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The role of space for Europe's security operations

09 March 2006

On March 10, EADS Astrium and Alcatel Alenia Space are jointly organizing a presentation at the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse, France, on "The role of space for Europe's security operations" around the ASTRO+ project (Advanced Space Technologies to suppoRt security Operations). Speakers will include eminent figures from European, national and local politics and industry.

The ASTRO+ project, adopted by the European Commission as part of the Preparatory Action for Security Research (PASR), aims to guaranty citizen's security by defining efficient solutions to prevent current and future environmental threats.

The ASTRO+ project will highlight the contribution of space technologies to civilian and civilian-military crisis management, in terms of earth observation, navigation and telecommunications. The effectiveness and uniqueness of the ASTRO+ approach stems from a continuous, transparent dialogue between the operators and manufacturers of tools designed to meet tomorrow's needs.

Coordinated by EADS Astrium and involving 22 partners (governmental bodies, manufacturers, universities, agencies, think-tanks) from nine European countries, this project forms part of the preparations for the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development and will set forth the avenues to be explored by R&D in Europe between 2007 and 2013. In this project, Alcatel Alenia Space is responsible for the civilian and military technologies integration and their field-trial experimentation.

The presentation is organized with the support of the CNES, the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Toulouse, the Grand Toulouse, the Conseil Général de Haute-Garonne and the Conseil Régional de Midi-Pyrénées.

About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems, at the forefront of orbit infrastructures. Created in July 2005, the company brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology. Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development that impacts everybody's future: from navigation to telecommunications, from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defense to science and observation. Alcatel Alenia Space is an affiliate of Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) (67%) and Finmeccanica (Milan:SIFI.MI, FNC.IM) (33%).

About EADS Astrium
EADS Astrium is Europe's leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2004 EADS SPACE had a turnover of €2.6 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of €31.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 110,000.