Alcatel Space has chosen Arianespace to orbit France¿s new Syracuse III military communications satellite, signing a launch services contract in its role as program prime contractor on behalf of the French defense procurement agency.
The Syracuse III launch contract was inked the Paris Air Show today by Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Jean-Claude Husson, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space.
Syracuse III will be lofted by an Ariane 5 in the fourth quarter of 2003 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe¿s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Syracuse III: secure, high-speed communications
The Syracuse III spacecraft is a third-generation military communications satellite. After its launch, it will serve the operational needs of the French Ministry of Defense. Ariane launchers have long contributed to the deployment of military telecommunications networks, including the launch of Syracuse 1 and 2 relay systems that were on board seven mixed civil/military Telecom 1 and 2 satellites.
Built by Alcatel Space on a Spacebus 3100 platform, Syracuse III will deliver the armed forces with significantly higher performance in terms of data throughput, operational flexibility and resistance to countermeasures and attack. Its launch mass will be approximately 1.7 tons. It will be the 28th Spacebus platform launched by Arianespace.
Thanks to high technology specially developed for this mission, Syracuse III is ideally positioned to meet Allied need very cost-effectively, in particular for the NOTA SATCOM post 2000 programme.
Defense missions by Arianespace
Syracuse III is the 18th military satellite to be booked for launch on Ariane.
Arianespace performs a full range of launch services for Europe¿s armed forces, including: Secure telecommunications, with the launch of Syracuse I and II (France), Sicral (Italy), Skynet 4 (U.K.), Hispasat (Spain), Eurasiasat (Turkey); and the Earth observation and reconnaissance, with the launch of Helios 1A and 1B (France, Italy, Spain)
