Thales to supply French DGA with VENUS terminals
Thales will supply 20 VENUS ground terminals to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) as part of the French armed forces’ Syracuse III satellite programme. Thales announced the news on 22 February.
The VENUS terminals will be installed on VAB light armoured vehicles where they will operate as fully-functional network nodes for France's satellite communications on-the-move (satcom OTM) capability.
The VENUS terminals, equipped with Thales satcom OTM systems, enable commanders to stay in touch while on the move in the theatre. The command vehicles communicate via the Syracuse system, which connects them directly to other deployed assets. With satcom OTM technology, vehicles fitted with satellite antennas can establish and maintain a satellite link whether they are moving or stationary.
Thales will deliver the terminals between early 2016 and mid-2017.
Ten VENUS terminals were ordered by the DGA in 2009 as part of an urgent operational requirement for Afghanistan. Delivered in 2010, these thermals have been deployed to Afghanistan and Mali, where they provided front-line vehicles with a permanent tactical communication capability in environments where other communication systems were unable to operate due to range limitations or terrain features, such as deep valleys and high mountains.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows]()
Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows
Germany’s move to buy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Arrow missile defence system became public in mid-2023 with approval from the US government shortly after. The first operational system is expected to be in service before 2030.
-
![Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned]()
Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned
Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.
-
![The year ahead: Major trends and forecasts for the land domain in 2026]()
The year ahead: Major trends and forecasts for the land domain in 2026
2025 was a busy year for the land domain and 2026 looks set to be just as big. Shephard’s Dr Peter Magill analyses some of the major trends we are likely to see in the year ahead.
