Paradigm Delivers First Secure Satellite Link for NATO

9 February 2005: The first satellite link in the NATO Satcom Post 2000 (NSP2K) programme was successfully established by Paradigm on 1 February 2005.

The link between one of NATO’s Ground Stations in Europe and NATO’s front line operational forces was provided by the UK’s Skynet 4 satellite constellation, owned and operated by Paradigm. This was the first operational link in the NSP2K contract between NATO and the UK, Italy and France for the provision of all NATO’s satellite communications services from 2005 until 2019.

Paradigm provides the UK share of the military satellite space segment communications capability for the use of NATO. Paradigm will initially use its existing UK Skynet 4 constellation, with the additional capacity of the new Skynet 5 satellites from 2007.

This first link marks the start of the migration of NATO’s satellite communications from its existing spacecraft to those of the UK, France and Italy.

Malcolm Peto, Managing Director of Paradigm Secure Communications said, “This is fantastic proof of Paradigm’s responsiveness to meet NATO expectations and the first milestone at the start of our 10-year relationship with NATO.”

Editors’ Notes

Paradigm Secure Communications signed a £2.5bn contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in October 2003 for the provision of military satellite communications services up to 2018. The programme, procured as a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), includes the funding for the next generation of UK Milsatcom capability. The Paradigm team, lead by Paradigm Secure Communications, includes EADS Astrium Ltd, the system provider, and Paradigm Services Ltd for full services delivery. Both Paradigm companies are part of EADS SPACE Services.

EADS SPACE, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2003, EADS SPACE had a turnover of ?2.4bn and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Its activities are based on three main subsidiaries: EADS SPACE Transportation, for launchers and orbital infrastructure, EADS Astrium for satellites and ground segment and EADS SPACE Services to develop satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of ?30.1bn and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.