French defense procurement agency DGA (Delegation Generale pour l’Armement) has awarded Alcatel Space and Thales Communications two new space telecommunications contracts.
The first covers the development and production of a secure, high-speed modem, dubbed “Modem XXI”. It is part of the Syracuse III military satcom system, whose development is proceeding on schedule, especially the production of flight equipment for the satellites.
The second contract concerns a research program on the EHF (extremely high frequency) band, which would provide highly secure links for tactical terminals.
Modem XXI will complement the anti-jamming functions offered by the active antenna carried by the Syracuse III satellites, giving military users a complete secure high-speed service.
Alcatel Space is in charge of the overall validation and performance of the complete system. Thales is developing the modems, and is in charge of network management. Modem XXI will use the hardware platform from the SHF-NG modem, now under development, so that it can offer secure high-speed and low-speed services from a single system.
Alcatel Space and Thales will deliver the first shipsets in 2004, placing them in an excellent position to provide a cost-effective solution meeting the allies’ interoperability needs. This contract will also enhance France’s chances to promote its Syracuse III system for NATO’s post-2000 Satcom program.
The EHF research contract will provide system-level validation of the application of commercial-based technologies to provide cost-effective solutions for highly secure links with tactical terminals.
Performed in partnership with Thales, this contract will focus on two development objectives: anti-jamming antennas and onboard satellite signal processing.
