative contracts with the DoD, CIA “‘By speaking the same language as sentative for more complex projects. and other U.S. institutions of war. the NGA and intelligence personnel, During the last 14 years of his CIA As Schuster himself has con- we can facilitate their requests so career, he worked with national sys- ceded, after ORBIMAGE landed a half- that they get precisely what they tems and received the Intelligence billion-dollar deal with the National need to fulfil their mission require- Medal of Merit.”62 Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) ments,’ Schuster said.”65 March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 43 John G. Zierdt, Jr., Army Brigadier General (retired) n 2002, when Orbital Sciences (the listic Missile Agency, the Army Ord- parent company of ORBIMAGE and nance Missile Command and the Army Ithe former parent of MacDonald, Rocket and Guided Missile Agency.58 Dettwiler and Assoc.) won a four-year, Zierdt Sr. even had occasion to US$400-million “missile defense” con- work with such legendary “Americans” tract from Boeing, it proudly announced as Dr. Wernher Von Braun. He was Nazi it was hiring a former U.S. Army Briga- Germany’s top weapons scientist. Like dier General named John Zierdt, Jr. many others of his ilk, he carried on his Orbital brought the retired gen- war efforts at NASA in the U.S.. On eral on board as vice president in charge January 1, 1964, when John Zierdt, Sr., of their operations in Huntsville, Ala- was promoted to Major General, he was bama. That’s where the work on their congratulated by Von Braun.59 (See “missile defense” weapons contract photo, below.) Zierdt’s illustrious ca- was being performed. Zierdt then be- reer culminated as Commanding Gen- gan supervising Orbital’s work on J.G.Zierdt, Jr. eral of U.S. Army Missile Command.60 “the deployment, training and sus- Zierdt Sr. died in 2000, a few tainment elements of the Ground- twice as many prisoners as private months before his son’s embarrassing based Midcourse Defense [GMD] firms every year: zero.”56 resignation from TransCor. That was System boost vehicle program.”51 In 2000, Zierdt, Jr, finally re- also before junior joined Orbital’s “mis- According to Boeing, the prime con- signed from TransCor. There were just sile defense” efforts. No doubt the sen- tractor for the GMD, this system is the too many scandals arising from the ior Zierdt would have been proud. One “key component of the Missile De- company’s repeated inability to keep wonders however whether Zierdt Jr’s fense Agency’s overall layered bal- prisoners inside their buses.57 role at Orbital will ever be associated listic missile defense architecture.”52 with the kind of privatisation-related de- Zierdt came to this “missile de- John Zierdt, Sr. bacle that was endured by TansCor. fense” job along a circuitous and con- Long before joining Orbital, or catch- Of course a single, major U.S. troversial route. In 1995, after retiring ing media flack for prisoner escapes, weapons system using data from a pri- from the military, he shifted gears and the name John Zierdt was well known vatised Canadian satellite, like RA- become president and CEO of TransCor within the “missile defense” community. DARSAT, could easily cause more de- America Inc., “the largest privately run That’s because his father was a famous struction than the 25 prisoners who es- prison transport company” in the Major-General whose name and person- caped from Zierdt’s buses. However, the U.S..53 It controls 85% of the American ality is closely entwined with U.S. “mis- corporate media will not likely ever at- convict-moving market; transporting sile” history and folklore. tribute any share of the blame to RA- about 75,000 prisoners annually.54 Zierdt Sr. had the dubious hon- DARSAT just because thousands of In 1997, three prisoners being our of being “inducted into the U.S. Iraqi or Afghan civilians are killed by bussed by Transcor escaped during a Army Ordnance Hall of Fame” in 1981. weapons systems which—through Burger King break in Owatonna, Min- Between 1958 and 1967, he held sev- ORBIMAGE—use data collected by nesota. One of them, Homer Land, held eral top positions within the Army Bal- Canada’s privatised satellites. a local couple hostage for 15 hours. Then, in 1999, when a “convicted child killer” escaped from a TransCor bus “hours before guards even noticed he was missing,” Zierdt Jr. reluctantly said “several procedural violations have occurred involving security policies.... We are embarrassed by this incident.”55 Transcor is a symbol of what privatisation can do, besides pouring money into private corporations: “All told, at least 25 convicts have escaped from TransCor vehicles.... www.redstone.army.mil Nearly a dozen more have escaped from other for-profit firms. Reported (Jan. 1, 1964) NASA’s top rocket scientist, Dr. Wernher escapes over the same period dur- Von Braun (left), a “retired” Nazi weapons crusader, con- ing transit by the U.S. Marshals gratulates John Zierdt, Sr., when he became a Major Service, which moves more than General (as Mrs. Zierdt and Mrs. Von Braun look away.). 