Tim Furniss/LONDON

European, Japanese and US companies are to assist Russia in building 11 new communications satellites, beginning the replacement of an ageing fleet of spacecraft which have been kept in service for several years longer than planned because of severe budget restraints.

The Russian Energia company will build four Yamal communications satellites using components from Space Systems/Loral - a Yamal project partner. As part of the deal, a $100 million contract will go to Japanese companies NEC and Nissho Iwai for transponders.

The Yamals will be launched on Russian Proton boosters. Energia and the Russian Gaszprom state natural gas monopoly are establishing the Yamal system to provide communications with its gas fields, particularly in Siberia.

In a separate deal, the Troika Consortium, comprising the Russian Space Agency, NPO-PM and France's Alcatel and Aerospatiale, will build three Express K communications satellites. The companies will share the prime contractor role for each spacecraft.

The Express satellites, due to be launched in 2000, will carry 32 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders, operating with 9kW of power. They will replace the Gorizont satellite fleet operated by Intersputnik. The Proton will also be used for the launches.

The US/Russian joint venture Lockheed Martin Intersputnik says that its first satellite, the LMI-1, will be launched in December aboard an ILS International Launch Services Proton booster. The satellite, based on the Lockheed Martin A2100 spacecraft bus, will carry 44 C- and Ku-band transponders, which are being offered worldwide. Three more satellites are scheduled to be launched in 1999-2001.

Source: Flight International