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EADS CASA Espacio Delivers to INTA the 'IRMA' Antenna for Spainsat

Madrid, 24 June 2003

EADS CASA Espacio has officially delivered to INTA the IRMA antenna for communications use of the Spanish Ministry of Defence. The IRMA antenna (In-orbit Reconfigurable Multibeam Antenna), is the result of several years of technological development in the field of satellite communications in X-band.

In 1995, EADS CASA Espacio started the development of an active antenna which could be re-configurable in orbit by purely electronic means, without employing mechanical elements that complicated the final goal due to the extreme accuracy needed.

A prototype was achieved through this programme, whose on ground qualification allowed to propose to INTA, the building of a flight model for its integration into the communications satellite of the Spanish MoD called Spainsat. Its client being the Spanish consortium Hisdesat created for that purpose, of which EADS CASA is a shareholder.

Once Spainsat was initiated, with the direction of INTA, an industrial team was constituted with EADS CASA Espacio as the prime contractor, supported by companies with recognised experience in the field of communication electronics like EADS Astrium-Crisa and INDRA, and with the collaboration of INSA, DISTCOM, IMPELEC, TTI Norte and ELATESA.

The challenge to meet, consisted in building, in a time period of 23 months, an antenna with an unprecedented technological value, to be embarked on the satellite being built by Sapce Systems Loral.

This active antenna is provided with a set of printed radiators electronically operated for X-band reception with four exit channels.

Its radio-electric parameters are reconfigurable onboard by means of telecommands sent from the control ground station. The antenna offers a high capacity of commercialisation to operators of this kind of services for the Armed Forces. It also provides the possibility of mitigating undesired interferences.

EADS CASA Espacio and its industrial team have punctually achieved the numerous and multidisciplinary technological challenges, in the fields of radio frequency, microelectronics and thermal control.

In conclusion, the IRMA antenna represents the consolidation of a competitive edge in the sector of satellite communications for the Spanish space industry, and in particular, in the manufacturing of active antennas for both defence and commercial applications.

About EADS:

EADS (www.eads.net) is a global aerospace and defence company and is the world’s second largest in terms of revenues with € 29.9 billion in 2002. EADS has a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defence technology, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. It’s family of leading brands includes the commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, and MBDA, the world’s second largest missile company. EADS is the biggest partner in the Eurofighter consortium and heads the A400M military transport aircraft programme. The company has over 70 sites in Germany, France, Great Britain and Spain. It is active in many regions worldwide, including the U.S., Russia and Asia.

Press Contact:

EADS CASA Espacio:
Francisco Lechón
+ 34 91 586 37 41