44 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 References 25. Ibid. via10030505.html 1. Orbital media release, “Orbital Imaging 26. Gary E. Payton, AF Link. op. cit. 48. Commercial Satellite Remote Sensing Corporation Announces Management 27. Ibid. Symposium Restructuring,” November 13, 2001. 28. Ibid. strategies.org/symposium/Sympos www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/releases/ 29. Ibid. Program.pdf 11-13-01.html 30. ORBITAL media release, Nov. 13, 2001. 49. Joint Chiefs of Staff 2. Metal Storm media release, “Metal 31. Ronald Reagan: National Security, Na- www.jcs.mil/about_cjs.html Storm Signs Teaming Agreement with tional Security Council 50. [JCS] Chairman Responsibilities Stratcom International,” Nov. 25, 2002. www.americanpresident.org/history/ www.jcs.mil/chairman/chairman_resp. www.secinfo.com/dsvrt.383b.htm ronaldreagan/staffadvisers/nationalsec html 3. Biographies of U.S. Astronauts urity/NSC/h_index.shtml 51. ORBITAL Media release, “Orbital to www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/ 32. Joseph C. Anselmo, “Space Race 2000,” Expand Presence in Huntsville to Sup- english/abrahamson_james.htm Washington Technology, July 10, 2000. port New Missile Defense Business,” 4. Media release, Nov. 25, 2002. op. cit. www.coresw.com/news/washington March 26, 2002. 5. Donald Baucom (Historian, BMDO), post.htm www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html? “Missile Defense Milestones, 1944-97” 33. Address to the Nation on National Se- pid=7852 www.fas.org/spp/starwars/program/ curity, Pres. R. Reagan, March 23, 1983. 52. Boeing media release, “Boeing Leads milestone.htm www.fas.org/spp/starwars/offdocs/ Team to Successful Ground-based 6. Ibid. rrspch.htm Midcourse Defense Flight Test,” Dec. 7. NJ Institute of Technology Media Ad- 34. Joseph C. Anselmo, op. cit. 13, 2005. visory, “Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, 35. Report 2001-2004, National Remote www.huntsvillealabamausa.com/cham- Former Director of the Space Shuttle Sensing & Space Law Center (NRSSLC) ber/news_events/news/cm_news/press and ‘Star Wars’ SDI, to Speak at NJIT www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu/activities/ _releases/2005/121305_boeing.html Commencement,” May 21, 2004. Center_Archive.pdf 53. “Search continues for convicted child- www.njit.edu/publicinfo/press_releases 36. John Logsdon, “Origins of International killer Kyle Bell,” AP Newswires, Oc- /release_502.php Participation in the Space Station,” tober 15, 1999. 8. Ibid. Monographs in Aerospace History, Nov. www.afscme.org/private/prisons/ 9. “Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin 1998. (NASA History Division.) ppw1999b.htm Laden,” The Guardian, August 23, 2003 permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/ 54. Vince Beiser, “Interstate Inmates,” truthout.org/docs_03/082403A.shtml historynasagov/history.nasa.gov/ Mother Jones, May/June 2000. 10. Congressional Hearings, Intelligence & monograph11.pdf www.motherjones.com/news/update/ Security: “Prohibition on Financial 37. Report 2001-2004, op. cit. 2000/05/inmates.html Transactions with Countries Support- 38. Ibid. 55. AP Newswires, Oct. 15, 1999. op. cit. ing Terrorism Act,” June 10, 1997. 39. Ibid. 56. Mother Jones, May/June 2000. op. cit. www.fas.org/irp/congress/1997_hr/ 40. TRW 57. GETAHN WARD, “TransCor leader hju48095_0.htm www.globalsecurity.org/military/indus- steps down after reportís release,” The 11. Mansoor Ijaz, Source Watch. try/trw.htm Tennessean, October 12, 2000. www.sourcewatch.org/index.php? 41. Bill Brubaker, “For Eyes in Sky, Pic- 58. MG John G. Zierdt title=Mansoor_Ijaz ture Clearing,” Washington Post, Octo- www.redstone.army.mil/history/ 12. Mansoor Ijaz, Benador Associates ber 14, 2004. chron4/zierdt.html www.benadorassociates.com/ijaz.php www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp- 59. Redstone Arsenal Complex Chronology: 13. Mansoor Ijaz, Source Watch, op. cit. dyn/A28351-2004Oct12 Excellence in Missilery, 1962-1979. 