Airbus DS awarded German satcom contract

Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus DS) has been awarded a $126.78 million contract by the German armed forces to provide commercial satellite communication services until 2023, it announced on 31 May.

The contract extends the services that Airbus DS has been providing since 2006. This includes access to selected Ku-band and C-band transponders for various applications in Germany, including data and voice connections between main bases outside the country and naval vessels.

Also, Airbus DS was awarded the in-orbit operations of the COMSATBw1 and COMSATBw 2 military satellites and the operation of a teleport in Weilheim, Germany and associated networks.

The commercial satellite communication services and operation of military satellites will enable German armed forces to established video, voice and database access as well as Internet Protocol services without relying on single assets.

Airbus DS developed and deployed the current SATCOMBw system in use by the German armed forces.

Evert Dudok, head of the communications, intelligence & security (CIS), Airbus Defence and Space, said: 'Satellite communications is an indispensable means for modern armed forces to connect theatres of operation with the homeland and to accomplish missions abroad.

'For this task a resource mix based on military satellites complemented by leased commercial capacities has proven to give the best flexibility, resilience and value.'