Thales and Leonardo joint venture Thales Alenia Space has signed a multi-mission contract with Indonesian state-owned company PT Len Industri to deliver an advanced Earth observation constellation that combines both radar and optical sensors and dedicated to Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) operations.
According to Thales Alenia Space, both companies will contribute to roll out a comprehensive solution comprising space and ground segments in Indonesia.
The constellation will include optical and radar satellites that are integrated and managed using a multi-mission ground segment that involves Leonardo-Thales joint venture Telespazio. The constellation will be operated by PT Len to meet the Indonesian MoD’s requirements for safety and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, PT Len will develop a ground segment system to provide control, maintenance, data processing, and analytic functions for the Defense Satellite System. The company will also enable MoD access to the existing Earth observation satellite constellation via a partnership with BlackSky, which will provide early intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellite capability for the MoD and Indonesian Armed Forces prior to the operationalisation of the Defense Satellite System.
“Thales Alenia Space, which has a long history of working with Indonesian satellite operators, is honored to be given the opportunity to work on a crucial program for the Indonesian Defense Ministry for the first time” said Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey.
Leveraging our long-standing expertise in Earth observation, we are proud to celebrate a new milestone towards Indonesia’s sovereignty and safety needs, providing a one-of-a-kind integrated optical and radar system,” added Derrey.
“Cooperation between Len and Thales Alenia Space is a positive way to increase our independence in the defence industry,” said Bobby Rasyidin, President-Director of PT Len Industri (Persero).
Thales Alenia Space has a proven track record in delivering space-based capabilities to Indonesia. Earlier in June a new national communications satellite built by the company was successfully launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
According to Thales Alenia Space, SATRIA-1 (SAteliT Republik IndonesiA) is a very-high-throughput satellite (VHTS) designed to offer a throughput of 150 Gbps, enabling high speed internet access for military, government and public facilities across the thousands of islands in the Indonesian archipelago not already connected by existing terrestrial or satellite systems.
by Jr Ng
