EADS, Astrium create new U.S. operation

• Tweet

PARIS, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- EADS North America and Astrium of France have created a new space technology company in the United States -- Astrium Americas.

Astrium Americas, which will operate as a subsidiary of EADS North America, will provide specifically tailored advanced telecommunications, geo-information, space transportation and satellite capabilities to U.S. and Canadian government customers. The company will also offer secure satellite communications services formerly marketed by Vizada Inc. to government customers.

"The creation of Astrium Americas as a U.S. company is an important step in better serving our North American customers," said John Schumacher, president of Astrium Americas. "The space marketplace is increasingly global, and we want to provide U.S. government and private sector customers with the benefits of our commercial approach to providing space capabilities from complete space systems to state-of-the-art satellite services."

The new company's initial services will be for satellite-based communications, including L-Band services from providers such as Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya, and services from Astrium Services' military satellites.

Astrium, like EADS North America, is a subsidiary of Europe's EADS Group.