Airbus Defense And Space, Thales Alenia Space Win Satellite Contract | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Sun, Dec 27, 2015

Airbus Defense And Space, Thales Alenia Space Win Satellite Contract

Will Build Next-Generation French Military Communications Satellite

Airbus Defense and Space, the world’s second largest space company, has been awarded the contractorship by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for one of two military satellites for the COMSAT NG secure telecommunications program. Airbus Defense and Space will also be co-responsible, together with Thales Alenia Space (lead contractor), for the entire space program, which includes two satellites, their launch, the ground control segment, Ka-band anchor stations, options for additional satellites, as well as the studies and operational maintenance of the system.

“Following the completion of design studies, the experts at Airbus Defense and Space decided to offer the Ministry of Defense an all-electric satellite for the first time. This is a field in which we specialise and have made a name for ourselves worldwide,” said François Auque, President of Airbus Defense and Space France. “Through our industrial team, formed jointly with Thales Alenia Space, we are eager to work to deliver these two satellites and to participate in the definition, realization and deployment of the associated ground segment hand-in-hand with the DGA.”
 
Designed to replace the Syracuse III system, COMSAT NG is scheduled to go into operation from 2021, and will provide high-throughput capacity in the Ka military band in addition to those in the Syracuse III X band. COMSAT NG has an expected service life of 17 years.
 
The satellite to be produced by Airbus Defense and Space will be based on the electric version of the ultra-reliable Eurostar E3000 platform. This version is the bestselling electric propulsion telecommunications satellite on account of its lighter service module, improved mission performance and lower operating costs. Aside from its role as the prime contractor for one of the two satellites, Airbus Defense and Space will also be responsible for an essential part of the two satellites’ payload.

(Source: Airbus Group news release)

FMI: www.airbus.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC