‘Google Maps’: Public access satellites expose location of billions of dollars of Australian defence assets

Australia is having to rethink its approach to defence in the wake of stunning drone attacks on billions of dollars worth of military assets in Russia and Iran.

Last month Ukraine executed an unprecedented and highly successful strike on air bases deep within Russia, eliminating a good portion of the nation’s strategic bomber force.

Operation Spider’s Web saw 117 drones launched remotely in a co-ordinated strike that decimated at least 10 long-range bomber jets, including those able to carry a nuclear weapon.

The whole operation is likely to have cost Ukraine millions to execute but it destroyed in the vicinity of $7 billion worth of military assets.

This astonishing operation, as well as the recent use of strategic drone strikes in Iran, has publicly shown how a motivated aggressor could mobilise relatively low-cost tech to inflict billions of dollars worth of damage to important military assets, all while exposing themselves to relatively little risk.

The attack was precise and low-cost relative to the damage inflicted.

“We’ve seen both states and non-state groups infiltrate supply chains, get drones or other devices close to a target, then remotely use them to attack aircraft/bases/ships or to assassinate individuals or attack public events,” defence strategist and former serviceman Professor David Kilcullen told news.com.au

“It’s better in Australia than some other places, but generally in most Western countries the access is fairly easy.”

In the wake of the successful drone attack, an image of the head of Ukraine’s Security Service Vasyl Malyuk, poring over satellite images of the targeted Russian air bases was released.

The images look remarkably like scenes you can find on Google Maps of Australian air bases, with defence aircraft lined up on a tarmac, completely in the open.

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine examining satellite images of Russian air bases prior to the targeted drone attack. Picture: SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE / AFP

Australia’s fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance jets based at Adelaide’s RAAF Base Edinburgh can be seen lined up on the tarmac in a Google Maps satellite image.

Similarly, the fleet of C-17A jets - that allow Australia to deploy combat vehicles, heavy equipment, helicopters, troops and supplies around the world - are out in the open at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland.

It isn’t hard to access geographical information about the location of billions of dollars worth of Australia’s defence aircraft.

“Everything visible from space or aircraft is available on Google Earth, NASA Worldview, or other public systems,” Dr Kilcullen explains.

“You can also access a bit more detailed data through commercial purchase of satellite imagery from Maxar or similar companies if so inclined. In theory, a threat actor would not get access to this data, but it’s trivial to set up a fake account.”

“Unfortunately, Google Maps shows almost everything,” Marc Ablong of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, tells 9News.
“You can see the base infrastructure, people on the base, where the guard posts are. You can determine access points, weak points in fence lines.”

A Google Maps image of RAAF Base Amberley. Picture: Google Maps

A Google Maps image of Adelaide's RAAF Base Edinburgh. Picture: Google Maps

Dr Kilcullen believes a lot can be learned from recent strategic drone strikes overseas and that there’s still time to bolster Australia’s defences.

The operation in Ukraine took 18 months of careful planning to execute and involved a complex collaborative effort between defence personnel, politicians and covert operatives on the ground in Russia.

He notes that the ADF is currently working on agile and scalable counter-drone systems through Project Land 156 which was launched at the end of last year.

It’s being complemented by Mission Syracuse, which began in May and will focus on rapidly developing advanced drone intercepting technology.

“The protection of Defence’s critical assets is a priority area for work and investment,” a defence spokesperson tells news.com.au, “Security of bases, ports and barracks is, and will remain, a focus for Defence resources.”

Defence says it is observing the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and applying lessons to Australia’s geographic and strategic circumstances.

“Defence continually revises force protection and resilience measures for its personnel, bases, critical infrastructure and capability assets, including through a layered approach to security measures.”

Drone footage of Russian bomber jets being destroyed.

The counter-drone defences being developed and deployed by Project Land 156 use a variety of sensors including acoustic, thermal, radar and electro-optic to detect drones, and a number of methods to stop them including disrupting their signals and physically destroying them.

“Modern counter-drone systems, incorporating radar, radio frequency detection, electronic warfare and directed energy capabilities, are already active across global deployments,” DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornick - who is bidding for tender on Project Land 156 - tells defence industry magazine ADM.

“Layered effectors enable a scalable response, from safely neutralising wayward hobbyist drones, to defeating complex swarm attacks and unconventional drone threats. These are mature, rapidly evolving solutions, ready now for the battlespace of today and tomorrow.”