- 20 January 2005 -

Concrete GPS contract

In the frame of the US Air Force's GPS III System Preliminary Definition phase, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems has awarded a study contract to Alcatel.
This contract confirms last year's discussions between Boeing and Alcatel Space to develop cooperation in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

It is also the first ever contractual tie between EU and US industry leaders in satellite navigation, which materialises the EU-US high level agreement signed in June 2004.

Alcatel Space scope of activity under this contract will be the definition of the architecture of the GPS III global integrity as well as on the compatibility and inter-operability with the European Galileo system.

As European leader in satellite navigation systems, namely the European prime of the EGNOS system and leader on the Galileo integrity solution and architecture, Alcatel Space sees this contract as the first step toward a sound and positive cooperation between Europe and the US.

Boeing and Alcatel Space support the EU-US high-level agreement on GNSS, which has been executed by the parties in June 2004. That confirms the long-standing relation of trust between Boeing and Alcatel Space (eg on XM-Radio).

Boeing also supports the Eurely consortium, formed by Alcatel, Finmeccanica, Hispasat and Aena, and which has been short-listed by the Galileo Joint Undertaking, a venture formed by the EU and the European Space Agency, for the purpose of launching the Galileo programme and selecting its concessionaire.