France And NATO Sign Satellite Communications Agreement

Illustration of Italy's Sicral 1 in orbit.

Paris, France (SPX) Dec 03, 2004
The United Kingdom, France and Italy have signed an agreement with NATO to provide UHF and SHF satellite communications capacity for 15 years, starting in January 2005.

According to a recent Space News report, France will provide capacity aboard its SHF Syracuse 3 satellites, the first of which is scheduled for launch in February or March 2005. A second Syracuse 3 satellite is under construction at Alcatel Space.

The French arms-procurement agency, DGA, has an option for a third Syracuse 3 satellite and is considering different ways of sharing the overall management with Alcatel Space.

Paradigm, a subsidiary of EADS, is under contract with the British defence agency to supply satellite communications using UK�s current Skynet 4 satellites, and to launch two large Skynet 5 spacecrafts in 2006.

Italy's contribution for the UHF capacity will be supplied by Sicral Satellites: Sicral 1 is in orbit and Sicral 1B is currently being built at Alenia Spazio's Rome plant. The agreement between the NATO Agency and the arms directorates of the three nations is valued at over 450 million euros. (594 million dollars). Related Links
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Paradigm Signs 15 Year Contract To Provide Mil Sat Coms To NATO

London, UK (SPX) Nov 26, 2004
Following the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between NATO, the UK, Italy and France for the provision of NATO's satellite communications services from 2005 until 2019, Paradigm Secure Communications last Monday (Novemeber 22) signed a contract to provide the UK share of NATO�s Space Segment requirements. The contract is valued at around �100m over the concession.