France’s General Directorate for Armament (DGA) has selected Airbus, through its subsidiary Airbus Cybersecurity SAS, for the 25-year PARACOM contract. Under the deal, the company will supply cybersecurity gateways for the networks of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs.
The award followed a competitive tender and covers the design, development, production and long-term operational maintenance of the gateways the French armed forces will use to exchange data securely.
What the PARACOM Contract Means for the French Armed Forces
The gateways will be installed at French armed forces sites and in directorates and departments across the ministry. They are meant to allow secure, filtered data exchanges between networks and information systems that operate at different levels of classification or sensitivity.
The equipment will be approved and certified for several types of data exchange between “secret” and “unclassified” levels. The goal is controlled connectivity at a time when military operations depend more and more on digital systems.
Airbus Cybersecurity SAS Draws on Experience Dating Back to 2013
François Lombard, Director of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defence and Space, described the system’s role in the ministry’s wider security framework.
“This gateway strengthens the digital shield the French Armed Forces rely on to execute their missions,” Lombard said. “Since 2013, we have supplied French land forces with gateway solutions. Our high level of expertise within our cybersecurity teams in the field of multi-level data-sharing solutions reinforces our position as a leading player in cybersecurity in France.”
Deployment Options Under the PARACOM Contract
The gateways are built for a range of deployment needs. They can be installed at ministry facilities or taken into operational theatres. Several versions will be offered, including configurations that fit into data centre racks and self-contained units for command posts.
The system is also designed for constrained tactical environments. These include surface vessels, submarines, aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as armoured and other land vehicles.
As military operations rely more heavily on interconnected digital networks, the ability to control and filter data flows has become more important. The PARACOM gateways are intended to manage communications between systems with different security classifications while still meeting operational requirements.
A Long-Term Role Supporting the French Armed Forces
Under the contract, Airbus Cybersecurity SAS will run the gateway programme across the full product lifecycle, from design and development through production and long-term maintenance. The 25-year term provides for operational support over an extended period, so the cybersecurity infrastructure can be maintained for as long as it is deployed across the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs.
Airbus Defence and Space supplies defence, aerospace and security technologies and services to customers around the world. Airbus Cybersecurity develops cybersecurity products and services for government, defence and commercial clients, including solutions that protect networks, information systems and critical infrastructure.
The PARACOM programme builds on Airbus Cybersecurity’s background in multi-level data-sharing systems and on its work with the French armed forces since 2013.
