Space, Tas and Telespazio contract with Difesa. Sicral tlc system is underway 3

A contract signed by Thales Alenia Space (joint venture between Thales 67% and Leonardo 33%) and Telespazio (joint venture between Leonardo 67% and Thales 33%) with the Italian Ministry of Defense, represented by Teledife, Sgd / Mod – contracting station reference point in the Space sector – for the construction of the Sicral 3 secure satellite telecommunications system and the related ground segment. The two joint ventures report that the overall value of the contract, which currently provides for the development of phases B and C1, is approximately 159 million euros, and “is the result of an articulated and complete negotiation process for both the technical and economic aspects. including also the next construction phases “. The Sicral – Italian System for Confidential Communications and Alarms program consists of geostationary satellites capable of providing both strategic and tactical communication services. The aim is to support the various operational missions of the Defense both on the national territory and outside the Italian borders. The new Sicral 3 therefore responds to the communication and interoperability needs of the Italian Defense by providing a renewed structure that can give continuity to the current satellite telecommunications services in the Shf and Uhf band of the Sicral 1B and Sicral 2 satellites, expanding the suite of services available. with the availability of a payload in Ka band, as well as security, public rescue, and civil protection services. “Telecommunications are a domain of historical excellence of the Italian industrial system but also of the national scientific and academic system”, says Massimo Comparini, CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia, interviewed by Adnkronos. “Italy – remembers Comparini – was the first country to experiment with the use of very high frequencies via satellite. It is no coincidence that the Italsat satellite was the first to use the Ka band and on-board numerical processing”. Therefore, adds the CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia, “there is a great tradition and the 2 satellites that we will build for the Defense administration are the result of this long history of both industrial and scientific skills and will equip our Defense with the latest generations of satellite Tlc “. In this new order, “we are together with Telespazio and there is the best excellence of space infrastructures, ground systems and services”, underlines Comparini. “The contract – explains the top manager – is particularly important because a few weeks ago the Defense deorbid the first structure after a history of 20 years and therefore we are continuing this tradition of excellence in the field of institutional and governmental telecommunications”. Comparini is also keen to put under the lens that in this activity “there will be a lot of supply chain: the program will in fact bring development to the entire Italian space supply chain and is an important asset for which the country equips itself and for Defense but also represents an example of industrial capacity and the institutional system “. Sicral 3 will also capitalize on the ongoing developments foreseen within the ItalGovSatCom (I-GSC) program, fundamental pillar of the Space Economy, and of the dedicated military research programs. For the realization of the Sicral 3 program, the two companies that make up the Space Alliance have created a Temporary Grouping of Companies that sees Thales Alenia Space in the role of principal and Telespazio of principal. In particular, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the entire telecommunications system, the space segment with the design and integration of the system and the design, production and integration of innovative and newly developed payloads operating in the Uhf, Shf and Ka bands. . Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio explain that the Sicral 3 space segment will consist of two satellites, Sicral 3A and Sicral 3B, positioned in geostationary orbit and that the innovative elements are the system platform, which includes electric propulsion, a design according to principles highly modular and with a high level of autonomy ensuring the possibility of orbital transfer based on Gnss / Gps sensors and receivers for controlling the positioning and attitude of the satellite. Leonardo will supply the Space Star sensors that will allow Sicral 3 to orient itself and maintain the correct attitude in orbit thanks to the observation of the stars and their recognition through sophisticated algorithms. “Sicral missions have represented for over 20 years an example of excellence in the realization and management of complex space programs. The Space Alliance between Leonardo and Thales, through its companies Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, works in synergy and close collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, thus guaranteeing our country and NATO modern and effective satellite communications services “says Luigi Pasquali, Coordinator of Leonardo’s space activities and Chief Executive Officer of Telespazio. Pasquali points out that “the continuity of the Sicral program and the expansion of services, thanks also to the availability of the Ka band, will allow the Defense to have the necessary operational capacity, further strengthening Italy’s role in the international space context”. Telespazio will be responsible for the ground segment, characterized by highly innovative elements and developed in synergy with what has already been achieved for the Sicraql program in the existing infrastructures located at the Vigna di Valle della Difesa Control Center and the Fucino Space Center. In addition, the company will be responsible for services for the launch and early orbit phase (Leop-Launch and Early Orbit Phase) and test (Iot-In Orbit Test) of the satellites. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio have already supplied the Italian Ministry of Defense with two first generation Sicral satellites, Sicral 1 (no longer operational) and Sicral 1B, and the second generation Sicral 2 satellite. Telespazio, having co-financed the Sicral missions 1B and Sicral2, has consolidated its role as satellite operator in the defense field and, having part of the transmission capacity of these satellites, offers telecommunications services to the armed forces of NATO member countries. The Space Alliance also participated in the construction and launch of Athena-Fidus for military and dual (civil-military) telecommunications for France and Italy and two Satcom BW satellites for Germany. Thanks to Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio represent the cornerstone of the European defense collaboration. “Today, for me, a cycle that lasted over 3 and a half years ends in which I had the honor of directing Teledife during which important programs in the space domain were launched, and it ends in the best way, with the signing of this contract with which starts the development of the future constellation for military satellite communications “underlines Giuseppe Abbamonte, Admiral Chief Inspector, Director of Teledife. “And today’s event testifies once more not only to the enormous importance that Defense attaches to space domination, but – he continues – also to the very high level reached in this area by Italian industry, today represented by two of the most important companies operating in the sector, Thales Alenia Spazio and Telespazio “. “The Italian industry, in fact, is proving to be able not only to produce systems capable of satisfying the complex requirements imposed by national military needs, but also to assert itself in a highly competitive international context” finally indicates Abbamonte.