Thales Alenia Space to provide payloads for RSCC’S two communications satellites

French-Italian aerospace manufacturer Thales Alenia Space Italy has signed a contract with satellite operator Russian Satellite Communication Company (RSCC) to provide payloads for the Express-80 and Express-103 communication satellites.

Once launched, both Express-80 and Express-103 satellites will provide fixed and mobile communications, digital television and radio broadcasting, high-speed internet access and data transmission services across Russia.

Prime satellite contractor and Thales Alenia Space partner ISS-Reshetnev will provide the two electric propulsion platforms for both the Express-80 and Express-103.

To be integrated with the ISS H1000 platforms, the payloads from Thales Alenia Space Italy will be delivered in 2018, a year before the scheduled launch of Express-80.

Thales Alenia Space Italy CEO Donato Amoroso said: "The contract signed today reflects our renewed collaboration with the Russian operator RSCC, as well as our global presence in the commercial market.

"It also confirms Thales Alenia Space’s leadership as a provider of complete design services for communications satellites, platforms and payloads."

Thales Alenia Space has so far provided payloads for a number of satellites built on Russian platforms, including Express-A1, Express-A2, Express-A3, Express-A4, Express-AM11, Express AM22, Express AM2, Express-AM3, Express-AM33, AT1 and others.

In 2000, Thales Alenia Space along with Russia’s ISS-Reshetnev employed a joint marketing strategy based on the ISS Express-1000 satellite platform.

The partnership between the companies has developed Amos 5, Telkom 3 and Yamal 401 satellites.

Thales Alenia Space has recently completed satellite assembly and testing of first two Iridium NEXT satellites at Orbital ATK facility.

Developed for Iridium Communications, the satellites were being prepared for delivery to their launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, US.