Arianespace will launch the VINASAT-2 satellite for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group under a new contract with Lockheed Martin.

The satellite will be launched onboard an Ariane 5 or a Soyuz launch vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana, in the second quarter of 2012.

The 2,970kg VINASAT-2 will be built by Lockheed using the A2100 platform and will offer a design life exceeding 15 years.

Equipped with 24 Ku-band transponders, the satellite will provide radio, television and telephone transmission services for Vietnam and parts of the Asia Pacific region from its geostationary orbit.