Portsmouth 25 August 2005: EADS Astrium's Media Back-link Unit, which enables live broadcast-quality television transmissions from ships at sea has been successfully tested on HMS Cumberland at the start of a four-month operational trial.
The state-of-the-art Media Back-link Unit enhances the EADS Astrium TOMS (Television Over Military Satellites) system fitted to Royal Navy ships. Together they enable the Commanding Officer of a vessel to be interviewed live on television from the ship. The trial on board HMS Cumberland during her deployment to the western Atlantic and Caribbean is being supported by Paradigm Services which is providing additional military satellite capacity.
During HMS Cumberland's tour of duty she will be in a position to respond to calls for assistance during the hurricane season. Ships deployed to the Caribbean and western Atlantic also work in close cooperation with US and other national authorities in the war on drugs.
Royal Navy personnel from vessels on patrol are often the UK's first representatives in disaster areas or trouble spots providing vital assistance and support. The Royal Navy's contribution to humanitarian and disaster relief operations has, however, often been under-reported in a world which expects immediate, high quality picture news. The trials are demonstrating that any Royal Navy ship equipped with the system can have the capability to provide live broadcast-quality video from anywhere in the world. It is understood that the Royal Navy is delighted with the initial results.
The basic TOMS fit provides recreational television and news services for sailors on RN ships around the world, with programming by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). Paradigm Services, as part of its Skynet 5 contract, provides secure global satellite communications to the Royal Navy along with the rest of the UK's Armed Forces. TOMS is a simple and cost effective additional service to the EADS Astrium shipborne communications system (SCOT), with over 150 SCOT systems procured by 11 navies worldwide. The TOMS system has also undergone successful trials over existing UK Armed Forces land terminals.
EADS Astrium is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004, EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.
Paradigm Secure Communications signed a £2.5bn contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in October 2003 for the provision of military satellite communications services up to 2018. The programme, procured as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), includes the funding for the next generation of UK Milsatcom capability. The Paradigm team, lead by Paradigm Secure Communications, includes EADS Astrium Ltd, the system designer and provider, and Paradigm Services Ltd for full services delivery. Both Paradigm companies are part of EADS SPACE Services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of €31.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 110,000.
Contacts for the media:
Meriel Adey EADS Astrium Ltd. 01438 774178
Sara White Paradigm Services Ltd 01438 282245
Jeremy Close EADS SPACE (UK) 01438 773872
www.paradigmservices.com
Note to Editors:
The first live TV broadcast from HMS Cumberland took place on Friday 12 August when pictures were beamed to BBC Devon of the ship providing assistance to a lone British transatlantic rower who was in difficulties and short of food and water.
