The Space Alliance between Leonardo and Thales achieves a new industrial success by signing a new contract with the Ministry of Defense for the construction of the SICRAL 3 secure satellite telecommunications system. articulated negotiation process which is being developed through various contracts starting from the initial stages and which will end with the construction of the satellites and the launch of SICRAL 3A by 2026 and subsequently of SICRAL 3B.
The SICRAL program (Italian System for Confidential Communications and Alarms) consists of geostationary satellites capable of providing both strategic and tactical communication services. The aim is to support the various Defense operational missions both on national territory and outside the borders. The new SICRAL 3 therefore responds to the communication and interoperability needs of the Italian Defense and gives continuity to the current satellite telecommunications services in the SHF and UHF band of the SICRAL 1B and SICRAL 2 satellites, expanding the services available with the possibility of a payload in Ka band, as well as services related to security, public rescue, and civil protection.
The contract – estimated value of around 160 million – was signed by Thales Alenia Space (joint venture between Thales 67% and Leonardo 33%) and Telespazio (joint venture between Leonardo 67% and Thales 33%). “The experience gained in the implementation of national programs such as SICRAL or COSMO-SkyMed, as well as the level of architectural and systems skills of terrestrial technologies and the space segment, place the Italian industry and its supply chain in a position of leadership in the implementation and in the supply of End-to-End solutions and for “Systems of Systems” »highlights Massimo Claudio Comparini, CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia.
Thanks to SICRAL 3, Italy and NATO will be able to continue to rely on safe and effective satellite communications, highlighted Luigi Pasquali, coordinator of Leonardo’s space activities and CEO of Telespazio. Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the entire telecommunications system, the space segment with the design and integration of the system and the design, production and integration of the innovative and newly developed payloads operating in the UHF, SHF and Ka bands.
The space segment of SICRAL 3 will consist of two satellites, Sicral 3A and Sicral 3B, positioned in geostationary orbit. Innovative elements are the system platform, which includes electric propulsion, a design according to principles of high modularity and with a high level of autonomy, guaranteeing the possibility of orbital transfer based on GNSS / GPS sensors and receivers for positioning and positioning control. attitude of the satellite.