Arianespace announces it has been awarded the contract to launch two SATCOMBw Stufe 3 satellites with two Ariane 6 for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
The satellites will board Europe’s heavy-lift launchers Ariane 6, for a launch from Europe’s Spaceport, in French Guiana. The European Ariane 6 launcher family is built by the prime contractor ArianeGroup, a Franco-German company.
SATCOMBw Stufe 3 is Germany’s next generation of secure military satellite system. For the Bundeswehr, Airbus is the prime contractor for the design, integration, test and in orbit delivery of two new military GEO telecommunications satellites which are the successor communications satellites to COMSATBw 1 and 2. It also includes upgrading of the existing ground segment to operate the new satellites as well as operational services for 15 years, with the possibility of extension.
David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, commented, “By signing this new strategic contract for the German Armed Forces, Arianespace accomplishes its core mission of guaranteeing an autonomous access to space for European sovereign satellites. More than ever, providing secure space defense systems is key and we are proud to do so with Europe’s heavy rocket Ariane 6 which has now fully demonstrated its reliability, precision and performance.”
