Paris, France--Advanced IR detectors developer Sofradir has been awarded a multi-million Euro contract to manufacture IR detectors for the engineering and flight model phases for the MUSIS/CSO next-generation Earth observation military satellites. These satellites will replace the current Helios 2 observational system.
Under the terms of the four-year contract, Sofradir will deliver high-resolution IR focal-plane arrays for the satellites' optical imaging cameras to satellite and space equipment manufacturer Thalès Alenia Space France (TAS-F).
Sofradir hopes that this collaboration could lead other opportunities to make their mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) IR detectors that operate reliably in harsh environments available for other challenging space projects in Europe and around the world, says Philippe Bensussan, chairman and CEO at Sofradir.
The CSO (Optical Space Component) is the French government’s contribution to the future MUSIS (MUltinational Spacebased Imaging System) that will include optical and radar space components. Aerospace company Astrium is the prime contractor for the CSO satellite development contract, as the French space agency CNES awarded the contract to Astrium in 2010. CNES was delegated by the French procurement agency DGA to manage the project.
Sofradir first became involved in MUSIS/CSO in 2005, when it carried out a feasibility study and preliminary development of the IR detectors. Sofradir will complete delivery of all the IR detectors by 2015.
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