8 January 2013

Astrium Services – Government Communications , the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) and other contractors have signed a new framework agreement for the supply of satellite capacity to the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) on C- and Ku-band between Europe and Afghanistan, until 2016. FMV is a Swedish civil authority whose main task is to procure goods and services for the SwAF and in some circumstances other public and private clients.

The first contract under the framework agreement was awarded by FMV to Astrium Services – Government Communications under tender and is for the supply of satellite capacity for Europe and Afghanistan to the SwAF throughout 2013. Delivery started for the capacity, which will be used by SwAF personnel when required, on October 22nd 2012. Using 33 MHz Satellite capacity for secure communication between Sweden and the Operation Theatre in Afghanistan will be delivered on the Ku-band.

“The framework agreement and subsequent contract for satellite capacity follows our development and installation of a custom designed VSAT Camp Antenna System (VCAS) in Sweden,” adds Thomas Åström, Business Development Director, Astrium Services – Government Communications. “With strong connections in the space segment, we are able to reliably meet FMV’s requirement for secure personnel communication between Sweden and Afghanistan and are keen to expand on our supply throughout the duration of the framework agreement.”

The SwAF has since 1948 participated in peacekeeping missions in several countries under the umbrella of the UN and, during the last decade, the EU. Currently, SwAF personnel are participating in KFOR, Kosovo, and ISAF, Afghanistan, which are operations that Astrium Services is also involved in through the supply of satellite capacity, services and systems to various stakeholders, including FMV. The SwAF mission camps are equipped with VSAT stations as the main communication between the camps and the SwAF organisation in Sweden.