Second European Syracuse military satellite launched
The Syracuse 4B military communications satellite was launched into space on an Ariane 5 rocket. (Photo: Ariane space.)
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, has been launched, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces.
Airbus and Thales Alenia Space successfully launched the Syracuse 4B military communications satellite on 5 July, the second space segment of Syracuse IV, which will provide military communications for France alongside Syracuse 4A, launched in 2021.
The system will provide fourth-generation secure military satellite communications for the French Armament General Directorate, the French Air Force and the French Space Command.
It was launched from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana and was the last launch of Ariane 5, the European heavy launcher.
Related Articles
France announces plans for third Syracuse IV satellite launch
Airbus, Telespazio to market Syracuse IV satellites
France launches first Syracuse 4A military communications satellite
The satellite features critical technologies such as anti-jamming, cyber-defence, and data encryption technologies to guarantee service continuity and resilience.
The company stated that Syracuse IV would ‘deliver increased capacity and enhanced functionality … including higher throughput and flexibility, along with a broader coverage area’.
‘The increased flexibility will ensure the satellites can meet the needs of forces deployed anywhere in the coverage area, while also efficiently managing its X-band and Ka-band resources.’
Syracuse 4B is based on the Airbus Eurostar E3000 platform and is embarking the same payload as Syracuse 4A, built by Thales Alenia Space with critical components provided by Airbus.
In the frame of the global Syracuse co-contract, Airbus is responsible for the Syracuse 4B satellite, and Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the Syracuse 4A satellite as well as both payloads with key components provided by Airbus.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![DSEI 2025: MARSS unveils new agnostic multidomain C4 system]()
DSEI 2025: MARSS unveils new agnostic multidomain C4 system
MARSS’ NiDAR system has been deployed using sensors from static platforms to provide detection and protection for static sights, such as critical infrastructure, ports and military bases.
-
![Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training]()
Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training
Australia is looking to improve its presence in space with a focus on communications and creating a dedicated segment of its defence forces committed to the domain.
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
