The French Defense Procurement Agency has contracted Thales Group to develop a program to equip armored vehicles with a mobile satellite communication system. The SATCOM On-The-Move (SOTM) program gives mobile units a permanent tactical link on the battlefield, even without conventional radio links, Thales announced.

The program, dubbed VENUS, makes it possible for vehicles in the field to connect to a secure link for simultaneous voice and data transmission. It uses a conventional antenna, modem and transmission network adapted for mobile operations. "Nowadays, On-The-Move satellite communication is essential on the theaters of operation," said Jean-Michel Lagarde, Thales's Director of Network Infrastructure, Satcom & Security activities. Thales said the system provides a guaranteed command link, meeting the requirements of mobile land units on the battlefield. First deliveries of the system are scheduled for 2010.