EADS SPACE Services to provide satellite communications services to the French armed forces
EADS SPACE Services has signed a framework agreement (ASTEL-S convention) with the French Ministry of Defence to provide satellite telecommunications services.
EADS SPACE Services will provide the French armed forces with satellite telecommunications services in both civilian Ku (between Europe and external theatres of operations), and C bands and military band (SHF), for a renewable period of two years. The applications focus on land-based, naval and airborne activities and the coverage of world-wide services (video-conferencing, Internet, data exchange).
For the ASTEL-S contract, EADS SPACE Services working jointly with London Satellite Exchange Ltd, whose operational base is in Toulouse.
In order to meet the different requirements of the Ministry of Defense, EADS SPACE Services has reached agreements with the largest commercial satellite operators and with its British subsidiary, Paradigm Secure Communications, which already provides military telecommunications services to the United Kingdom Government.
“We are honoured by the confidence that the French Ministry of Defence has shown in our ability to provide a complete range of satellite telecommunications services. ASTEL-S fits perfectly into EADS SPACE Services’ strategic approach of creating partnerships with defence ministries across Europe for space based telecommunications services – of which Paradigm has been a catalyst,” explains Eric Béranger, CEO of EADS SPACE Services. “Following the contract signed in mid-2004 with the Portuguese armed forces and NATO’s decision for its European solution to include Paradigm, this new contract marks an important step in France for EADS SPACE Services.”
EADS SPACE Services is committed to providing and developing satellite services in the area of telecommunications and navigation. The considerable experience gained in setting up the Skynet 5 PFI is proving invaluable in supporting future programmes such as Europe’s Galileo Satellite Navigation System and the German Military Satellite Communications System.
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 provider, and Paradigm Services Ltd for full services delivery EADS SPACE, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004, EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.6bn and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Its activities are based on three main subsidiaries: EADS SPACE Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, EADS Astrium for satellites and ground segment and EADS SPACE Services to develop satellite services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of €31.8bn and employed a workforce of more than 110,000.
