Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XIII, Conflict in the South Atlantic, 1981–1984

86. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Defense Communications Agency, Department of Defense (Layman) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger ¹

Washington, April 9, 1982

SUBJECT

• US Communications Satellite Support to UK Naval Forces (S)

1. (S) In view of the current situation between the UK and Argentina, you should be aware that the US is providing communications satellite support to the British fleet enroute to the Falkland Island.² This communications satellite support provides two-way communications between the fleet and its shore establishment. Approximately half of the UK fleet has satellite capability.

2. (C) This support is provided because a memorandum of understanding exists between the US and the UK to provide limited worldwide Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) support to the UK. This agreement was initiated on 1 Jan 78 and concludes on 1 Jan 83.³ The MOU differentiates between first and second order satellite accesses. A first order requirement is for full-time continuous service with satellite capacity reserved for the UK for the entire year. A second order requirement is considered to be of a short duration and temporary nature to cover R&D, contingencies, and special operations. Satellite capacity is not reserved for second order requirements but the US will attempt to accommodate the UK, subject to US overriding national requirements. In practice, the US has in the past accommodated UK second order requirements.

3. (S) The DCA Area Control Center in Europe, which is controlling all UK accesses on the DSCS Atlantic satellite, reports that the UK has 21 channels authorized and 21 channels operational as of 1200 hours 8 Apr 82. The channels include broadcast circuits to ships, dedicated ship/shore and shore/ship circuits and two channels from mobile ground terminals. The UK is using approximately 11% of the total Atlantic satellite power. Although no second order circuits have been requested as yet, the UK is authorized an additional 27 channels.

Lawrence Layman
Rear Admiral, USN
Acting Director

1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Weinberger Papers, Department of Defense Files, Subject File, 1982 United Kingdom (2) #29–42. Secret. Stamped notations on the first page of the memorandum indicate that Weinberger and Carlucci saw it on April 9.
2. According to an April 9 memorandum for the record produced by Nagler, the decision to provide communications support was taken by Carlucci in consultation with Eagleburger. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–84–0004, UK (March–April) 1982) Nagler informed Hervey of Carlucci’s decision, its terms, and its conditions in a memorandum, April 9. In addition, Nagler indicated that the United States had approved a Royal Navy request for cryptographic equipment for a maximum period of 7 months. (Ibid.)
3. Weinberger underlined the portion of this sentence beginning with the word “concludes.” Commenting on this sentence, Weinberger wrote at the bottom of the page: “1) OK; 2) We should start action Monday to renew MOU now.”