RSCC select Alcatel Space for the delivery of Express AM2 and AM3 payload modules

21.01 : 2003

Paris, 21 January, 2003 - Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and Alcatel Space have signed a contract to develop and deliver the payloads for the Express AM2 and AM3 communications satellites. The two payloads will be manufactured in Alcatel Space's Toulouse plant, then integrated into "Express-AM" platforms produced by NPO- PM in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

The new Russian Express AM2 and AM3 communications satellites will carry 16 C-band transponders, 12 Ku-band transponders and 1 L-band transponder as well. The spacecraft are designed to provide digital TV and radio broadcasting, telephony, data transmission channels, videoconferencing services and Internet access. The satellites will be also used to deploy communication networks by applying VSAT technology across the territory of Russia, CIS countries, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Alcatel Space has extensive experience in the development of Russian spacecraft equipment. Three RSCC "Express-A" satellites at 11В° W, 40В° E and 80В° E are equipped with the payloads produced by Alcatel Space. The new Russian Express AM11 and AM22 communications satellites are being developed under the order of RSCC and NPO-PM and will be equipped with the Alcatel Space payloads.

Mr. Alexander P. Duka, Director General of RSCC, has declared, "The progress of the joint work undertaken by RSCC and Alcatel Space, high quality standard, and the ability of Alcatel Space to maintain "Express-A" contract due dates pave the way for long-term cooperation between our companies and guarantee the new joint project to be a success".

Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel Space, responded as, "This contract is the fruit of our partnership and industrial collaboration policy with Russia that started towards in the mid- 1990s. Following Sesat, launched in 2000, the delivery of payloads for the Express A1R, A2 and A3 satellites, and operations under way for the AM11 and 22 satellites, this latest contract confirms our position as a reference partner to the Russian Space industry for communications satellites. We have now won the contracts for seven of the eight payloads ordered by the Russian Federation's space program. In addition, the experience built up working with NPO-PM on these programs has driven a substantial improvement in competitiveness and helped us win the RSCC contract".