[Satellite TODAY 05-05-10] OHB-System AG, part of OHB Technology AG, won contracts under the E-SGA (Europeanization of Satellite-Based Reconnaissance) program to operate ground stations that will provide greater access to information gathered by SAR-Lupe and Helios 2 systems to French and German forces, OHB announced May 4.
    The German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement awarded OHB a contract in April to operate a ground station that will provide French forces access to data from Germany’s SAR-Lupe satellites. The five-year contract carries a value of 7.6 million euros ($9.9 million).
    Separately, Astrium France awarded OHB a contract May 3 to operate a facility that will provide German forces access to France’s Helios 2A and 2B. Under the 6.4 million euro ($8.4 million) contract, OHB-System will operate the station until July 2013.
    The two ground systems are undergoing testing together, with operations set to begin in July.
Under a separate contract with Astrium France — prime contractor for the Helios 2 system — OHB will operate a ground facility in Germany giving German forces access to Helios 2 until July 2013. The contract is valued at 6.4 million euros.