Satellite manufacturers Thales Alenia Space and ISS Reshetnev are to form a commercial joint venture.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project at a ceremony in Moscow on 18 November that was attended by senior government…
Satellite manufacturers Thales Alenia Space and ISS Reshetnev are to form a commercial joint venture.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project at a ceremony in Moscow on 18 November that was attended by senior government officials from both countries, including prime ministers Vladimir Putin and François Fillon, the French Minister of Research and Technology, Laurent Vauquiez, and the French ambassador to Russia, Jean de Gliniasty.
The MoU agreed on both the framework and timetable for talks to create a commercial and industrial joint venture that is capable of assembling and integrating satellites and payloads for the Russian and international markets. Financial details for the project have yet to be revealed.
The deal is an extension of an existing relationship between the two companies that has seen them work together since 1993 and jointly develop certain satellites since 2004. The first of these was on the Express A and AM series of satellites for the Russian satellite operator RSCC. Under these partnerships, ISS-Reshetnev’s usually constructs the satellite platform and then subcontracts the payload to Thales.
At the Paris Air Show in June 2009, the two companies cemented their strategic partnership further by signing a memorandum of strategic cooperation to produce satellites together based on the joint platform Express-4000.
Commenting on the deal, Reynald Seznec, president and CEO of Thales, said: “Building on more than 18 years of industrial and commercial teamwork, and with 19 communications satellites built jointly for the Russian and international markets, Thales Alenia Space and ISS Reshetnev are today bringing their collaboration to a new level.
“Our partnership with ISS is strategic, and Thales Alenia Space will continue to extend our collaboration with the Russian space industry and its recognized experts to develop increasingly sophisticated and powerful satellites that meet the requirements of the Russian and international markets.”
Thales was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
