Airbus Defence and Space has awarded Arianespace a contract to launch a pair of SATCOMBw-3 communications satellites for the German Armed Forces.
In July 2024, the German Armed Forces awarded Airbus Defence and Space a €2.1 billion contract for the SATCOMBw-3 programme. Under the programme, Airbus has been tasked with developing and deploying a next-generation secure communications system that will take over from the two-satellite SATCOMBw-2 constellation that was launched aboard Ariane 5 rockets in 2009 and 2010. The contract covers the development of the two geostationary satellites, the associated ground segment, the launch of the satellites (which is expected to occur before the end of the decade), and the operation of the constellation for a period of 15 years.
On 24 September, Arianespace announced that it had been awarded the contract to launch the satellites aboard an Ariane 6 rocket.
“By signing this new strategic contract for the German Armed Forces, Arianespace accomplishes its core mission of guaranteeing autonomous access to space for European sovereign satellites,” said Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès.
While the company did not specify which rocket variant will launch the SATCOMBw-3 constellation, the satellites are based on the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, which has a launch mass of between 3 and 6.8 tonnes. The combined payload mass will, as a result, require a launch aboard an Ariane 64, which is a variant of the rocket that features four boosters.
To date, Arianespace has not yet completed a launch of an Ariane 64 rocket. The first flight was initially expected to occur before the end of 2025. However, on 15 September, during a panel discussion at World Space Business Week, Cavaillolès declined to confirm whether either of the two remaining Ariane 6 launches in 2024 would serve as the debut of Ariane 64, stating simply that “the development of Ariane 64 is going in the right direction.” He added that the company plans to conduct several Ariane 64 flights in 2026.