Posted: Wed, Feb 27, 2002, 7:35 AM ET (1235 GMT)
A consortium led by Astrium won a contract Tuesday to build the next generation of military communications satellites for the UK. Paradigm, a joint venture led by Astrium and BAE Systems, won the contract to build and operate the new Skynet system that will provide communications for the UK Ministry of Defence, with additional commercial uses. The 20-year deal is valued at £2 billion ($US 2.8 billion), and will be funded by a private finance initiative, where industry pays for and owns the satellites, and the government and other customers pay only for services. Other members of the consortium include Cable and Wireless, TRW, and General Dynamics Decision Systems. Paradigm beat out a second joint venture, Rosetta, that also included BAE Systems, as well as BT Group and Lockheed Martin.

Related Links:

•  UK Ministry of Defence press release
•  EADS press release
•  Space News (subscribers only) article