Yahsat orders LEO satellites from Airbus

TAMPA, Fla. — Yahsat ordered a pair of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Airbus amid a $1.1 billion program for its subsequent two geostationary broadband spacecraft, the Emirati operator introduced June 10.

The businesses mentioned the LEO satellites could be primarily based on Arrow, a satellite tv for pc platform derived from the 150-kilogram spacecraft Airbus helped construct for OneWeb’s broadband constellation, with out offering particulars.

An Airbus Protection and Area spokesperson declined to touch upon the Yahsat contract, including that its Arrow platform is flexible sufficient to accommodate telecoms, Earth remark and different missions.

Yahsat CEO Ali Al Hashemi mentioned in an announcement that the LEO order helps “Yahsat’s future course of offering multi-orbit satellite tv for pc options to its prospects.”

Al Hashemi advised traders in August that the publicly traded firm was wanting very carefully into Earth remark by partnerships, in addition to progress alternatives in the rising direct-to-device satellite tv for pc connectivity market.

Shareholders not too long ago authorised a merger between Yahsat and UAE-based geospatial intelligence supplier Bayanat in a deal slated to shut later this yr, following regulatory approvals.

Final yr, Yahsat and Bayanat teamed as much as order seven UAE-focused artificial aperture radar satellites from Iceye of Finland. Yahsat not too long ago mentioned the primary SAR satellite tv for pc is slated to launch earlier than the tip of June, delayed from the primary three months of 2024.

The UAE operator has additionally invested in Astrocast, a Swiss LEO operator of satellites that join monitoring and monitoring Web of Issues (IoT) units.

Yahsat additionally introduced a procurement contract June 10 with Airbus for Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 for a launch to geostationary orbit (GEO) in 2027 and 2028, respectively, after funding early design work final yr.

Primarily based on Airbus’ Eurostar Neo platform, they’d finally substitute Yahsat’s getting old Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites to offer authorities communications throughout the Center East, Africa, Europe and Asia.

The UAE authorities has already dedicated to purchase $5.1 billion price of broadband companies from the Emirati fleet operator till a minimum of 2043, primarily from Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5. 

Yahsat expects to get $1 billion of this in 2024, roughly the quantity it expects to spend on the Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 spacecraft, floor phase infrastructure, launch and insurance coverage.

Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 joined eight different industrial GEO communications satellite tv for pc bulletins in 2023.

4 extra orders have been introduced to this point in 2024, matching this time final yr and nonetheless removed from the 15-20 massive orders producers used to compete for yearly earlier than the rise of LEO constellations.

Airbus can be at the moment constructing the Thuraya 4 GEO satellite tv for pc for Yahsat’s cell connectivity enterprise. SpaceX is because of launch Thuraya 4 this yr to allow companies to start within the second half of 2025.

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