Alcatel Space has chosen Arianespace to orbit
France’s new Syracuse III military communications satellite, signing a
launch services contract in its role as program prime contractor on behalf
of the French defense procurement agency.

The Syracuse III launch contract was inked the Paris Air Show today by
Jean-Marie Luton, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Jean-Claude Husson,
Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space.

Syracuse III will be lofted by an Ariane 5 in the fourth quarter of 2003
from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

SYRACUSE III: secure, high-speed communications

The Syracuse III spacecraft is a third-generation military communications
satellite. After its launch, it will serve the operational needs of the
French Ministry of Defense. Ariane launchers have long contributed to the
deployment of military telecommunications networks, including the launch of
Syracuse 1 and 2 relay systems that were on board seven mixed civil/military
Telecom 1 and 2 satellites.

Built by Alcatel Space on a Spacebus 3100 platform, SYRACUSE III will
deliver the armed forces with significantly higher performance in terms of
data throughput, operational flexibility and resistance to countermeasures
and attack. Its launch mass will be approximately 1.7 tons. It will be the
28th Spacebus platform launched by Arianespace.

Thanks to high technology specially developed for this mission, SYRACUSE III
is ideally positioned to meet Allied need very cost-effectively, in
particular for the NOTA SATCOM post 2000 programme.

Defense missions by Arianespace

Syracuse III is the 18th military satellite to be booked for launch on
Ariane.

Arianespace performs a full range of launch services for Europe’s armed
forces, including:

Secure telecommunications, with the launch of Syracuse I and II (France),
Sicral (Italy), Skynet 4 (U.K.), Hispasat (Spain), Eurasiasat (Turkey).
Earth observation and reconnaissance, with the launch of Helios 1A and 1B
(France, Italy, Spain)

About Alcatel Space

Alcatel Space ranks among the world’s leading space systems prime
contractors. Leveraging its dual expertise in civil and military
applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite technology solutions for
telecommunications, navigation, optical and radar observation, meteorology,
and scientific applications. With partners around the world, subsidiaries
throughout Europe and a strong commitment to R&D, Alcatel Space plays an
important role as prime contractor, operator, investor, or service provider
in most of today’s leading space programs. The company is also Europe’s
Number One prime contractor for Earth observation, meteorology and
navigation ground segments, as well as space systems operations. Alcatel
Space established its world leadership in satellite orders in 2000, winning
the most orders for geostationary communications satellites, with a total of
10 satellites (27% of the market). A fully-owned subsidiary of Alcatel
(100%), Alcatel Space generated 2000 revenues of 1.4 billion euros and has
6,000 employees. For more information, please visit our website at
www.alcatel.com/space

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s commercial launch services leader holding more
than 50 percent of the international market for satellites launched to
geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Created in 1980 as the world’s first
commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts
for the launch of more than 200 satellite payloads. The company’s
headquarters is located in Evry, near Paris and launch operations are
performed from the Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana (South America).