Thales Alenia Space Italy, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), was awarded a 772 million euro contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the supply of 6 satellites, which will form part of the "Galileo constellation of Second Generation".
The first satellites of this second generation will be put into orbit by the end of 2024. With their new technologies (digitally configurable antennas, inter-satellite links, use of electric propulsion systems) these satellites "will improve the accuracy of the Galileo system, as well as the robustness and resilience of its signal, which will be critical for the next digital decade, as well as for security and defense uses.
“More robust, more reliable and cyber-protected, the Second Generation Galileo satellites will offer users greater service availability – explains Massimo Comparini, CEO of the joint venture – Thales Alenia Space is able to achieve the objectives of this challenging program thanks to its capabilities in terms of design, use of digital technologies and state-of-the-art up-stream technologies from our competence centers in Italy, France, Spain and Belgium, as well as thanks to many years of experience and assets in assembly, integration and testing of the constellations of satellites present in our factory in Rome”.
Thales Alenia Space will lead an international team made up of industries from 14 European countries: Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania, Poland, Greece.
