Posted: Mon, Jan 21, 2013, 8:05 AM ET (1305 GMT)
Middle Eastern satellite operator Arabsat announced Saturday it has ordered a new communications satellite to be built and launched by European companies. Badr-7 (also known as Arabsat-6B), the first in a sixth generation of Arabsat satellites, will be built jointly by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Astrium will provide the satellite bus, based on the Eurostar E3000 model, and Thales will provide the communications payload. Badr-7 will launch on an Ariane 5 in late 2015 under terms of a separate contract with Arianespace. The 6,100-kilogram satellite will be located at 26 degrees east in GEO, providing Ku- and Ka-band communications services for the Middle East and surrounding regions. The contracts have a combined value of $400 million.

Related Links:

•  Arab News article
•  Emirates News Agency article
•  Thales Alenia Space press release
•  Arianespace press release
•  Arabsat press release