Saudi Arabia set to issue request for proposals for Stratsat satellite communications system within months
Saudi Arabia plans to operate a fully digital geosynchronous X- and Ka-band satellite communications system, called Stratsat, before 2010. It will be the fifth generation of satellite system to be operated by the Arabsat organisation.
Four or more satellites will be launched, with four positions already allocated at 21.1°, 49°, 52° and 73° east in geostationary orbit. Dr Mohamed Tarazouini, of the King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology in Riyadh, says a request for proposals will be issued “in the next months” for development of the first two satellites for government “strategic and tactical networks”.
The first concept for Stratsat was studied by Lockheed Martin, based on its A2100 spacecraft platform, with what is now Alcatel Alenia Space proposing a communications payload based on that of the Italian Sicral military satellite, with X-band transponders and up to 26 Ka-band transponders. Telespazio would be involved in satellite operations. No final contract has yet been awarded.
Sicral 1, Italy’s first military satellite, was launched in 2001. Sicral 1B is under construction, but although 2005 was given as its original launch date no schedule has been announced. The satellite will extend Italian operations to 2019.
Arabsat 1A and 1B were launched in 1985 and 1C in 1992, before being sold in orbit to the Indian Space Research Organisation. Arabsat 2A and 2B were launched in 1996, Arabsat 2C in 1997 and 2D in 1998. The only Arabsat 3 was launched in 1999, while two fourth-generation craft are scheduled for launch in 2006 or later. The Arabsat 4 contract was awarded to an EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space team.
Source: Flight International
