Five Eyes Connectivity

Although the Five Eyes partnership is traditionally an intelligence-gathering arrangement, it also plays a crucial role in linking together the militaries of its member nations. 

Therefore, the evolving threats and technologies of modern warfare are a vital focus for the Five Eyes nations. 

These advances are taking place against a rapidly-evolving geopolitical backdrop, as shown by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Welcome to series three of Shephard Studio’s Five Eyes Connectivity podcast, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

For this series, we look at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, consider what it means for military interoperability, and hear how the unique partnership can and should evolve for the future.

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the new technologies that will define the future battlefield, from AI to 5G to cyber.

We’ll look at the next generation of communications, asking how the Five Eyes can best harness technological advantages, while protecting themselves against emerging threats.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the threat of peer warfare is suddenly very real. 

Multi-domain operations will be central to any future conflict for Five Eyes nations, with communications and connectivity a crucial technological focus. 

Welcome to Series Three of Shephard Studio’s Five Eyes Connectivity podcast, sponsored by our partner Viasat. For this series, we look at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, consider what it means for military interoperability, and hear how the unique partnership can and should evolve for the future.

In this episode, we dive deeper into military connectivity and hear how the Five Eyes partners are developing new CONOPS based on the model of multi-domain operations.

The US and its allies must adapt to this new character of warfare because they will not have control over every domain of the battlespace on the battlefields of tomorrow.

But as the battlespace becomes more complex, what will it mean for future warfare? 

The Five Eyes partnership is best known as an intelligence-sharing arrangement. 

But it also has a crucial military dimension, binding together five western militaries and acting as a force enabler for coalition operations.  

Today, with the rise of China as a global power and an increasingly belligerent Russia flexing its muscles, the Five Eyes partnership is perhaps more relevant than ever. 

Welcome to Series 3 of Shephard Studio’s Five Eyes Connectivity podcast, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

In the previous two series, we looked at connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes nations and heard how their militaries are harnessing new technologies.

For this series, we’ll look at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, consider what it means for military interoperability, and hear how the unique partnership can and should evolve for the future. 

The Five Eyes partnership is best known as an intelligence-sharing arrangement. 

But it also has a crucial military dimension, binding together five western militaries and acting as a force enabler for coalition operations.  

Today, with the rise of China as a global power and an increasingly belligerent Russia flexing its muscles, the Five Eyes partnership is perhaps more relevant than ever. 

This is Shephard Studio’s Five Eyes Connectivity podcast, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

In the previous two series, we looked at connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes nations and heard how their militaries are harnessing new technologies.

For Series 3, we’ll look at the origins of the Five Eyes arrangement, consider what it means for military interoperability, and hear how the unique partnership can and should evolve for the future. 

Series 3 of the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast is coming soon.

The future is increasingly uncertain for Canada and its allies, both in terms of military threats and technological developments. 

Canada’s military is embracing next-generation solutions to meet these challenges, working closely with its key industrial partners.

This is Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

In this second series, we are exploring the military connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes nations and looking at the work underway to ensure communication networks can withstand the expected threats of tomorrow.

Last time, we considered the role of two of the smaller partners in the Five Eyes alliance – Australia and New Zealand.

In today’s episode, we look at the unique situation faced by Canada and how its military is responding to a rapidly changing world.

Australia and New Zealand face many of the same defence technology challenges and opportunities as the other Five Eyes nations. 

However, they must operate on more limited budgets, while grappling with a rapidly changing Asia-Pacific region.

The two countries are working to adapt to this shifting strategic picture, refocusing their acquisition priorities and preparing for a world of multi-domain operations, in which the nature of warfare itself is changing.

This is Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

 In this second series, we are exploring the military connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes nations and looking at the work underway to ensure communication networks can withstand the expected threats of tomorrow.

 Last time we looked at the UK, and heard how a rapidly-shifting threat environment is driving a transformation of British military capabilities.

 In today’s episode, we look at two of the smaller partners in the Five Eyes alliance – Australia and New Zealand – and hear how their militaries are responding to a rapidly changing world.

The UK and its allies are operating in a rapidly changing world. 

While a focus on counter-insurgency operations may have dominated the early years of the century, attention has now shifted to the threat posed by China and Russia. 

This is Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

In this second series, we are exploring the military connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes nations and looking at the work underway to ensure communication networks can withstand the expected threats of tomorrow.

 Last time we discovered how a new focus on Joint All Domain Operations is dominating future thinking on warfare for the US military and its allies.

 In this episode, we focus on the UK, and hear how a rapidly shifting threat environment is driving a transformation of British military capabilities.

This evolving threat presents new challenges for the UK. Pervasive information and new technologies have enabled new tools and techniques that undermine cohesion while remaining below traditional detection and response thresholds. 

 In response, more of the same will not be enough. 

In the chaos of combat, warfighters need fast, secure communications and instant access to information. 

