Alcatel Alenia Space earned a contract for the next step of the German Armed Forces’ satellite communications program Satcom BW Stufe 2 from EADS Astrium, the space segment prime contractor. The contract calls for the design, manufacturing and the integration of two military satellites: Satcom BW geostationary multi-mission satellites will be fitted with payloads including super-high-frequency (SHF), ultra-high-frequency (UHF) and Ku-band transponders from EADS Space. They are scheduled for delivery in just over two years, and due to start services early 2009 with operational lifetimes of 15 years.