22 February 2011 

Astrium Services has signed end-2010 a five year contract for tens of millions euros with Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat) to provide comprehensive support to manage and control the operations, training and maintenance of the Civil Ground and Management Segments of the UAE’s Armed Forces new, state-of-the-art, military satellite communications system. 

Through its range of Paradigm services, Astrium will be prime contractor for the support in Operations and Maintenance of the Yahsat system, and will use its unique expertise in network operations, customer services, and logistical support to ensure that the system is successfully brought into service. The system will then be capable of delivering state-of-the-art services to the UAE’s Armed Forces throughout its lifetime. 

“This is a hugely significant contract for Astrium, reinforcing our reputation as a world leading military satellite services’ company. It is a testament to our strength in providing expert, managed, military satellite communications solutions through our range of Paradigm services.” said Eric Béranger, CEO of Astrium Services. “Our Paradigm team will bring all the attributes and quality they’ve built up on the UK MoD’s Skynet 5 programme into developing the UAE’s Armed Forces expertise in Milsatcom service delivery”. 

“It has been a great honour to develop a satellite communications solution to support our nation’s defences and promote broader regional security,” said Rashed Al Ghafri, General Manager of YahService. “The system Yahsat has worked to create is a flagship programme for the United Arab Emirates’ Armed Forces. Obviously, successful operations and maintenance of the system will be critical for its future success.  We are therefore very pleased to have the experience and support of Paradigm in delivering our operations and maintenance services and look forward to working with them over the next 5 years.”