A contract for the future DLR GfR and Thales Alenia Space shoulder to strengthen Galileo operations

A contract that benefits all European citizens – this is the unanimous mood today at the Paris Air Show, where DLR GfR mbH announced the contract signature of its framework agreement with Thales Alenia Space, Joint Venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %) for the Galileo Mission Segment (GMS) maintenance.

Paris Air Show, June 18 - After a long and fruitful negotiation phase, Thales Alenia Space  (represented by Mr. Benoit Broudy) and DLR GfR Germany (represented by Mr. Simon Plum and Mr. Walter Päffgen), as they published today, have signed the contract in the presence of Mr. Jean-Loic Galle (CEO, Thales Alenia Space), Mr. André Bauerhin (CEO, Spaceopal) and Hansjörg Dittus (Executive Board Member DLR Cologne).

Mr. Simon Plum, Managing Director of DLR GfR, is very glad to establish this alliance: “We are looking forward to this partnership as it will surely strengthen the Galileo system and at the same time will ensure the highest degree of reliability for the European Union and so consequently for all European citizens.”

DLR GfR is one of the Core Team Members of the Galileo Service Operator Consortium and is mainly operating the Galileo Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen/Germany. Galileo is the independent European Satellite Navigation System developed on behalf of the European Commission together with GSA and ESA. Galileo is providing its service on a global scale with high accuracy and integrity, as well as authentication to supply all users with the best services suitable for their needs.

Again Mr Simon Plum: “With some pride we can say that we play a key role in Europe`s biggest space program as the engine room of Europe`s lighthouse project Galileo.”

Thales Alenia Space, with its unique expertise in the design, development and maintenance of Galileo GMS and other navigation programmes in and outside EU, is the ideal candidate for this partnership. Thales Alenia Space, with its main Galileo hubs in Toulouse and Ditzingen, plays a major role in the definition of the future system. This partnership shall help to achieve the goals of Galileo by strengthening the relationship of the two major stakeholders from France and Germany within the Galileo environment.

Mr. Benoit Broudy, Vice President Navigation France at Thales Alenia Space says: “Thales Alenia Space is pleased to bring its experience and new leading technologies developed alongside new space ecosystem to its collaboration with DLR GfR so that we can help drive cost and workflow efficiencies for our customers.”

Mr. Simon Plum: “I am very happy about the conclusion of the contract at hand fostering one major cornerstone of GfRs main activities. Both parties will be able to provide our customer and subsequently all users all over the world with the most reliable and professional service to guarantee the Galileo based navigation. This will significantly strengthen Galileo in the coming years. I look forward to continue to build on the constructive co-operation between GfR and Thales Alenia Space in the interest of the program.”