However, the digital information age we know today has changed the nature of warfare across all domains.

Military commanders are acutely aware that new networks, systems and technologies are needed to ensure timely and effective communications.

This is Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

In Series One, we looked at connectivity issues facing the Five Eyes grouping of countries - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US - through the prism of three key technology areas.

For this second series, we are diving further into these issues, speaking to senior military leaders about the work underway to ensure military communication networks can withstand the expected threats of tomorrow.

In this opening episode, we dive into the connectivity issues facing the US military and its further development of the Multi-Domain Operations concept (also now known as Joint All Domain Operations and Joint All-Domain Command and Control).

This episode was produced by Tony Skinner with research support by Jack Austin, scriptwriting by Gerrard Cowan, and audio editing and mastering by Kevin Stokes.

A big thanks to everyone who gave their time to support the project.

This episode was based on open-source information and all participants were expressing their own opinions, not necessarily those of the organisations they represent.

In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast special, we look at the changing face of modern warfare across the land, sea and air domains through the prism of three key technology areas: Satellite communications, line of sight data links and cybersecurity.

This episode, we turn our attention to the cyber world, and consider the paradigm that as militaries become ever more connected, the threat of cyber-attacks from adversaries becomes a serious reality. 

We hear from two major military services, the US Navy and Canadian Army, and learn how they're shaping their organisations to better deal with the new cybersecurity challenges. 

And we speak to our sponsor, ViaSat, on how the private sector is stepping in to assist militaries further develop these technology areas.

Find Part 1 in our series here
And Part 2 here

The Five Eyes Connectivity podcast was created by Shephard Studio in partnership with Viasat. A big thanks to everyone who gave their time to support the project.

The podcast series features music and effects by: Bobby Cole; Neil Cross; Romolo Komars Diprisco; Jason Donnelly; Michael Genato and Mark Merlino; Ceiri Torjussen

In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast special, we look at the changing face of modern warfare across the land, sea and air domains through the prism of three key technology areas: Satellite communications, line of sight data links and cybersecurity.

In this episode, we turn to military tactical data links and look at how military planners are working to create a fully networked force where each platform sensor and operator are tied together on that highly resilient line of sight network.

We look at upgrades to the ubiquitous Link 16 network and hear how the US Air Force plans to take the data link into low Earth orbit for even greater reach.

And we will hear from our sponsor Viasat on how the private sector is stepping in to assist militaries develop these technology areas further.

Find Part 1 in our series here
And Part 3 here

The Five Eyes Connectivity podcast was created by Shephard Studio in partnership with Viasat. A big thanks to everyone who gave their time to support the project.

The podcast series features music and effects by: Bobby Cole; Neil Cross; Romolo Komars Diprisco; Jason Donnelly; Michael Genato and Mark Merlino; Ceiri Torjussen

In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast special, we look at the changing face of modern warfare across the land, sea and air domains through the prism of three key technology areas: Satellite communications, line of sight data links and cybersecurity. 

In this episode, we focus on space and satellite communications and speak to military leaders about their SATCOM requirements and programmes.

As a result of the upsurge in the electronic warfare threat, Five Eyes military services are now considering the use of different applications and technologies to avoid disruption to SATCOM. 

Options include a greater reliance on commercial SATCOM providers to hide in the noise of greater amounts of radio traffic. 

There is increased use of advanced extremely high-frequency satellite systems, aimed at providing survivable anti-jam and low probability of intercept or detection SATCOM connectivity. There are also developments in on-the-move antennas to avoid interference and detection by enemy forces, as well as supporting more discreet operations. 

And we will hear from our sponsor, Viasat, about how the private sector is stepping in to help militaries develop these technology areas further.

Find Part 2 in our series here
And Part 3 here

The Five Eyes Connectivity podcast was created by Shephard Studio in partnership with Viasat. A big thanks to everyone who gave their time to support the project.

The podcast series features music and effects by: Bobby Cole; Neil Cross; Romolo Komars Diprisco; Jason Donnelly; Michael Genato and Mark Merlino; Ceiri Torjussen

Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.

Over three episodes, we will look at the changing face of modern warfare across the land, sea and air domains through the prism of three key technology areas:

Satellite communications
Line-of-sight datalinks
and cyber security

We will hear from senior military leaders about the changing nature of today’s threats, and how unfettered access across the electromagnetic spectrum can no longer be taken for granted.

We will find out about the vulnerabilities facing these critical technology areas, look at the work going on to protect military networks and hear how the private sector is stepping in to help.

In particular, we will look at the Five Eyes grouping of countries - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US - and find out how prepared their militaries are when the connectivity they have become accustomed to is degraded or denied.

And we will hear from our sponsor Viasat about how the private sector is stepping in to help militaries further develop these technology areas further.

The Five Eyes Connectivity podcast will be released soon.