14. Ibid. 42. ORBIMAGE Media release, “ORB- www.redstone.army.mil/history/ 15. Benador Associates, op. cit. IMAGE Promotes Two Senior Staff to chron4/1964.html 16. Web Archive, Alliance Stars Group VP Positions,” February 7, 2003. 60. Ibid. web.archive.org/web/20031231023738/ www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/releases/ 61. ORBIMAGE Media Release, “ORB- www.members.alliancestars.com 02-07-03.html IMAGE Names William Schuster Chief 17. Google’s cache: Alliance Stars website 43. ORBIMAGE Media release, “ORB- Operating Officer,” December 7, 2004. www.alliancestars.org/2041/30849.html IMAGE Names Gary Adkins Senior www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/releases/ 18. ORBIMAGE media release, “ORBIM- Director of Federal and National Secu- 12-07-04.html AGE Names Gary Payton VP for Engi- rity Sales,” April 2, 2002. 62. Beyond A Poly Education neering & Operations,” July 13, 2000. www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/releases/ web1.poly.edu/alumni/spotlight/ www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/releases/ 04-02-02.html lectures/schuster.cfm 07-13-00.html 44. ORBIMAGE media release, Feb.7, 2003, 63. Adena Schutzberg, “Five Questions For 19. Biographical Data, LBJ Space Center op.cit. William Schuster,” Earth Observation, www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ 45. Corporate, Executive Team May 2005. payton-ge.html www.ORBIMAGE.com/corp/ www.eomonline.com/EOM_May05/ 20. Vietnam Service Medal. execteam.html department03a.php www.history.navy.mil/medals/vsn.htm 46. ORBIMAGE media release, April 2, 64. ORBIMAGE media release, December 21. Biographical Data, op. cit. 2002. op. cit. 7, 2004. op. cit. 22. ORBIMAGE media release, July 13, www.ORBIMAGE.com/news/re- 65. Kevin Corbley, “The View After Next,” 2000. op. cit. leases/04-02-02.html Military Geospatial Technology, No- 23. Gary E. Payton, Air Force (AF) Link 47. Jason Bates, “Middle East: Short-Term vember 15, 2005. www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=8046 Opportunities Turn into Long-Term www.military-geospatial-technol 24. ORBIMAGE media release, July 13, Businesses,” October 03, 2005. ogy.com/article.cfm?DocID=1142 2000. op. cit. www.telecomweb.com/cgi/pub/via/ March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 45 This former high- ranking BC-Social Meet MDA’s David Emerson Credit bureau- any Canadians were not ter- Missile crat, then Liberal ribly surprised when new Defense Minister of In- MConservative Prime Minister As an MDA director, dustry, is now the Stephen Harper, said that his cabinet Emerson must have Conservative included former Liberal MP David been rubbing shoul- Minister of In- Emerson. As Minister of Industry, ders with at least two Emerson was responsible for the Cana- other top executives ternational Trade. dian Space Agency, which oversaw the from Orbital Sci- In 2000, he was a Canada-U.S. RADARSAT project. ences, namely David Director of MDA, Many Canadians are used to the Thompson, Orbital’s the firm benefit- cynical way that self-serving politicians Chair and CEO, and switch allegiances between the Liberal James Thompson, Jr., ing from the Lib- and Conservative parties, since both Orbital’s President eral government’s represent the same corporate interests. and Chief Operating $1.145-billion Few realize however that Emer- Officer.10 Both were RADARSAT prison had been on the board of MacDon- on MDA’s board in Seen here being confronted by Haiti 1 vatisation scheme. Solidarity activists, July 10, 2005. ald, Dettwiler and Assoc. (MDA) , the 2000 to keep their Ca- US-owned company that benefited nadian subsidiary on track. rate role in “missile defense,” but the from the Liberal government’s $1.15-bil- At some point, Emerson, the “extent and type of potential opportu- lion RADARSAT-privatisation scheme. corporate lumberman-banker-politician, nities” for Canadian corporations. When Emerson joined MDA in must have realised that MDA’s rocket- August 2000, he was CEO of Canfor, making parent company was a major Conflict of Interest? which describes itself as “the largest contractor for the “missile defense” In the same Hill Times interview, producer of SPF [Spruce, Pine, Balsam weapons program. However, such links Emerson used his platform as Minister 2 Fir] lumber in the world.” (Presumably would not likely have phased Emerson of Industry to unashamedly plug his the firm that cuts down more SPF trees in the least. If he was turned off by work- former company, MDA, by saying: than any other, needs satellite images ing with “missile defense” contractors, “there are some critical