- The first satellite is ready for launch in French Guiana
- The entire system will be fully operational by the end
of 2010 once the second satellite is launched
As part of the military satellite communications programme SATCOMBw
Stage 2, the Bundeswehr is acquiring its own military communications satellites
for the first time and laying the foundations for a secure information network
for use by units on deployed missions outside Germany. The network will support
the autonomous, global transmission of audio and data as well as video and
multimedia applications. The system is due to go into regular operation by the end
of 2010 and will constitute an important step in implementing the Bundeswehr
concept for network-centric operations. Satellite communications are the only
way of ensuring information can be transmitted flexibly without having to rely
on the infrastructure in the theatre of operations. A second identical
satellite will be launched in early 2010.
Astrium is responsible for the space segment and
will place the satellites in orbit. Thales Alenia Space has designed, manufactured, integrated, tested and delivered on-ground
the satellite to Astrium. Astrium’s German subsidiary TESAT manufactured the essential parts of the payload. The
first satellite, which weighs around 2.4 metric tons, was shipped to Kourou at
the end of August after being put through a
punishing programme in special testing facilities to verify its suitability for
space.
The contract for the satellites communication programme, which was
signed in July 2006, runs for ten years, with an option to extend it for a
further seven and a half years. The customer is the Federal Office for
Information Management and Information Technology of the Bundeswehr (IT-AmtBw).
The contractor is MilSat Services GmbH (MSS), a joint venture set up by Astrium
and the Friedrichshafen-based satellite network specialist ND SatCom Defence
(NDD) specifically for the programme. Astrium owns 74.9 percent of the shares
in the joint venture, with ND SatCom Defence holding the remaining 25.1
percent. Major MSS subcontractors include the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and
the satellite operator Intelsat.
Along with the in-orbit delivery of two communications satellites for
operations in military frequencies, the SATCOMBw Stage 2 contract includes the
associated operation by DLR’s Control Centres, the delivery of a comprehensive
ground user terminal segment for the Bundeswehr and upgrading the management
and control segment already installed with the Bundeswehr. MSS will also
provide the Bundeswehr with commercial transmission capacities using Intelsat
satellites to provide backup facilities and extra capacity.
The two communications satellites will be positioned in a geostationary
orbit and will provide communications services over an area stretching from America to eastern Asia,
during their operational life of 15 years. DLR will assume responsibility for
operating the two satellites using several of its locations.
ND SatCom Defence, a wholly owned subsidiary of SES Astra, will deliver
the user terminals, upgrade the ground stations in Germany and set up a new central
network management and monitoring facility. As a specialist in military
satellite communications solutions, NDD has successfully implemented important
commercial and military projects over recent years, including SATCOMBw Stage 1.
The Bundeswehr will have two different types of user station. The
larger, NATO-compatible, robust transceiver stations are used as a node for
local mobile and fixed data networks. This supports voice calls via satellite
as well as Internet access, data communications and videoconferences. The
second type of terminal is smaller and portable, providing simultaneous support
for broadband services for several users.
Astrium is Europe's leading supplier of
civil and defence communications satellites and is already a system leader for
the British military Skynet 5 satellites and for the NATO 4 satellites.
About Astrium
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is
dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2008, Astrium generated revenues of
€4.3 billion and had more than 15,000 employees in France,
Germany, Great Britain, Spain
and the Netherlands.
Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers
and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground
segment, and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite
services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and
related services. In 2008, it generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed
a workforce of more than 118,000.
Media Contacts:
Ralph Heinrich
(Astrium D) Tel.:
+49 (0) 89 607 33971
Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Tel.:
+33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32
Daniel Mosely (Astrium GB) Tel.: +44
(0)1 438 77 8180
Francisco Lechón
(Astrium SP) Tel.:
+34 91 586 37 41
www.astrium.eads.net
