cosmo_skymed

Italian space agency (ASI) has awarded a €182m contract to Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio to build two Cosmo-SkyMed second-generation (CSG) satellites.

As a prime contractor for the programme, Thales will build the satellites, while Telespazio will develop the ground segment and manage logistics.

The second-generation satellite is planned to be launched in the first half of 2018.

In addition to development of the this satellite and ground segment, the deal covers procurement of equipment for the second satellite. This second will be launched by the first half of 2019, to replace Cosmo-SkyMed first-generation satellites.

Financing for the second-generation system is scheduled to be arranged by early 2016.

Thales Alenia Space Italia CEO Donato Amoroso said: "Cosmo-SkyMed is the flagship of Italy’s advanced radar technology, and is also the only national Earth observation system of its type anywhere in the world."

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"Cosmo-SkyMed is the flagship of Italy’s advanced radar technology, and is also the only national Earth observation system of its type."

Cosmo-SkyMed is said to be the first earth observation system suitable for both civil and military requirements.

The programme is backed by the ASI, the Italian Ministry of Defence, and the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Scientific Research.

Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio have also signed a deal with the Italian Ministry of Defence’s Teledife (General Directorate of IT and Advanced Technologies) to supply ground segment to the Polish Ministry of Defense.

The €30m contract will provide Poland access to Cosmo-SkyMed data, and is part of a 2012 agreement between Italy and Poland for collaboration on earth observation.

The Polish defence user ground segment (P-DUGS) can request images, receive satellite data and generate and store various products.

Poland’s ground segment will be implemented in two phases, and is expected to be fully operational by early 2019.

Image: An artist’s impression of the COSMO-SkyMed satellite. Photo: courtesy of Thales Group.