Defence Products, News

Spanish/Norwegian satellite program on hold

The Spanish and Norwegian Ministries of Defence have reviewed the way forward concerning the Communication Satellite cooperation programme - HISNORSAT.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Spain and Norway concerning the cooperation for the procurement, launch, and operation of a new communications satellite in X and military Ka frequency bands owned by Hisdesat and the Norwegian Armed Forces was signed by the Defence Ministers on September 7, 2010.

Norway and Spain have revisited the assumptions and prerequisites for the programme. The expected decrease in demand in the market of satellite communications capacity will increase the risk to the programme business plan.

The increased risks have made the parties review the way forward of the HISNORSAT programme. As an immediate result, Spain and Norway have agreed to end the present HISNORSAT investment programme.

The nations will within a deadline of 2014 continue to work in a common approach to elaborate future satellite communications, acknowledging the advantages and synergies which can accrue from bilateral collaboration.