OHB Group expertise entrusted with satellite project for German Armed Forces

Bremen, 28 August 2001. As became apparent in the Kosovo conflict, the German Bundeswehr needs to have its own radar controlled reconnaissance system, if it wants to receive high-resolution images without having to depend on reconnaissance images provided by third parties. Therefore, the German Federal Office of Defence, Technology and Procurement invited tenders for the SAR-LUPE project, an important policy instrument with regard to security in Germany and Europe, encompassing a total order volume of more than DM 500 million. At the end of the competition, when all candidates had been screened, a consortium lead by OHB System AG had won the race. Immediately after the decision had been taken, OHB entered into exclusive contract negotiations. Prior to execution of the contract and with a view to the large investment volume involved, the project is subject to approval of the German Parliament’s Budget Committee. In the course of the next few years, OHB, as the prime contractor, shall launch five radar satellites into a low earth orbit in close co-operation with OHB Teledata AG and Alcatel Space, Bosch Satcom, RST, Saab Ericsson, EADS Dornier and several other companies. The package of orders related to data transmission, with an order volume of approximately DM 25-28 million, shall be subcontracted to OHB Teledata AG, a company listed on the stock exchange. Up to 10% of this volume might already be reflected in sales figures and the operating income of the current fiscal year. This contract is of a future-oriented nature and reconfirms OHB’s technological competence that will even meet military requirements of highest standard. With this project, the OHB consortium has succeeded in making its debut in the field of military satellite technology. As a consequence, OHB-Teledata AG’s focus in the project sector will be shifted in the second half of the year 2001.