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Arianespace to Launch UK’s Skynet 5A and 5B Military Satcoms |
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EVRY, France, Jan. 5, Satnews Daily/ — EADS Astrium Ltd. has chosen Arianespace to launch the British Ministry of Defense's next generation secure military telecommunications satellites, Skynet 5A and Skynet 5B.
Colin Paynter, managing firector of EADS Astrium and Jean-Yves Le Gall, CEO of Arianespace announced Tuesday the two launch contracts for the two satellites, which will be boosted into geostationary transfer orbit by Ariane 5 launchers from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Launches are scheduled for the second half of 2006 and the second half of 2007.
The contract, signed at the end of December 2004, also includes an option for an additional launch, according to EADS Astrium. Europe's Ariane launcher has already orbited the Skynet 4B, 4C, 4E and 4F satellites for the British Ministry of Defense.
The Skynet 5 satellites, built by EADS Astrium, will weigh approximately 4,700 kilograms at launch.
After the launch of Skynet 5A and 5B, EADS Astrium
will deliver the satellites in orbit to the commercial organization
Paradigm Secure Communications. Paradigm is contracted to provide secure
communications services for the British armed forces, NATO and a number
of other countries. Selection of Arianespace followed an extensive and rigorous evaluation of proposals from all the major launch service providers, EADS Astrium said in a statement.
Paradigm Secure Communications, part of EADS Space Services, signed a £2.5 billion contract with the MOD UK in October 2003 for the provision of military satellite communications services up to 2018. The program, procured as a Private Finance Initiative, includes the funding for the next generation of UK Milsatcom capability. The Paradigm team, led by Paradigm Secure Communications, includes EADS Astrium, the system provider and Paradigm Services Ltd for full service delivery.
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