Airbus delivers satcom systems for EU missions

Airbus Defence and Space is providing satellite communications (SATCOM) systems for European military training missions as part of a framework contract with the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Airbus has been providing SATCOM services for the EDA since 2012. Under its renewed framework contract, the company is supplying SATCOM ground equipment, communications services and airtime to support the military and civilian requirements of the European missions, across X-band and UHF-band military SATCOM services, and commercial C-, Ku-, Ka- and L-band SATCOM services.

Missions being supported include EU military training missions in Somalia, European Union capacity-building mission (EUCAP) Sahel Niger, and EUCAP Sahel Mali civilian missions. These missions aim to support the efforts of the respective governments to strengthen their stability and to respond to the security issues faced by their populations.

Airbus Defence and Space teams have deployed C-band SATCOM systems between Europe and Somalia, Niger and Mali, as well as satellite-based mobile phone terminals to enable communications in Malian and Nigerien territories. 

Bruno Capitant, head of EMEA and international agencies at the secure communications business cluster, Airbus Defence and Space, said: ‘As the pioneer of SATCOM services for governments and ministries of defence, we are very proud to keep supporting the EDA and, more broadly, European defence and its actions around the world.’

The EU SatCom Market agreement allows EU member states to consolidate their requirements and purchase satellite communication capabilities in a coordinated manner, in order to ensure more economical and reliable access to SATCOM services.