The Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (France's Ministry of Defense's procurement agency) awarded the development of the Syracuse 3 military satellite telecommunications system to Alcatel Space Industries on November 30, 2000. That contract included the in-orbit delivery of a new-generation Syracuse 3A military satellite, as well as necessary upgrades of the current ground segment. The contract was valued at approximately US $1.2 billion (1.4 billion Euros / 9 billion French francs), and includes options for the in-orbit delivery of a second and third satellite in the same series, as well as operational maintenance of the system until 2018. Alcatel Space could also deliver another Syracuse 3 series satellite as early as 2004.

Alcatel Space will work with Thomson-CSF both to develop the Syracuse 3 ground segment and security-related equipment (both ground and satellite ), and starting in 2001, for the operational maintenance of the current Syracuse 2 system, followed by the Syracuse 3 system.