Syracuse (satellite)

Syracuse (French: Système de radiocommunication utilisant un satellite, satellite based radiocommunication system) is a series of French military communications satellites.

Syracuse is intended to ensure the French military can communicate between mainland France and military units deployed around the world. The satellite participates in command, reassignment and logistic aspects of operations. The system is nominally under the command of the French Navy, equipping a total of 54 ships (2009) and it is complemented by the Telcomarsat commercial system of communications.

In 2006, the programme was awaiting for the third phase, Syracuse-3, to replace Syracuse-2. Syracuse-3 is composed of two satellites developed by the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), and a third satellite (Sicral-2), developed along with Italy. It is an attempt of the French armed forces to achieve autonomy in terms of satellite communications.

Satellites comprising the constellation:

  • Syracuse-3A (launched 13 October 2005)
  • Syracuse-3B (launched 11 August 2006)
  • SICRAL-2 (launched 26 April 2015)

It was announced in July 2019 that the next generation of Syracuse satellites, Syracuse-4, would have cameras to identify possible attackers. The satellites of the following generations (Syracuse-5) will be equipped with defensive weapons.[1] Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, officially signed on 3 September 2019 the decree creating the Space Command (Commandement de l'espace - CDE) within the Air Force, which should eventually become the "Air and Space Army".[2]


References
  1. "Espace: la France va armer ses prochains satellites militaires". Le Point. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. "La France crée officiellement son commandement de l'espace". Le Point. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
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