France, Germany and the UK are poised to launch the project-definition study for a next-generation military-communications satellite, the results of which may determine the future of the UK's Skynet 5 programme.

The three countries have issued invitations to tender for the Trimilsatcom project to Matra-Marconi Space (MMS) and an Alcatel Espace-led consortium for the project-definition study. Either consortium could include the French Government-owned Thomson-CSF, when it is decided whether Lagardère, the MMS holding company, or Alcatel, takes a substantial share of the company.

The $2.6 billion Trimilsatcom system would replace the UK's MMS-built Skynet 4 fleet and French Syracuse transponders on the national Telecom 2 communications satellites - also built by MMS - as well as providing Germany with its first dedicated military-communications system.

The Skynet 4 and Telecom 2 fleets will reach the end of their operational lives in about 2004/5. Three years ago, the need to replace the satellites initially resulted in discussions on a follow-on project, including a Europe-wide programme called Eumilsatcom.

Only three countries emerged from these discussions with the intention of further exploring a collaborative programme, Italy and Spain having dropped out.

Spain operates military transponders on its MMS-built Hispasat satellites, while Italy has awarded a contract to Alenia Espazio to build the dedicated Sicral military-communications satellite to be launched by an Ariane 5 in 1999.

Given the need for a core military capability in Europe, "-it is regarded as imperative that a commitment is made now, so that prototype and technology development work can begin in preparation for the final go-ahead", says MMS.

Negotiations between the three states centre on whether the satellites will use super or extremely high frequencies, or both.

The UK Government is still considering also its option of a dedicated fleet of Skynet 5s, should agreement on using this project as the basis for the Trimilsatcom fail to come to fruition.

An interim Trimilsatcom office has been established in Paris to manage the programme, due to enter the next phase of development in 1999/2000.

These studies will be required to establish the optimum balance between dedicated spacecraft to support core military capacity and the possibility of transferring routine non-sensitive communications traffic to civilian spacecraft, according to MMS.

Source: Flight International