By Letta Kalamara

METLEN, Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67% – Leonardo 33%) and Thales Hellas announced that they had signed a cooperation agreement aimed at jointly preparing for future opportunities under Greece's defence satellite communications programme, according to information available to Naftemporiki.

The agreement integrates the capabilities of the three companies to support Greece's ambition to strengthen its sovereignty, security and strategic autonomy in the space sector. It also seeks to maximise the participation of the domestic industrial ecosystem through technology transfer and skills development, while helping build high-value-added industrial and technological capabilities in Greece's space sector.

Under the agreement, the partners will establish a framework to assess how their expertise and industrial capabilities could contribute to a future integrated defence satellite communications system.

METLEN's gallium production

Defence and metals converge as METLEN enters the defence satellite telecommunications sector through M Technologies.

The partnership between the Greek company, Thales Hellas and Thales Alenia Space once again highlights the direct link between critical raw materials and the development of the defence sector. In this case, METLEN's gallium production is a key factor in advancing the collaboration between METLEN, Thales Hellas and Thales Alenia Space.

Among METLEN's potential contributions to the consortium through M Technologies is the possible use of its gallium production capabilities in relevant supply chains for future satellites manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and delivered to customers worldwide. This prospect would complement Thales Alenia Space's expertise in secure telecommunications satellites and related ground infrastructure.

Under the agreement, the partners will establish a framework to assess how their expertise and industrial capabilities could contribute to a future integrated defence space telecommunications system.

Gallium, which is produced as a by-product of bauxite processing, is a key material in advanced technologies. Gallium nitride (GaN), in particular, offers technological advantages over silicon, including superior energy efficiency and lower heat generation, making it essential for 5G networks, artificial intelligence, data centres and modern defence systems.

Gallium nitride-based chips can deliver energy savings of up to 50% in power conversion applications. This capability is a matter of "survival" for modern data centres.

Thales Alenia Space: Satellite Telecommunications Platform

The satellite solution proposed by Thales Alenia Space will be based on a telecommunications platform recognised internationally for its reliability, resilience and rapid deployment. Drawing on technologies already tested in real space missions and proven to withstand demanding conditions, such a system could provide Greece with secure, sovereign and interference-resistant communications, helping strengthen national security and space autonomy.

Naftemporiki visited Thales Alenia Space's facilities in Cannes, where company sources noted that "there is strong interest in Athens in optical communications technology".

"This is something we are proposing to both the Greek Ministry of National Defence and the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, as well as to the Greek government more broadly. They are already aware of it, and it is an issue we have discussed with them. They have shown strong interest and are asking for more information," the sources told Naftemporiki.

This prospect would complement Thales Alenia Space's expertise in secure telecommunications satellites and related ground infrastructure.