Thales Unveils Groundbreaking SYRACUSE IV Satcom Stations for the French Army’s Serval Armoured Vehicles
The Neptune agreement represents the most recent advancement in the SYRACUSE IV ground segment initiative, where Thales serves as the primary contractor. This follows a preceding contract for the establishment of satcom stations on French Navy surface ships and submarines, along with the creation and manufacturing of both stationary and mobile stations tailored for land and air forces. These encompass Mercure on-the-move (OTM) stations designated for the French Army’s Griffon and Serval vehicles, as well as airborne stations intended for the French Air Force’s wide-body aircraft.
Developed for the French defense acquisition agency (DGA), the inaugural iteration of the SYRACUSE IV ground segment became operational at the close of 2023. It will furnish the French military with a unified communications capability utilizing secure, high-data-rate satcom services equipped with strong defenses against jamming, interference, cyber threats, and other dangers to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and tri-service compatibility.
The two satellites within the SYRACUSE IV defense communication network, SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B, were constructed for the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) (Direction Générale de l’Armement) by a consortium comprising Thales Alenia Space (a partnership where Thales holds 67% and Leonardo 33%) and Airbus Defence and Space. Actng as the primary contractor, Thales Alenia Space oversaw the SYRACUSE 4A satellite, which was launched in 2021, along with the payloads for both SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B. Airbus Defence and Space is responsible for the SYRACUSE 4B satellite, launched in 2023, and based on the all-electric Eurostar platform, supplying essential components for the two payloads.
