Telespazio has selected Arianespace to launch the Sicral 2 satellite into geostationary orbit on an Ariane 5 launched from the Guiana Space Center in November 2013, Arianespace announced Dec. 6.
    The launch deal, Arianespace’s 11th of the year, will fall under the framework of a $375.6 million turnkey contract Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space signed with the Italian Defense Ministry and the French DGA Armament Agency for the development and ground segment for Sicral 2 in May.
    The Sicral 2 Program aims to support European military satellite communications and is designed to meet the needs expected to develop in the near future. The planned satellite and ground segment provides strategic and tactical communications links for both domestic operations and foreign deployments. It supports all military, terrestrial, naval and aerial platforms, operating in a single integrated network. 
    The satellite also will ensure additional backup for current SHF-band capacity provided by Syracuse 3 and Sicral 1B intended for NATO communications.