EADS N.V. - Astrium Services wins Australian Navy satellite communications terminals contract

Astrium, Europe's largest space company, has won an order to supply five 'Maritime ASTIS' wideband satellite communications terminals to the Royal Australian Navy. The contract allows additional options to be exercised over the next nine months.

Astrium to provide five state-of-the-art wideband satellite communications terminals to Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
The ASTIS terminal is a dual band X/Ka variant of Astrium’s SCOT system
The new dual band terminals are destined for three new RAN air warfare destroyers (AWD) and two new amphibious ships

Eric Béranger, CEO of Astrium Services said: “This contract demonstrates the confidence that major institutional customers have in Astrium’s portfolio of systems and services.”

The ASTIS (Advanced SATCOM Terrestrial Infrastructure System) terminal is a dual-band X/Ka variant of Astrium's renowned SCOT ship-borne antenna system, 200 of which have been supplied to 11 navies around the world. The ASTIS was the first naval terminal to use Ka-band operationally, and is already fitted in 14 of the RAN's major warships.

The new dual-antenna terminals, which will be supplied through the ASTIS prime contractor BAE SYSTEMS (Australia), are destined for three new RAN air warfare destroyers (AWD) and two new amphibious ships (LHD) and will be delivered between September 2010 and May 2011.

Aidan Joy, Director of Astrium Services’ Ground Systems Business Unit, said: “We have been working closely with the Royal Australian Navy over the last six years, and this latest contract is a real vote of confidence in our ability to deliver state-of-the-art SATCOM solutions. I am extremely pleased that Astrium’s satcom systems will be at the heart of the RAN for the next decade. Astrium recently gained the highest marks for 'customer relationship' and 'schedule' from the Australian procurement authorities and I am determined to continue to provide a service that combines the best in responsiveness, teamwork and technical, commercial and project management skills.”

Astrium Services offers a complete range of satellite communications solutions for both government and commercial markets. Design and manufacturing expertise covers satellite systems as well as a comprehensive range of ship borne, airborne and land-based terminals. Astrium’s subsidiaries Paradigm in the UK and MilSatServices in Germany provide end-to-end SATCOM services to government and military customers.

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116, 000.