Paris, France — The German army has awarded Airbus a contract worth 2.1 billion euros ($2.5 billion) for next generation SatcomBw 3 military communications satellites, the European aerospace firm said Thursday.
The contract, for deployment by the end of the decade, includes the prime contractor of two satellites “as well as the ground segment (receiving stations), launch and operation for 15 years,” Airbus said in a statement.
“At a time when Western democracies are challenged and where the European institutional space ecosystem is struggling, we are excited and grateful to develop and build this leading-edge system,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space.