companies, to locate the world’s remaining forests.) he would surely never have been ap- with truly leading-edge technol- When appointed to MDA, he pointed Canada’s Industry Minister. ogy.... In my home province of BC, was also the Canadian Pulp and Paper On November 22, 2004, soon for example, MacDonald, Dettwiler 3 Association’s chair. His other posi- after assuming that cabinet post, Otta- and Associates is a world-class tions in the deforestation field have in- wa’s Hill Times reported on Emerson’s space company, making a significant cluded being chair of the Forest Prod- efforts to launch a new Canadian “aero- contribution in the Lower Mainland, 4 ucts Association of Canada. space industry strategy.” The paper as well as to the provincial and na- But Emerson was no mere lum- noted that “Emerson says he supports tional economies.”13 ber baron. He had been Deputy Minis- talks with U.S. on missile defence.”11 Minister Emerson has appeared ter of Finance (1984) under BC’s right- When asked: “Do you think Canada to be in a conflict of interest over other wing Social Credit government. He then should sign on to the U.S. Missile De- matters relating to his former links with rose through the ranks to become fence Shield?” Emerson responded that RADARSAT. When Prof. Michael deputy minister to the Social Credit Pre- the Liberal’s had already: Byers of UBC’s Liu Institute for Global 5 mier, Bill Vander Zalm in 1990. Emerson “announced that Canada would en- Issues, testified before a Parliamentary has held many top-flight corporate ter into discussions with the U.S. Committee regarding Bill C-25 (the “Act posts, including directorships in B.C. about possible participation. I sup- governing the operation of remote 6 Gas and the Telus Corporation, CEO port this process.... As Minister of sensing space systems,” aka the “RA- of the Western and Pacific Bank of Industry, I am aware of the poten- DARSAT Bill”), he said that Emerson: Canada (1986) and president of the B.C. tial industrial cooperation oppor- “is one of the four cabinet sponsors 7 Trade Development Corp. (1990). tunities for Canada associated with of Bill C-25. Committee members Topping off his corporate cre- BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense]. should be aware that in 2000, dentials, Emerson has also been vice We have an active and diverse aero- Emerson served as a member of the chairman of the infamous, big-business space and defence industry in board of directors of MacDonald, lobby group, the Canadian Council of Canada, and we are currently as- Dettwiler Associates, the owner and 8 Chief Executive Officers. sessing the extent and type of po- operator of RADARSAT-2 and the Emerson joined the MDA board tential opportunities for Canadian parent company of RADARSAT In- on the same day as Garrett Pierce, who companies.”12 (Emphasis added.) ternational.... Emerson thus served had just been appointed Executive Vice Note that Emerson did not say the gov- on [MDA’s] board of directors dur- President of MDA’s U.S. parent com- ernment was ‘assessing’ whether or not ing the same year that the company 9 pany, Orbital Sciences. there would be any Canadian corpo- secured $167 million in federal gov- 46 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 “As Minister of Industry, I am aware ernment funding for RADARSAT-2. of the potential industrial cooperation This was additional funding.”14 opportunities for Canada associated At that point in his testimony, a Liberal with BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense]. MP (Dan McTeague) interrupted Byers to say that his comments “should be We have an active and diverse stricken [from the record]. This is ridicu- aerospace and defence industry in 15 lous.” Byers, however, continued: Canada, and we are currently assessing “As a professor of law and...political science, I’m identifying that there is the extent and type of potential an appearance of bias.... Mr. Emer- opportunities for Canadian companies.” son would serve the purposes of 10. Ibid. this committee if he were to withdraw References 1. