Military satellite manufacturer EADS Astrium based in Stevenage was celebrating today after it and its subsidiary Paradigm signed a �400m contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to use a new satellite. The contract will create around 100 new jobs at t

Military satellite manufacturer EADS Astrium based in Stevenage was celebrating today after it and its subsidiary Paradigm signed a �400m contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to use a new satellite.

The contract will create around 100 new jobs at the EADS sites in Stevenage and Portsmouth and help sustain 800 jobs throughout the group.

The Skynet 5D will be the fourth satellite of its kind to be used by the MoD and is roughly three times the length of a double decker bus and will be launched in 2013 playing a key role in gathering intelligence on operations. It will also be used to provide the telephone and internet welfare support facilities for service personnel on operations.

"Future operations require that our Armed Forces are given access to the best possible communications and this new satellite will go a long way to ensuring this," said Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies.

Eric Beranger, chief executive of Astrium services, said: "The Skynet5 programme was a pioneering step in the provision of milsatcoms via a commercial operator.

"In the past six years we have not only met the exacting requirements of UK MoD, but also provided a comprehensive and flexible service to allied nations worldwide.

"The demand for a fourth Skynet 5 satellite demonstrates the growing global demand for the services we can offer and proves that we have successfully implemented a truly innovative approach to milsatcom procurement."

Malcolm Peto, a director of Paradigm said: "The contract extension for 5D is testament to the strong working partnership we have with the UK MoD.

"Since the inception of the Skynet5 programme we have been fully committed to providing them with the highest standard of service that has the flexibility, security and reliability they require.

"Skynet5D demonstrates the success of this programme from both an industrial and military perspective, enabling us to consolidate the service delivery to UK MoD and also to expand the communication capabilities we can offer on a worldwide basis.