Airbus Will Build Germany’s Next-Generation Military Communications Satellite System

On July 4, Germany’s Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) awarded Airbus a €2.1 billion contract to develop the next-generation military satellite system. The SATCOMBw Stage 3 program will include the delivery of two geostationary satellites as well as ground segment, launch, and operational services for 15 years. The new assets will replace the currently operating COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2 satellites.

*Ground stations of the SATCOMBw system. Credits: Bundeswehr/Martina Pump*

“At a time when Western democracies are challenged and the European institutional space ecosystem is struggling, we are excited and grateful to develop and build this leading-edge system.”
— Michael Schoellhorn, CEO at Defense and Space

SATCOMBw 3: new requirements, new capabilities

The design of the two future GEO satellites is based on Airbus’s flexible Eurostar Neo platform, which relies on more than 30 years of in-orbit heritage from the Eurostar family. Since 1990, more than 55 Eurostar satellite buses have been successfully launched for various customers worldwide.

*Rendering of a SATCOMBw 3 satellite in orbit. Credits: Airbus*

The spacecraft will be equipped with the newest technologies to provide cutting-edge secure telecommunications services, keeping pace with rapid changes in digitalization and the ever-increasing volumes of data transfer required. SATCOMBw 3 aims to stay ahead of the evolving geopolitical landscape by providing independent communications for the German armed forces, while also serving as a vital asset for NATO in the region.

A key element of the contract, important for German institutions, is the strong synergy with a significant network of German companies such as OHB. Indeed, the guidance and integration of the advanced payloads and the solar arrays will be developed in Germany.

The new satellites will be deployed before the end of the decade. Thus requiring an extension of the operational lifespan of those currently in orbit, which is currently planned for 15 years.

15 years of experience

The SATCOMBw 3 project builds on the success of the previous SATCOMBw stage 2, which has been providing dedicated telecommunications to the German armed forces and their allies for approximately 15 years.

The satellite-based communication system consists of two multi-mission military GEO satellites, COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2. Therefore, reliable communications between military authorities, government, and armed forces, are secured from the Americas to Eastern Asia.

*Artistic impression of SATCOMBw 2 satellites in space. Credits: Airbus*

In 2006, the German Armed Forces awarded a contract to a team led by MilSat Services – jointly owned by Airbus and ND SatCom – to develop the SATCOMBw military communications program.

Airbus Defence and Space was the prime contractor for the in-orbit delivery and ground testing of the satellites. It also supplied 500 ground terminals. The spacecraft were instead produced by Thales Alenia Space, based on the company’s Spacebus 3000 B2 platform. The military satellites provide communication capacities in UHF, X-band, C- and Ku-bands.

*Ariane 5 launches COMSATBw-1 in 2009. Credits: ArianeGroup*

COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2 were launched onboard the Ariane 5 rocket, respectively in 2009 and 2010. They have been placed at an orbit altitude of 35.785 km.

The ground stations are located in the German Aerospace Centre’s (DLR) Weilheim Ground Station Complex, and the spacecraft are controlled by the German Space Operations Centre (GSOC).