RSCC and JSC RESHETNEV (part of Roscosmos) signed three contracts for the creation of geostationary communications satellites Express-AT3, Express-AT4 and Express-AMU8
The contracts were signed by General Director of RSCC Alexey Volin and General Director of RESHETNEV JSC Mikhail Valov on April 6 during Space Week, marking the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight. General Director of Roscosmos Dmitry Bakanov and Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia Dmitry Ugnivenko also participated in the ceremony.
The total amount of contracts is 43 970.3 billion rubles. RESHETNEV JSC was recognized as the winner of all three closed tenders announced by RSCC in February 2026. All satellites should be produced and launch by the end of 2030.
Satellite Characteristics:
Express-AT3 (orbital position 56° E) is designed for direct television and radio broadcasting and equipped with DBS transponders. Express-AT3 is intended to replace the failed Express-AT1 satellite in orbit. The satellite is being built using RSCC's own funds.
Express-AT4 (orbital position 36° E) is created to replace the Express-AMU1 spacecraft and will ensure the continuity of direct satellite broadcasting networks in a key orbital position for the European part of Russia.
Express-AMU8 (orbital position 14° W) is designed for broadcasting, data transmission, mobile communications, telephony, as well as broadband access and multimedia. The AMU8 is to replace the Express-AM8 spacecraft in orbit. The satellite's service areas cover the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, including Africa and Latin America.
All three satellites are designed to operate in orbit for 15 years.
"Based on the results of tenders in late 2025 and early 2026, JSC RESHETNEV will have to manufacture seven satellites for RSCC. This is the largest order for geostationary satellites not only in the Russian, but also in the international satellite communications market. This is definitely a challenge for the manufacturer. A cooperation partnership involving approximately 300 companies employing approximately 80,000 people has already been formed to develop the four satellites contracted at the end of 2025. A unified IT control system has been created. Numerous processes have been refined using the AMU4 project as an example. We are confident that, thanks to the foundation we have laid, the production of the remaining three satellites will proceed strictly according to schedule," said Alexey Volin, General Director of RSCC.
"For us, this is a great responsibility to the state, society, and, of course, our customer - RSCC. We have a long-standing, trusting relationship with the national operator. Since 1994, we have manufactured 22 Express telecommunications spacecraft for RSCC," noted Mikhail Valov, General Director of RESHETNEV JSC.