Kongsberg Norspace wins orders with Airbus Defence and Space

Kongsberg Norspace wins orders with Airbus Defence and Space for Payload converters and Flexible Command Receivers for the SES processing satellites SES-12 and SES-14.

Horten, Norway – Kongsberg Norspace AS®  strengthens its collaboration with Airbus Defence and Space and SES through multiple contracts for delivery of Pre- and Post-processor converters as well as Flexible, Agile Command Receivers for the Electric propulsion orbit raising, high performance telecommunication SES-12 and SES-14 satellites. Both product developments have been supported by ESA through the ARTES 3-4 program. These orders come less than a year after Kongsberg Norspace’s breakthrough with their new generation Flexible Command Receivers, also with Airbus DS and SES for SES-10.  Flexible Command Receivers allowing shift of the operating frequency while the satellites are in orbit offers satellite manufacturers and operators important flexibility. For satellites like SES-12 and SES-14 using all-electric propulsion with a long orbit raising time, the frequency agility is particularly valuable. Interference problems in orbit can also be eliminated or significantly reduced.  The 60+ Ku-BB and BB-Ku Pre- and Post-converters using Kongsberg Norspace in-house qualified SAW-filter, converter and amplifier technologies allow optimal performance of the state-of-the-art flexible Airbus DS payload with digital signal processor and multi-beam antennas. Commenting on the contracts award, Kongsberg Norspace’s new president Ellen D. Tuset said: “We are very pleased and proud of the continued trust Airbus DS and SES - two of the most prominent actors in the commercial satellite industry - show us by placing these orders. Airbus DS has been one of our major and favourite customers for many years, particularly through the Alphasat and Express AM4, AM4R and AM7 contracts the last decade. Through the SES-10 contract for Flexible Rx that we won last year, we have come to know SES as a skilful and involved operator with high standards and high expectations. This suits us well. It allows us to show our customers that we are reliable and competent. Hopefully, this reputation will lead to further similar contracts also with other commercial primes and operators in the near future.” 

Photos: Jon A. Klasbu

“The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.”