Anna Forrester
SES has selected Airbus, Boeing and Orbital ATK to build satellites that will provide telecommunications services to the Americas, the north Atlantic Ocean region and Europe, Space News reported Monday.
Peter de Selding writes that Boeing’s space and intelligence systems business and Airbus’ defense and space segment will provide all-electric-propulsion satellites for commercial fixed, mobile and aeronautical services.
The report noted that recently merged Orbital ATK will provide a conventional-propulsion satellite for LuxGovSat, a joint venture between SES and the Luxembourg government.
Karim Michel Sabbagh, SES president and CEO, stated that he has seen prelaunch interest in LuxGovSat’s X-band and military-Ka-band offerings.
Airbus’ SES-14 satellite will be fitted with C-band and Ku-band payloads, while Boeing’s SES-15 will carry Ku-band and Ka-band payloads, de Selding reports.
Orbital ATK’s SES-16 will mark the first time that SES will provide a purpose-built satellite for the military sector, the report said.
According to Space News, the SES satellites will launch in 2017 and are part of the satellite operator’s $1.25 billion plan to order up to four new telecommunications satellites.