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- 11. “The Aerospace Policy Briefing,” Hill as one of the four cabinet sponsors Times, Nov. 22-28, 2004. of this bill.... Opposition members of twiler Appoints New Board Members,” August 2, 2000. www.hilltimes.com/policy_briefings/ this committee might wish to recom- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ 112204_pb.pdf 12. Ibid. mend to Mr. Emerson that he avoid pr2000080202.html 13. Ibid. the slightest possibility of an ap- 2. Canfor Wood Products 16 14. “Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs pearance of bias here.” www.canfor.com/products/wood and International Trade, Feb. 22, 2005. Other conflict of interest allega- 3. MDA media release, op. cit. 192.197.82.11/committee/Committee 4. Forest Products Association of Canada, tions have also been made against Publication.aspx?SourceId=125796 Annual Review, 2001. Emerson by the National Union of Pub- 15. Ibid. 17 www.fpac.ca/en/pdfs/annual_review lic and General Employees and Duff 16. Ibid. _2001_E.pdf Conacher of Democracy Watch.18 17. NUPGE media release, “Conflict of in- 5. About David Some might even say it smacks terest written all over offshore B.C. www.davidemerson.ca/about.html ferry deal,” September 19, 2004. of conflict of interest to run a high-pro- 6. MDA media release, op. cit. file election campaign under the Lib- www.nupge.ca/news_2004/n19se04a. 7. The Honourable David Emerson htm eral banner and then, once elected, pm.gc.ca/eng/bio.asp?id=27 18. Charlie Smith, “Investments Allowed,” change parties in order to get a cabinet 8. CCCEO website. Straight Talk, December 2, 2004. post in the Conservative government. www.ceocouncil.ca www.straight.com/content.cfm? 9. MDA media release, op. cit. id=6746 Meet Mark Garneau: Expert on Space, PR and Weapons anadian hero, Mark Garneau, who headed the Cana- dian Space Agency (CSA) from 2001 until late 2005, Cwas probably RADARSAT’s greatest cheerleader calling it the CSA’s “greatest achievement.” Garneau is known as Canada’s first astronaut. Less well-known are his qualifi- cations as a weapons specialist in Canada’s armed forces: 1974-1976: Combat systems engineer aboard “an area air defence destroyer,” Canada’s HMCS Algonquin. 1976-1977: Instructor in naval weapon systems at Cana- dian Forces Fleet School in Halifax. He designed a simulator for training weapons officers to fire missile systems aboard Tribal-class warships. 1977-1980: Project engineer in naval weapon systems. 1981: Helped develop an aircraft-towed target system for scoring the accuracy of naval weapons. www.space.gc.ca 1983: Design authority for naval communications and “Canadians can be proud. RADARSAT is more electronic warfare equipment and systems. than just a satellite—it is a humanitarian 1984: First Canadian in space, as a payload specialist service that Canada provides to its on U.S. Space Shuttle Mission 41-G.. communities... and to the world. It is Canada’s 1989: Retired from the Navy. ‘eye in the sky’ that monitors our land and seas, 1996, 2000: Joined two other Space Shuttle missions. helps us manage our natural resources and Source: Biographical Data, NASA assists those in need when disasters strike.” www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/garneau.html Marc Garneau, Pres., Canadian Space Agency 2006: Lost his bid to become a Liberal MP for the Mon- Source: CSA media release, “Ten Years and over Two Billion Kilome- treal-west riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. tres for RADARSAT-1.” November 4, 2005. March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 47 Meet the EMS Space and Technology Group MS Space and Technology/ EMS Canada Supplies the Canada Group is the Canadian “Missile Defense” Giants E subsidiary of a U.S. company When Forbes magazine published an called EMS Technologies. Based in article in August 2001 noting that Georgia and founded as Electro-Mag- President Bush’s sponsorship of netic Sciences, EMS purchased this the “missile defense” weapons Canadian company in Ste-Anne-de- program would mean a major Bellevue, Quebec, in 1999. At that time, boost to the faltering high-tech- it was the Satellite Products division of nology sector, it named just Spar Aerospace. three companies that were most Spar was the prime contractor likely to cash in: DRS Tech- for RADARSAT-1, the world’s most ad- nologies, L-3 Communications vanced commercial Synthetic Aperture and EMS Technologies. The Radar (SAR) satellite. It is also the top short blurb in Forbes about EMS, subcontractor for RADARSAT-2. highlights only one branch of its business, its Space and Technologies RADARSAT 1 group, led by the former Spar division lthough Spar was the prime con- in Quebec.6 Atractor that designed and built Forbes described EMS Tech- RADARSAT-1,1 it is better known for nologies by saying that the company’s: benefited most handsomely from the manufacturing the Canadarm. This “Re- “Space and Technologies segment “missile defense” cash cow. mote Manipulator System” has aided (45% of revenue) manufactures hard- On the EMS website, under