Jay Clemens
Lockheed Martin will produce communication satellites for Arabsat and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in a move aimed to help connect the citizens of Saudi Arabia.
Arabsat ordered two A2100 satellites to expand its fleet of television, internet, telephone and secure communications satellites that already operate in orbit for the customers in Middle East, Africa and Europe, Lockheed said Tuesday.
The company is scheduled to complete the construction of the Arabsat 6A and Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 satellites in 2018 for launch that same year.
Lockheed will design the satellites to last 15 years in service.
Mike Hamel, vice president and general manager of commercial space at Lockheed, said the A2100 satellite platform is designed to fulfill the telecommunications requirements of both Arabsat and Saudi Arabia.
Lockheed, KACST and TAQNIA Space Co. will also study future design, assembly and integration of satellites in Saudi Arabia, with KACST as the lead of the research and development efforts.
