Brazilian defense minister Raul Jungmann visits Thales Alenia Space’s Cannes plant


December 1, 2016

 Raul Jungmann, Brazil’s Minister of Defense, is visiting Thales Alenia Space’s plant in Cannes today, at the head of a delegation including senior civil servants from the country, along with the Chief Executives of the companies Telebras, Embraer Defense and Visiona.
The focal point of this visit is of course the dual use (civil and military) SGDC Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite, now being integrated in Thales Alenia Space’s clean rooms. The launch is planned for March 2017 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.

Thales Alenia Space signed the SGDC contract with Visiona (a joint venture between Embraer and Telebras) at the end of 2013. This program plays a key role in the Brazilian Space Agency’s space development plan, while also addressing the Ministry of Defense’s strategic requirements. It is designed to meet two main objectives: the implementation of a secure satellite communications system for the Brazilian armed forces and government; and support for the deployment of the National Broadband Plan (PNBL), coordinated by Telebras as operator, which aims to reduce the digital divide in the country. The SGDC program is an integral part of Brazil’s strategy to reinforce its independence and sovereignty.

The Brazilian Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning an ambitious technology transfer plan, designed to support the development of Brazil’s own space program.