Syracuse (satellite)

Syracuse (French: Système de Radiocommunication utilisant un satellite, satellite based radiocommunication system) is a series of French military communications satellites.

Syracuse is intended to ensure the French military can communicate between mainland France and military units deployed around the world. The satellite participates in command, reassignment and logistic aspects of operations. The system is nominally under the command of the French Navy, equipping a total of 54 ships (2009) and it is complimented by the Telcomarsat commercial system of communications.

In 2006, the programme was awaiting for the third phase, Syracuse 3, to replace Syracuse 2. Syracuse 3 is composed of two satellites developed by the Direction générale de l'armement, and a third satellite (Sicral-2), developed along with Italy. It is an attempt of the French armed forces to achieve autonomy in terms of satellite communications.

Satellites comprising the constellation:

Syracuse-3A (launched October 13, 2005)
Syracuse-3B (launched August 11, 2006)
SICRAL-2 (launched April 26, 2015)

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.