Alcatel Space has announced that it had won the contract to build France's new Syracuse 3 military communications system. The contract signed by French defense procurement agency DGA on November 30, 2000, includes the in-orbit delivery of a new-generation Syracuse 3A military satellite, as well as necessary upgrades of the current ground segment.

The contract, valued at approximately 1.4 billion Euros (9 billion French francs ) also includes options for the in-orbit delivery of a second and third satellite in the same series, as well as operational maintenance of the system until 2018.

The Syracuse 3A satellite will enter service in 2003, complementing the current fleet of mixed civil/military Telecom 2 satellites. It will offer both French and allied armed forces a significant improvement in terms of information rates, operational flexibility and resistance to countermeasures.

Alcatel Space will work with Thomson-CSF both to develop the Syracuse 3 ground segment and security-related equipment (both ground and satellite ), and starting in 2001, for the operational maintenance of the current Syracuse 2 system, followed by the Syracuse 3 system. Thomson-CSF's experience as prime contractor for military networks (Rita, Socrate, Aristote ) will enable the company to ensure optimum integration of the Syracuse 3 system into French military networks. Thomson-CSF will also be a well positioned candidate for future European networks.

"I am very proud that the DGA chose Alcatel Space to build Syracuse 3, " said Jean-Claude Husson, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space. "This selection confirms Alcatel Space's leading role in both civil and military space-based communications systems, and also holds out great promise for upcoming European programs. "

The new-generation Syracuse 3 is based on the Spacebus commercial satellite platform, more than 30 of which have already been produced. Its payload will incorporate state-of-the-art technology, including an active antenna and digital processor. Production of this satellite is a team effort, involving companies from a number of European countries. From the outset, the design of this satellite integrated the operational requirements expressed by various European countries and by NATO. Alcatel Space could also deliver another Syracuse 3 series satellite as early as 2004, which means that the company is ideally positioned to meet allied needs very cost-effectively. Furthermore, the technologies developed for Syracuse 3 will bolster Alcatel Space's product offering for export markets.