French Army Serval Vehicles to Receive Thales' SYRACUSE IV Satcom Stations

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded Thales the Neptune contract to supply 30 dual-band X/Ka satellite communication stations for the French Army's Serval vehicles.

These stations will function as on-the-pause (OTP) tactical communication nodes, supporting the high-throughput satellite communications services needed by the information and communication systems deployed by the French Army.

The new SYRACUSE IV satellite communication stations will be installed on Serval light multi-role armored vehicles, which are being developed for the Scorpion programme. This contract is the latest development in the SYRACUSE IV ground segment programme, with Thales serving as the prime contractor. It follows a previous order for deploying satellite communication stations on French Navy surface vessels and submarines, as well as the development and production of fixed and mobile stations for land and air forces. These include Mercure on-the-move (OTM) stations for the French Army's Griffon and Serval vehicles and airborne stations for the French Air Force's wide-body aircraft.

The SYRACUSE IV ground segment, developed for the DGA, first entered service at the end of 2023. It provides the French forces with a joint communications capability that relies on secure, high-data-rate satellite communication services with robust protection from jamming, interference, cyberattacks, and other threats to ensure end-to-end connectivity and tri-service interoperability.

The SYRACUSE IV defense communications system includes two satellites, SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B, built by a consortium of Thales Alenia Space (a joint company between Thales, 67%, and Leonardo, 33%) and Airbus Defence and Space. Thales Alenia Space, the lead contractor, was responsible for the SYRACUSE 4A satellite, launched in 2021, and the payloads for both SYRACUSE 4A and SYRACUSE 4B. Airbus Defence and Space managed the SYRACUSE 4B satellite, launched in 2023, based on the all-electric Eurostar platform, and supplied key components for the two payloads.