SICRAL-2 (Syracuse-3C) at 37° East – Italian-French Military Communications Satellite

SICRAL-2, also known as Syracuse-3C, is a joint Italian-French geostationary military communications satellitepositioned at 37° East. Designed for secure satellite communication (MILSATCOM), the satellite operates in UHF and SHF frequency bands and serves the armed forces of both Italy and France, while also supporting NATO operations.

Program Overview

Announced in May 2010, SICRAL-2 was developed under a €295 million contract awarded by the Italian Ministry of Defense and France’s Defence Procurement Agency (DGA). The program was executed by Thales Alenia Space Italia and Telespazio, with Thales Alenia Space receiving €193 million and Telespazio €102 million for their roles in the development of the satellite and ground segment.

SICRAL-2 builds on the capabilities of Italy’s SICRAL-1 and SICRAL-1B, and France’s Syracuse-3A and Syracuse-3B, offering enhanced tactical and strategic communication for land, sea, and air military platforms.

Mission Objectives and Capabilities

• Secure communicationsfor joint operations and national missions
• Integrated communications networkacross Italy, France, and NATO infrastructure
• UHF and SHF payloadsto enable high-resilience communication in hostile environments
• Support for foreign deployments and domestic operations
• Extended backup capacityfor NATO’s current SHF systems

SICRAL-2 ensures continuity and expansion of allied European military communications by providing seamless integration with current defense networks.

Satellite Design and Platform

• Bus: Spacebus-4000B2 by Thales Alenia Space
• Orbit: Geostationary at37° East
• Design Life: 15 years
• Launch Year: Originally scheduled for 2013, successfully launched in2015

Manufacturer Background: Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales Group (France) and Leonardo (Italy), is one of Europe’s leading aerospace companies. With a long history in satellite design and space infrastructure, the company has been instrumental in developing both commercial and military space systems across Europe. Thales Alenia Space Italia served as the prime contractor for the SICRAL-2 mission.

Telespazio, a Leonardo and Thales joint venture as well, is a global leader in satellite services and space operations. The company provides launch services, satellite control, and ground infrastructure. For SICRAL-2, Telespazio was responsible for launch and early orbit operations (LEOP) and the integration of the ground segment.

Together, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the Space Alliance, a long-term partnership that has delivered cutting-edge space solutions for over two decades.