Saab Ericsson Space Signs SAR-Lupe Contract


LINKOPING, Sweden, July 18, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Saab Ericsson Space in Goteborg, Sweden, develops antenna systems to German radar satellites. The contract, signed with German OHB-System of Bremen, includes equipment for five satellites for the German Ministry of Defence. Deliveries will continue until 2005.

SAR-Lupe is a satellite-based high-resolution reconnaissance system, with a resolution better than 1 meter. The space segment consists of five satellites and the satellites will be placed in three different orbits at approx. 500 km altitude. The first satellite launch is planned for 2005 with a Russian launcher.

Saab Ericsson Space is responsible for development and manufacture of the satellites' complete SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) antennas, consisting of a reflector and a deployable boom with feed horns for each of the five satellites.

The more than three meter large reflector is based on Saab Ericsson Space's generic technology for reflector antennas, which provides for extremely good thermal stability and low mass. The reflectors will be manufactured at Saab's facilities in Linkoping, Sweden, and the deployable boom assemblies will be supplied by Saab Ericsson Space's subsidiary Austrian Aerospace of Vienna, Austria.

Saab Ericsson Space has previously delivered high accuracy reflector antennas to scientific satellites like Rosetta and Odin, and to telecommunication satellites Eutelsat W4 and Sirius. With the new order Saab Ericsson Space further strengthens its position as a major independent supplier of satellite and launcher equipment and subsystems.

OHB-System AG in Bremen, Germany, is prime contractor for the SAR-Lupe programme and the final customer is the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement of the German Ministry of Defence.

Saab Ericsson Space is an international and independent supplier of space equipment. The main products are onboard computers, microwave electronics and antennas, guidance and separation systems and thermal hardware for use on board satellites and launchers. The company's headquarters is in Goteborg, Sweden and the Mechanical Products Division is in Linkoping, Sweden. Saab Ericsson Space has subsidiaries in Austria, Austrian Aerospace, and in the USA, Saab Ericsson Space Inc. The total amount of employees is 680 peoples.

Saab Ericsson Space is jointly owned by Saab and Ericsson.

Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The Group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration. Ericsson is a world-leading supplier in the field of telecommunications. Ericsson offers total solutions from systems and applications to mobile telephones and other communications technology.

About OHB-System AG:

OHB-System AG is a medium-sized system house for space technology and security and reconnaissance tasks. The headquarters located in the Technology Park Bremen employs a team of 160 top-class scientists and engineers working at numerous national and international projects in the fields of small satellites, manned space flight and technologies for security and reconnaissance. The experiences gained in a multitude of projects and the excellent teamwork with other companies enables OHB- System to compete with international large-scale enterprises. Due to the consequent extension to a high-technology house OHB-System is German marketleader in the field of small satellites.

OHB-System AG belongs to the Fuchs-Gruppe, which combines 425 highly qualified employees. 95% of them are scientists and engineers.


For further information, please contact:
Irene Irene Svensson, Director of Communications Phone: +46 31 73544 63,
and Public Relations, Saab Ericsson Space              +46 705 - 35 08 18

Danela Sell, Head of Communication & PR, OHB-System AG
Phone: +49 421- 2020-620
E-mail: dsell@ohb-system.de              Fax: +49 421 2020-700

This information is also available at www.space.se & www.ohb-system.de.

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