Space Security Index

Space Security 2011
130
many of these capabilities, in particular communications and imagery intelligence, are shared
among several EU states. Greater harmonization of the EU through the Lisbon Treaty,
development of the European Security and Defence Policy, and budget restrictions in
member states are driving this cooperation.
e Besoin Opérationnel Commun (BOC) provides the framework for space systems
cooperation among the ministries of defense of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium,
and Greece. 191 France’s Helios-1 observation satellite in LEO was included under this
agreement 192 and was subsequently replaced by the Helios-2B second-generation defense
and security observation system, which was launched in 2004 by France in conjunction
with Belgium and Spain. 193 Germany’s rst dedicated military satellite system, Sar-Lupe,
which uses synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution remote sensing, and Italy’s COSMO-
SkyMed radar satellites are expected to be integrated with France’s Pleiades dual-use optical
remote sensing satellites. 194 Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden cooperate on
the dual-use ORFEO satellite network. 195 France has also been working on the optical and
radar MUSIS (Multinational Space-based Imaging System) project with Belgium, Germany,
Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland; 196 the new optical component of MUSIS
is expected to replace the French Helios-2 optical satellite by 2015. 197 However, recent
developments suggest that MUSIS has been stalled by disagreements among the partners
and the project could collapse. 198
Europe has several dedicated and dual-use satellite communications systems. In 2006,
France completed the Syracuse-3 next-generation communications system, described
as “the cornerstone in a European military Satcom system.” 199 France also maintains the
dual-use Telecomm-2 communications satellite and the military Syracuse-2 system. 200 e
U.K. operates a constellation of dual-use Skynet-4 UHF and Super High Frequency (SHF)
communications satellites, 201 as well as a next-generation Skynet-5 system, intended to
provide British military forces with a secure, high-bandwidth capability though 2022. 202
e latest Skynet-5 satellite was launched in June 2008 and another launch is expected
in 2013, making the £3.6-billion (approximately $5.6-billion) project the single biggest
U.K. space project. 203 In 2006, Spain launched the dedicated military communications
satellite Spainsat to provide X-band and Ka-band services to the Ministry of Defense. Spain
also owns the dual-use communications satellite XTAR-EUR and the dual-use Hispasat
system, which provides X-band communications to the Spanish military. In 2006, Germany
signed a procurement contract with MilSat Services GmbH to provide the German armed
forces with a secure information network to assist its units on deployed missions. 204 Italy’s
Sicral military satellite provides secure UHF, SHF, and Extremely High Frequency (EHF)
communications. 205
Other military space capabilities in Europe include France’s Essaim constellation of four
signals intelligence satellites, launched in 2004. France launched two Spirale early warning
satellites in early 2009 for a probative research and technology demonstration 206 and, at a
cost of $142.3-million each, commissioned from EADS Astrium four Elisa microsatellites,
which will gather signals intelligence data and identify civil and military radars for the French
intelligence community. 207 Other European states have refused to participate or invest in a
pan-European missile-warning system. 208
e EU has called for a more coherent approach to the development of space systems capable
of supporting military operations and has begun to actively develop dual-use systems. e
2007 European Space Policy makes specic reference to defense and security applications,
indicating a shifting focus in support of increasing synergies between military and civil