[SatNews] ...entails station keeping and support services for the Syracuse 3A, Syracuse 3B and Athena-Fidus satellites and...

Thales Alenia Space has won the contract awarded by French defense procurement agency DGA to provide operational support for the Syracuse 3, Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2 space systems.

This contract, dubbed "SSAS", entails station keeping and support services for the Syracuse 3A, Syracuse 3B and Athena-Fidus satellites, along with the "French" part of the Sicral 2 satellite.

Syracuse 3A [Alcatel]

The Syracuse 3 space system comprises two telecommunications satellites in geostationary orbit (Syracuse 3A & 3B, launched in 2005 and 2006, respectively) and the associated ground control systems. The Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2 systems include the eponymous satellites plus the associated ground control systems. These two satellite systems are produced jointly by France and Italy, and are designed to meet the needs of the defense and security authorities of the two countries.

Thales Alenia Space will provide the services for these satellites in conjunction with its traditional partners, namely Thales and Telespazio (satellite control).

"Thales Alenia Space has supported the French Ministry of Defense in operating the Syracuse system for more than eight years," notes Bertrand Maureau, Vice President for Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space. "The outstanding production services supplied by Thales Alenia Space were a decisive factor in the DGA's selection of our company to extend services already provided for Syracuse to include the joint milsatcom programs, Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2. The services covered by this comprehensive contract will run until 2031."