Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo-Finmeccanica (33%), has signed a contract with RSCC (Russian Satellite Communication Company), Russia’s leading satellite operator, to supply payloads for the Express-80 and Express-103 communications satellites.  

Thales Alenia Space Italy won a competitive international tender to supply the communications payloads, while its Russian partner and satellite prime contractor ISS-Reshetnev will supply the two innovative electric propulsion platforms.

The Express-80 and Express-103 satellites will provide fixed and mobile communications, digital television and radio broadcasting, high-speed Internet access and data transmission services across Russia.

The payloads from Thales Alenia Space Italy will be mated to the ISS H1000 platforms, with delivery expected in 2018. The Express-80 satellite is scheduled for launch the following year.

Offering a design life of 15 years, Express 80 will be positioned at 80° East. The payload power is about 6.3 kW. Express 80 will be fitted with 16 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders to cover Russia, as well as two L-band transponders offering global coverage.

Express 103 will be positioned at 103° East, and also has a 15-year design life, with payload power of about 6.3 kW. Express 103 will be fitted with 16 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders to cover Russia and Southeast Asia, as well as one L-band transponder for global coverage.

Thales Alenia Space has teamed up with Russia for over twenty years, starting with the SEASAT programme. It has provided payloads for a number of satellites built on Russian platforms: Express-A1, Express-A2, Express-A3, Express-A4, Express-AM11, Express AM22, Express AM2, Express-AM3, Express-AM33, Express-AM44 (with ISS Reshetnev), Express-MD1 and Express-MD2 (with Khrunichev), and more recently Express AM8 , AT1 and AT2, also with ISS Reshetnev .