Friday, November 21, 2008

Sicral

IOC: 2001
Total Production: 3

Unitary Cost: EUR€118 million

Origin
Italy

Contractor/s
Avio
Telespazio *
Thales Alenia Space

Description: The Sicral (Sistema Italiano per Comunicazioni Riservate ed Allarmi) is the first Italian space-based communications system developed in partnership between Alenia Spazio (70%), Fiat Avio (20%) and Telespazio (10%). It provides strategic communications between Italian national authorities and forces deployed overseas.

The Sicral satellite communications system consists of the satellite constellation (currently one satellite), the management and control center at Vigna di Valle (Italy), and over 100 users terminals for ground, sea and airborne platforms. The satellite can work on three frequency bands: EHF (Extremely High Frequency 20-44 GHz), UHF (Ultra High Frequency 260-300 MHz) and SHF (Super High Frequency 7-8 GHz).

The first Sicral satellite, named Sicral 1, was launched on February 7, 2001, by an Ariane 4 space launch system from Kourou space center in French Guiana. Italy expects to launch the second Sicral satellite, called Sicral 1B, in the second half of 2008 and the third one (Sicral 2) in 2011.

The Sicral communications system has been employed recently by Italian forces in humanitarian and international missions with excellent results. In May 2004, NATO selected Sicral along with Syracuse and Skynet to provide space-based global communications services.

Specifications
Performance: Service Life 13 yr Sicral 1B

News
Italy Awards Telespazio Sicral 1B Satellite Launch and Operation Contract

NATO Selects France, Italy and UK Satellite Communications Solution

Operators

Italy / 3

Spacecraft

Sicral 1

Launch Vehicle: Ariane 4
Launch Site: Kourou
Launch Date: Wednesday, February 07, 2001
IOC Date: 2001

Sicral 1B / Planned

Launch Vehicle: Undisclosed - Space Launch Systems
Launch Site: Undisclosed Site
Launch Date: January 2009

Sicral 2 / Planned

Launch Vehicle: Undisclosed - Space Launch Systems
Launch Site: Undisclosed Site
Launch Date: 2012

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008

Leave Feedback >>