Satellite Finance: RSCC launches tender for financing Express-80 and Express-103 satellites

RSCC is looking to secure Rbs5.7bn (US$87m) to finance its order from ISS Reshetnev and €73m (US$78m) to fund the payloads from Thales Alenia Space.

A spokesperson for the operator said it is looking for maturities of no more than nine years, and would sign facility agreements with the bank – or banks – that could offer the lowest interest rate.

Russian operators typically mandate local banks with RSCC previously securing a credit facility with Vnesheconombank, and its rival Gazprom Space Systems arranging a sizeable financing package with Sberbank earlier in the year.  

Thales Alenia Space has provided payloads for 13 previous Express birds. The Franco-Italian manufacturer announced it had secured the payload contracts in June, saying that Express-80 would be fitted with 16 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders to cover Russia, and two L-band transponders offering global coverage. 

Express-103 will have 16 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders to cover Russia and Southeast Asia, and an L-band transponder for global coverage.

RSCC’s Express satellites are typically launched by Roscosmos under the Russian federal launch programme on Proton-Ms, although the operator has previously said it is open to using alternative providers after losing a satellite to the rocket in the past. The launch is scheduled for Q4 2019.

Satellite Finance