The contract includes launch of of the satellites and 15-year support. (Image: Airbus)
Airbus will provide the German Armed Forces with satellite communications over the next 15 years under a €2.1 billion (US$2.27 billion) contract awarded on 4 July.
The SATCOMBw 3 prime contract is for a next-generation secure military system which includes supplying geostationary satellites and their launch, with spacecraft to be deployed before the end of the decade.
The contract covers design, integration, test and in-orbit delivery of two new Airbus-built military GEO telecommunications satellites which are the successors to COMSATBw 1B and 2B.
It also includes upgrading of the existing ground segment to operate the new satellites as well as operational services for 15 years, with the possibility of extension.
The new-generation Airbus satellites are based on the Eurostar Neo platform and will weigh around 6,000kg. They are designed to have extensive capabilities to keep pace with changes in digitalisation and the constantly increasing volume of data transfer required and feature a number of new technologies.
The SATCOMBw 3 project also aims to ensure that NATO's commitments in this area will continue to be met in the future.
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
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