IAI Wins $170M Satellite Sale to Spacecom Co.

AMOS 3 Concept Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has signed a contract worth $170 million for the sale of its AMOS-3 Communications Satellite to Spacecom Company. The satellite will be manufactured at IAI’s Systems Missiles & Space Group, and will be launched by the end of 2007. Why launch an additional satellite? Spacecom had sold all of the transponder space on the AMOS-1; and the AMOS-2, with its larger capacity, will eventually take over from its older sister. The AMOS-1 has enjoyed trouble-free operation since 1996, but it has a life expectancy of some 12 years and will eventually die in 2008. The AMOS-2, launched in 2003, is expected to be in service until at least 2014. The AMOS-3, in contrast, will be a far more sophisticated satellite than its predecessors and offer far greater capacity. IAI said it would develop and build the AMOS-3 based on the structure of the AMOS-2, with improved performance of its communications payload. The new satellite will include 15 high-capacity transponders (up from 9 on the AMOS-1) in two frequency fields delivered by two steering antennae in the Ku and Ka bands, both of which will have ground-controlled broadcasting capability. The AMOS-3 will cover the […]