Space

European Nations Selected for NATO Milsatcom Solution

London, 07 May 2004

The Ministries of Defence of France, Italy and the United Kingdom have been jointly selected by NATO to provide its new Satellite Communications capability from 2005 through to 2019. The NATO SATCOM Post-2000 capability requirement for SHF and UHF space segment is to be provided through the existing national programmes – Syracuse in France, Sicral in Italy and Skynet in the UK.

Paradigm Secure Communications, as the military satellite communication (Milsatcom) provider in the UK has supported the UK MOD and contributed to this innovative proposal for the provision of military communications services. Paradigm Secure Communications will play a major role in meeting the NATO requirement.

Through the national systems of France, Italy and the UK, NATO is now able to fulfil its ever-increasing milsatcom requirements. These new and highly capable systems will ensure coherence with the changing NATO crisis management role and will provide a fully deployable communications capability in support of such operations.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director for Paradigm Secure Communications, said, “This is excellent news for Paradigm and the European space industry. Paradigm signed a £2.5bn contract with the UK MOD for milsatcom services last year and this announcement really reinforces Paradigm’s pre-eminent position both in milsatcom service provision and the international arena.”

The three Nations’ procurement agencies: DGA for France, Teledife for Italy, DPA for the UK and their respective industry partners agreed to work together to offer NATO the optimum SHF and UHF milsatcom solution. The milsatcom providers of three nations have already formed a cohesive team. Alcatel Space in France, Alenia Spazio in Italy and Paradigm Secure Communications in the UK are all key players in the European satellite space industry and have been working closely together throughout the procurement process. The project has further backing and support from each of their parent companies: Alcatel, Finmeccanica and EADS.

Paradigm Secure Communications signed a £2.5bn contract with the UK MOD for the provision of military satellite communications service until 2018. The programme, procured as a Private Finance Initiative, includes the funding for the next generation of UK Milsatcom capability. The Paradigm team, led by Paradigm Secure Communications, includes the system provider EADS Astrium and Paradigm Services for full service delivery. Both Paradigm companies are part of EADS SPACE Services

EADS SPACE, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS is dedicated to providing civil and defense space systems. In 2003, EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.4 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Its activities are based on three main subsidiaries: EADS SPACE Transportation, for launchers and orbital infrastructure, EADS Astrium for satellites and ground segment and EADS SPACE Services to develop satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services.In 2003, EADS generated revenues of € 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.

Contact:
Emily Milsom
Tel.: +44 (0)1438 282066
www.paradigmsecure.com
mailto: contact@paradigmsecure.com