Astrium Pips Lockheed Martin In UAE Surveillance Satellite Deal

UAE yesterday ordered two military surveillance satellites from France in a deal worth more than 700 million euros (US $913.2 million).

The Falcon Eye deal, signed in Abu Dhabi over competition from Lockheed Martin of the United States, includes the supply and launch of two high-resolution Helios surveillance satellites, a control station and training for 20 UAE engineers.

The two satellites will be built by Astrium, the space division of EADS, and Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between French Thales and Italian Finmeccanica.

The deal comes with an annex agreement between the two governments stating that French military personnel will help their Emirati counterparts in interpreting images and sharing received intelligence, said a member of the team of French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.