Thales Altimeter Chosen for US Navy Satellite GFO-2

(Cannes, June 21, 2010) -- Thales Alenia Space announced that it has signed a contract with Ball Aerospace covering the preliminary phase for the GFO-2 RA altimeter, which will equip the new-generation Geosat Follow-On 2 (GFO-2) satellite. This phase covers the definition, design and system compatibility aspects; the final contract for the production of the altimeter is expected by the end of 2010.

Ball Aerospace is programme prime contractor on behalf of the U.S. Navy. The measurements provided by this new-generation GFO-2 will cover all of the planet's oceans, delivering vital data for military strategy.


As a partner in this programme, Thales Alenia Space will develop the bi-frequency altimeter, using a technology derived from the Poseidon family of altimeters, already in operation on the Jason series of oceanography satellites.

"We are especially proud of our selection to work with Ball Aerospace on this contract for the U.S. Navy," said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "This is the first time that the United States Department of Defense has chosen a European company to supply a microwave altimeter. Our business win clearly confirms the global renown of our altimeter product line, which boasts a proven track record in space."

Thales Alenia Space and Ball Aerospace have already teamed up on climatology, since the Caliop instrument built by Ball Aerospace was integrated in the Calipso satellite in Thales Alenia Space's clean rooms, within the scope of the partnership between NASA and French space agency CNES.

Thales Alenia Space has been one of the leading suppliers of European observation satellites for more than thirty year. Its contributions range from the Meteosat system, the world benchmark for geostationary weather satellites, to the Poseidon altimeters that paved the way for operational oceanography.

Source : Thales Group (Paris: HO.PA)