UAE-based Yahsat has awarded a contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to provide ground system solutions, including its EPOCH integrated product suite (IPS), for its new Al Yah 3 satellite.

Kratos’ EPOCH IPS will offer command-and-control (C2) services for the Al Yah 3 satellite, which is a high-throughput satellite (HTS) and scheduled to be launched this year.

The EPOCH IPS will also replace the C2 systems, which are currently being used by Yahsat’s existing Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites.

The solutions will further enable Yahsat to simultaneously control various satellites from different manufacturers with a single consolidated system.

“EPOCH will facilitate integrating our existing and future satellites into a single monitoring and controlling platform."

As part of the newly signed deal, Kratos will also provide its Monics carrier monitoring system that will offer interference detection services for the Al Yah 3 satellite.

Yahsat operations executive director Ross Barker said: “EPOCH will facilitate integrating our existing and future satellites into a single monitoring and controlling platform, and Kratos' data analysis capabilities will provide us with the tools to analyse telemetry data and run statistics using predictive analysis algorithms, thereby improving our operations.”

The company currently offers Ka-band satellite services across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South America, Central and South-West Asia.

Following the launch of its Al Yah 3 satellite, Yahsat will be able to extend its reach to 20 new markets, including 60% of Africa's population and more than 95% of Brazil's population.