Leonardo, what Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio will do for the Italian Defense
Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space will build the Sicral 3 secure satellite telecommunications system and the related ground segment for the Italian Ministry of Defense
The two Space Alliance joint ventures between the Italian Leonardo and the French Thales, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio , have signed a contract with the Italian Ministry of Defense for two Sicral 3 telecommunication satellites.
Sicral (Italian System for Confidential Communications and Alarms) is made up of geostationary satellites capable of providing both strategic and tactical communication services.
The new satellite system responds to the communication and interoperability needs of the Italian Defense by giving continuity to the current satellite telecommunications services and expanding them to guarantee security, public rescue and civil protection services.
Last November, after the go-ahead from the Chamber, the Senate also approved the Ministerial Decree for the modernization and renewal of the satellite system for government telecommunications.
All the details.
THE ROLE OF SICRAL 3
The Sicral 3 space segment will consist of two satellites, Sicral 3A and Sicral 3B, positioned in geostationary orbit.
Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio explain that the 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. to control the positioning and attitude of the satellite.
Furthermore Sicral 3 will capitalize on the ongoing developments foreseen within the ItalGovSatCom (I-GSC) program, fundamental pillar of the Space Economy, and of the dedicated military research programs.
THE VALUE OF THE ORDER
The total value amounts to almost 160 million euros only for the first phase which involves the detailed development of the project and the realization of the hardware up to the qualification tests.
THE SICRAL PROGRAM
The Italian military satellite communications system is the result of a project launched in 1995 and implemented by the Sitab consortium, consisting of Alenia Spazio (70% prime contractor), FiatAvio (20%) and Telespazio (10%).
As explained in the technical sheet prepared by the defense staff, the Sicral is composed of two subsets. One is the space segment: the first satellite Sciral-1 was put into orbit on February 7, 2001. The Sicral-1B satellite was added to Sicral 1. Subsequently, on April 24, 2015, Sicral-2 was put into orbit.
The second is the land segment, consisting of the Management and Control Center of Vigna di Valle (Rome), of over 100 individual user terminals installed on board aircraft, ships and mobile vehicles, of an integrated logistic support, in charge of technical-logistic assistance for the system. There is also a secondary management and control infrastructure, hosted at the Telespazio company's Fucino Operations Center, which is activated, if necessary, to ensure continuity of service in the event of technical problems arising at the primary station.
THE DURATION OF THE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
The purpose of the Sicral 3 Program is to quickly replace the Sicral 1B satellite system, which will arrive at operational end in 2023.
The planned duration of the program is about five years: from 2020 to 2025, as stated in the Defense DPP 2020-2022.
THE TOTAL COST
The cost of the program is estimated at around 390 million euros. In this regard, it should be noted that a portion of the expenditure, equal to 190 million euros, will be borne by the investment chapters of the Mise within the resources provided by the Fund established by article 1, paragraph 95 of law no. 145 of 2018. In particular, an expenditure of 25 million euros in 2021; 50 million euros in 2022; 124 million euros in the following three years.
WHAT THE SPACE ALLIANCE WILL DO
For the realization of the Sicral 3 program, the two companies that make up the Space Alliance have created a Temporary Grouping of Companies which sees Thales Alenia Space in the role of principal and Telespazio as principal.
THALES ALENIA SPACE
In particular, 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 innovative and newly developed payloads operating in the Uhf, Shf and Ka bands. .
"The signing of the contract represents for Thales Alenia Space and for the entire Italian space industry with its supply chain a step in the ability to propose architectural solutions and technology at the frontier at the service of the needs of the Italian government, international organizations such as NATO and allied countries ”commented the CEO Massimo Claudio Comparini.
THE ROLE OF TELESPAZIO
Telespazio will be responsible for the ground segment, characterized by highly innovative elements and developed in synergy with what has already been achieved for the Sicral program in the existing infrastructures located at the Vigna di Valle della Difesa Control Center and the Fucino Space Center.
In addition, the company will be responsible for services for the launch and early orbit phase (iot-in orbit test) of the satellites.
“Sicral missions have represented for over 20 years an example of excellence in the implementation and management of complex space programs. The Space Alliance between Leonardo and Thales, through its companies Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, works in synergy and close collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, thus guaranteeing our country and NATO modern and effective satellite communications services ", declared Luigi Pasquali , coordinator of Leonardo's space activities and CEO of Telespazio.
Pasquali points out that "the continuity of the Sicral program and the expansion of services thanks also to the availability of the Ka band, will allow the Defense to have the necessary operational capacity, further strengthening Italy's role in the international space context".
WHAT LEONARDO WILL DO
Finally, Leonardo will supply the Space Star sensors that will allow Sicral 3 to orient itself and maintain the correct attitude in orbit thanks to the observation of the stars and their recognition through sophisticated algorithms.
THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN TAS AND TELESPAZIO FOR TWO SICRAL SATELLITES
We also recall that Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio have already supplied the Italian defense with two first generation Sicral satellites, Sicral 1 (no longer operational) and Sicral 1B, and the second generation Sicral 2 satellite.
Telespazio, having co-financed the Sicral 1B and Sicral2 missions, has consolidated its role as satellite operator in the defense field and, having part of the transmission capacity of these satellites, offers telecommunications services to the armed forces of NATO member countries.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SPACE ALLIANCE
The Space Alliance also participated in the construction and putting into orbit of Athena-Fidus for military and dual (civil-military) telecommunications for France and Italy and two Satcom BW satellites for Germany. Thanks to Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio represent the cornerstone of the European defense collaboration.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/leonardo-cosa-faranno-thales-alenia-space-e-telespazio-per-la-difesa-italiana/ on Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:16:09 +0000.