Airbus Secures Major Contract to Equip German Armed Forces with Next-Gen Military Communications Satellites
Munich, 04 July 2024 – Germany’s military forces, the Bundeswehr, has assigned Airbus the SATCOMBw 3 primary contract for the upcoming secure military satellite system which incorporates geostationary satellites alongside ground infrastructure, launch, and operations for a span of 15 years. The spacecraft is expected to be launched before the decade concludes, and the contract’s value totals €2.1 billion.
Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, remarked: “Following the triumph of the SATCOMBw Stage 2 initiative, which we have been executing since 2009, this new contract strengthens our strategic alliance with the Bundeswehr, equipping them with a significantly improved secure military communications capability that is future-proofed into the 2040s. In a climate where Western democracies face numerous challenges and the European institutional space ecosystem encounters difficulties, we are thrilled and thankful to develop and construct this cutting-edge system. Long-term collaborations are vital to ensure essential sovereignty and capacity, safeguarding our armed forces in the increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.”
The contract encompasses the design, integration, testing, and in-orbit delivery of two new Airbus-manufactured military GEO telecommunications satellites, which serve as successors to COMSATBw 1B and 2B communications satellites. It also involves the enhancement of the existing ground segment to manage the new satellites, as well as operational services for 15 years, with options for extension.
The next-generation Airbus satellites are built on the Eurostar Neo platform and will weigh approximately 6 metric tons. They will possess comprehensive capabilities to adapt to the swift advancements in digitalization and the continually growing volume of required data transfer. Additionally, they will incorporate the latest advanced technologies.
A crucial component of the overall contract is a robust German value chain involving collaborators such as Bremen-based OHB and numerous smaller German enterprises. Key aspects, including the guidance and integration of advanced payloads, solar arrays, and overall spacecraft operations, will be managed from Germany.
The Bundeswehr’s satellite communication system (SATCOMBw) is essential for autonomous and independently deployable communication and information services. It guarantees the global command and information capabilities of the German military, including operational contingents and special forces. The SATCOMBw 3 initiative also aims to ensure that NATO’s commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in this domain will persist in the future. With SATCOMBw 3, the Bundeswehr is addressing growing user demands.