a many military missions of the U.S. ware for space and satellite commu- typical but misleadingly euphemistic Space Shuttle. nications, radar, surveillance and mili- subheading, “Defense Electronics,” the Spar was formally touted as tary countermeasures.”7 company lists only four clients of its Canada’s “largest space company with When the influential Forbes “Space & Technology” products. The 2,500 employees and $594 million in Magazine predicts that a company will corporations cited are none other than sales.”2 However, Spar virtually left the benefit from “missile defense” con- “The Big Four” prime contractors for space business when it sold its Satel- tracts, it probably means something, at the “missile defense” weapons pro- lite Products division to EMS in 1999. least to potential investors. gram. As EMS says: Spar Aerospace was also a part- In puffs that appear to flow from “Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Mar- ner in the corporate consortium called the pens of Forbes’ own promoters, the tin and Northrop Grumman rely on RADARSAT International (RSI). RSI magazine is described with accolades EMS to provide critical components won the contract to oversee the mar- saying that it is the: for radar, secure communications and keting and sales of data gathered by “most trusted voice in business jour- electronic warfare systems. Our Space RADARSAT-1,3 and subsequently sold nalism. The voice of market & Technology products are meeting off those rights to Lockheed Martin capitalism…for over 80 years…. the Pentagon’s strengthened em- and ORBIMAGE, two large U.S. war in- packed with…stories that anticipate phasis on defense electronics.”9 dustries.3 (See pp.30-32.) major trends [and] identify new op- The links between EMS Tech- portunities…. revealing what’s new nologies, “The Big Four” and Canada RADARSAT 2 and what’s next.”8 are not limited to its “Space & Technol- par won the subcontract to design The Forbes article mentioning ogy” division in Quebec. A 2004 media Sand build the most important as- EMS was perhaps wrong to cite only release from the EMS head office, men- pect of RADARSAT-2, the satellite’s three secondary military corporations, tions its Ottawa-based SATCOM Divi- payload, namely, “the SAR antenna and instead of “The Big Four” (Boeing, sion (previously known as CAL Cor- the radar electronics package.”4 Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and poration), which it acquired in 1993.10 MacDonald, Dettwiler and As- Northrop Grumman), which receive The Ottawa-based, satellite sociates (MDA), the prime contractor some 60% of the contracts for “missile communications branch of EMS serves for RADARSAT-2, paid Spar $90 mil- defense” weapons development. clients in the U.S. military as well as lion for this subcontract, which it called However, it is likely that EMS several top U.S. firms that profit from “the most advanced commercial SAR falls near the very top of a second-tier war. In fact, three of the five U.S. war payload in history.”5 of military subcontractors that have industries listed as its customers are EMS Space & Technology EMS SATCOM 21025 Trans Canada Hwy 1725 Woodward Dr. Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Ottawa QC H9X 3R2 ON K2C 0P9 www.emsstg.com www.emssatcom.com 48 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 again from the notorious “Big Four”: Meet Phillip Baines ment’s role in helping Canadian com- “EMS Technologies announced to- ne former EMS executive who now panies to supply the U.S. with hun- day [November 1, 2004] at the Owanders Canada’s halls of gov- dreds of major components for the de- MILCOM 2004, Military Communi- ernment is Phillip Baines. After receiv- livery systems of these weapons. cations Conference, the appoint- ing a University of Toronto degree in In putting forward its “disarmament of Jim Kershaw to Account aerospace engineering, Baines gravi- ment” face to the world, DFAIT has done Manager, U.S. Military and Govern- tated into Canada’s biggest space-re- well by hiring a seasoned veteran of ment Sales, for the Aeronautical lated military industry, Spar (now EMS). the military-related company responsi- Group of EMS’s SATCOM Division He worked there for nearly 20 years in ble for this country’s most famous [in Ottawa]. Kershaw…will serve the “various mechanical engineering, space technology, the Canadarm. Few needs of EMS customers, including systems engineering and project however realise that the EMS Space and L-3 Communications, General Dy- management assignments of increas- Technology Group is also one of