Syracuse (satellite)

Syracuse (French: Système de radiocommunication utilisant un satellite, satellite based radiocommunication system) is a series of French military communications satellites.

Syracuse is intended to ensure the French military can communicate between mainland France and military units deployed around the world. The satellite participates in command, reassignment and logistic aspects of operations. The system is nominally under the command of the French Navy, equipping a total of 54 ships (2009) and it is complemented by the Telcomarsat commercial system of communications.

Syracuse 1 and 2 were payloads on joint civilian-military satellite designs developed and operated by the French PTT, and were more commonly know by their civilian names Télécom 1 (3 satellites in 1984, 1985 and 1988)[1] and Télécom 2 (4 satellites in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996).[2] Matra Marconi Space was a development contractor, who also worked on the British Skynet 4 military communications satellite.[3][4]

In 2006, the programme was awaiting for the third phase, Syracuse-3, to replace Syracuse-2. Syracuse-3 is composed of two satellites developed by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), and a third satellite (Sicral-2), developed along with Italy. It is an attempt of the French armed forces to achieve autonomy in terms of satellite communications.

Satellites comprising the constellation:

  • Syracuse-3A (launched 13 October 2005)
  • Syracuse-3B (launched 11 August 2006)
  • SICRAL-2 (launched 26 April 2015)

In 2018 French Ministry of Defence announced the development of three Syracuse-4 satellites.[5] Two satellites Syracuse, 4A and 4B, are ordered. They may be supplemented by a third satellite about 2030. Surplus capacity will be sold to armed and security forces in Europe and elsewhere.[6]

It was announced in July 2019 that the next generation of Syracuse satellites, Syracuse-4, would have cameras to identify possible attackers. The satellites of the following generations (Syracuse-5) will be equipped with defensive weapons.[7] Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, officially signed on 3 September 2019 the decree creating the Space Command (Commandement de l'espace - CDE) within the Air Force, which should eventually become the "Air and Space Army".[8]

See also

References
  1. "Télécom 1A, 1B, 1C". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. "Télécom 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  3. Luginbuhl, P.; Le, A. Roux; Mollat, P. Du Jourdin (17 March 1986). "SYRACUSE - The French military satellite communication system". 11th Communications Satellite Systems Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. Mitchell, Keith (24 October 2019). "Skynet: the real communication satellite system". National Archives. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. Henry, Caleb (6 November 2018). "France to add third Syracuse 4 satellite to future milsatcom fleet". SpaceNews. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. "Airbus and Telespazio join forces on military satellite services on Syracuse IV satellites". Intelligent Aerospace. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. "Espace: la France va armer ses prochains satellites militaires". Le Point. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  8. "La France crée officiellement son commandement de l'espace". Le Point. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.