Russian manufacturer ISS-Reshetnev has signed an MoU with Canadian counterpart MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to jointly build geostationary satellites for new markets.
The deal will see the two companies work together on satellites based on…
Russian manufacturer ISS-Reshetnev has signed an MoU with Canadian counterpart MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to jointly build geostationary satellites for new markets.
The deal will see the two companies work together on satellites based on ISS-Reshetnev’s Express-1000k platform, with MDA supplying their transponders and antennas.
It follows a similar agreement ISS-Reshetnev announced last November with Thales Alenia Space.
“Cooperation with MDA and other national and foreign companies of the space industry is aimed at promotion of ISS-Reshetnev-made geostationary telecommunications satellites into new markets as well as increasing their competitiveness,” explained ISS-Reshetnev in a statement on 27 February.
But the MDA MoU also stipulates using the financing instruments of Canada’s export credit agency.
One such joint project where this is already an important factor is the telecoms satellite the two are currently building for the National Space Agency of Ukraine, called Lybid. This satellite, which sees ISS-Reshetnev build its platform with MDA supplying the bird’s payload equipment, is being financed through a ten-year US$254m loan from Canada’s export credit agency. This facility was secured in 2009, and has an annual interest rate of 5.1%.
The two companies are also currently building telecoms satellites Express-AM5 and Express-AM6 for Russian satellite operator RSCC.