Cana- namics, Boeing, Northrop Grum- ing responsibility.”12 da’s major participants in the militarisa- man, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. His skills and knowledge may even have tion of space. military.”11 (Emphasis added.) assisted EMS work on RADARSAT-1. It certainly helps military indus- Since 2000, Baines has worked References tries in their efforts to gain lucrative war- as Senior Advisor on Science and Tech- 1. RADARSAT-2 Team related contracts when their personnel nology in the “Non-Proliferation, Arms www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/ have good connections within govern- Control and Disarmament” (NPACD) radarsat2/teams.asp 2. Spar Aerospace, December 1998. ment. It is likewise true that when per- 13 division of Canada’s Department of www.wtec.org/loyola/satcom2/ sonnel from military industries venture Foreign Affairs and International Trade e_17.htm through the revolving door from the (DFAIT). (See below.) Nowadays, 3. Remote Sensing Then and Now world of business into the world of gov- Baines is cited as the Senior Policy Ad- www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/org/history/ ernment, that they can still serve their visor on Science and Technology with history21_e.html previous, corporate masters. They can NPACD’s “Chemical, Biological and 4. RADARSAT-2 Team, op. cit. do this in a number of ways including Conventional Weapons Division.”14 5. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- influencing public policies to benefit It is unknown whether Baines twiler Awards Spar $90 Million Con- tract to provide RADARSAT-2 An- their former friends in business, or ad- has ever criticised the U.S. for its fla- tenna & Radar Electronics Payload,” vising their corporate buddies about grant abuses of these weapons sys- December 21, 1998. government contract opportunities. tems or, more pointedly, his Depart- www.mda.ca/radarsat-2/news/ pr1998122101.html Meet DFAIT’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 6. Tricia McGinnis, “Markets Stock Fo- cus: Star Wars Stocks,” Forbes, August ronically, alongside its noble role in Canada is America’s biggest military 29, 2001. Ipromoting dialogue on disarmament supplier, and although U.S. military www.forbes.com/2001/08/29/ and arms control, the Department of forces are inarguably involved in more 0829sf.html Foreign Affairs and International Trade wars, invasions, coups and violent re- 7. Ibid. (DFAIT) is also responsible for help- gime changes than any other govern- 8. Classbrain.com ing increase Canada’s military exports. ment on earth, DFAIT’s reputation as a www.classbrain.com/artread/publish/ DFAIT uses many methods to promoted of peace is still secure. article_170.shtml 9. About EMS, EMS Technologies push Canadian arms exports, many of This is not to say that some of- website which end up in the hands of military ficials at DFAIT aren’t well meaning, or www.ems-t.com/aboutEMS/ forces in dozens of that DFAIT doesn’t overview.asp far-flung regimes do some positive 10. About EMS, EMS Space and Technol- every year. Many of work. Rather, the ogy website the governments point is merely to www.emsstg.com/aboutems.asp receiving Canadian expose the Dr.- 11. Media Release, “EMS Technologies’ war technologies, Jekyll-and-Mr.- Satcom Division appoints Jim Kershaw as past issues of Hyde qualities of to Military Account Manager,” Novem- ber 1, 2004. this magazine have DFAIT’s good cop- www.ems-t.com/emspressroom/press/ amply shown, are bad cop contribu- press_elmg/press2004/11-01- engaged in wars against other states, tions to promoting both war and peace. 04_Kershaw_Appointment.pdf. and—sometimes even more brutally— There is certainly a duplicitous 12. Commercial Satellite Remote Sensing against their own civilian populations. and contradictory agenda in the works, Symposium, May 13-15, 2003. Despite the fact that some of its and DFAIT does its best to bridge the www.strategies.org/symposium/ employees facilitate Canadian military chasm between a delicate facade of dip- SymposProgram.pdf exports to a motley crew of violent lomatic words about ‘disarmament,’ on 13. Ibid. 14. Standing Senate Committee on goernments, DFAIT is still widely per- one hand, and the harsh reality of push- Foreign Affairs, November 22, 2005. ceived as a leader in promoting global ing military exports to warmongers and www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/commbus/ ‘arms control.’ Oddly enough, although human rights violators, on the other. senate/Com-e/fore-e/21cv-e.htm March 2006 (Issue # 58) Press for Conversion! 49