Letter of Intent for MUSIS Signed

France, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Greece on November 10, 2008 signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the joint development and production of the MUSIS (MUltinational Space-based Imaging System for surveillance, reconnaissance and observation) program, Europes future space imaging system. Italy will join the program in 2009.>> This LoI was signed during the meeting of the Council of the European Union which was held in Brussels under the French presidency.>> Space-based imagery is an essential capability to guarantee that Europe has access to an autonomous intelligence, evaluation and decision-making process. The implementation of the MUSIS program will thus mark a major advance in the construction of a European defense capability.>> MUSIS is intended to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance and observation missions over any part of the globe for security and defence purposes. It will eventually replace the European Hlios II, SAR-Lupe, COSMO-SkyMed and Pliades satellites, providing enhanced performance imagery in the optical (visible and infra-red) and radar spectrums.>> The European MUSIS program will be undertaken under a federative approach, in which each space component, including satellites and their ground-control segment, will be developed either as a national program or in co-operation.>> The ground segment for operational users, which will combine access to each space component, will be developed within the framework of an umbrella program which will be managed by OCCAR (Organisation conjointe de coopration en matire d'armement). The European Defence Agency (EDA) will be closely associated with the project, in particular to ensure close ties with the European Union as part of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).