Astrium Services’ Secure Satcom Systems division has delivered the first set of SATCOM equipments to Aselsan for the first of class MILGEM, the prestigious Turkish National corvette program.
The Astrium delivery comprises a set of equipment based on Astrium’s Mini-SCOT naval terminal. Aselsan, as the prime contractor for the MILGEM SATCOM suite, are responsible for system design and software development of the terminal and the control station, assembly, integration, and test of the terminals as well as the installation, acceptance, and test on board and system delivery. Aselsan and Astrium have previously supplied 16 sets of GEMI shipborne terminals, for the Meko and Perry Class ships, under the Turkish Military Satellite Communications System (TMSCS) project.
TMSCS, in conjunction with the Turkish Armed Forces Integrated Communications System (TAFICS) provides the military satcom ground infrastructure, enabling a fully integrated tri-services communications network. MILGEM will gain access to this infrastructure with the provision of full communication services including voice, data and imagery transmission. The Turkish Navy currently has the additional benefit, within TMSCS, of a separate three-channel direct satellite communications fixed ground terminal known as SABIT, used for direct communication with ships. Aselsan, as the prime contractor and Astrium, as the sub-contractor, received a further order in 2008 to supply a second SABIT terminal, with enhanced features including a 5 channel capability and installation in an EMP protected building. Delivery of the SABIT equipment to Aselsan by Astrium is scheduled for 2009.
During the implementation phase of the TMSCS system, Astrium provided significant technology transfer to Aselsan covering sub-systems manufacture, system design, integration and operation, and continues to support the long term military and industrial ambitions of Turkey. Astrium entered into a joint venture company in Ankara — Communications Space Technology — which is providing local software and technical support skills for the TMSCS and MILGEM programs. The JV team has undertaken key software tasks, particularly for network management systems which are used in other Astrium programs in the international arena.
