Astrium has been awarded, against strong international competition, a contract for its SCOT 3 ship-borne satellite communications terminals by Thales Communications. Commencing deliveries in 2004, Astrium will supply these terminals for integration onto the first of the UK Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyers. Thales Communications is subcontracted to BAE Systems, for the provision of the fully integrated communications system for the first three warships.
The Type 45 will replace the Type 42 Destroyers which were among the first Royal Navy vessels to receive Naval satellite communications in the early 1970s. The SCOT system, in its 1C version, is still operating some 30 years later aboard these vessels and SCOT has become the most common solution for the Royal Navy.
Most of the larger Royal Navy ships and now a number of future vessels will carry Astrium's SCOT system. It is a very successful system for ship-borne satellite communications world-wide, with over 120 ship-fits in operation with 10 different navies. The highly-reliable SCOT family provides high capacity multi-media information which includes continuous operation for speech, telegraph, video-conferencing and data for a variety of uses, such as targeting, damage assessment and logistics.
The Astrium SCOT system is currently being considered by the Italian and French navies for use on their next generation frigate programs.
Astrium, Europe's leading space company, is a joint venture owned 75% by EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and 25% by BAE Systems. In 2000 Astrium had a combined turnover of 2.03 billion Euro, covering science and Earth observation, military observation and communications, telecommunications, navigation and ground systems, launchers and orbital infrastructure. The Company employs over 8,000 employees in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain.
-ends-
Astrium Awarded Royal Navy Type 45 Satcom Contract By Thales
