Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, revealed on Monday that it has contracted Airbus Defence and Space SAS (Airbus) for the construction of its new geostationary telecommunications satellites, Al Yah 4 (AY4) and Al Yah 5 (AY5).
This announcement follows the signing of an authorization to proceed with Airbus during the second quarter of 2023, which authorized Airbus to commence initial activities on the AY4 and AY5 satellite program. The announcement also follows the subsequent award by the UAE government in Q3 2023 of an AED18.7 billion ($5.1 billion) mandate for the provision of satellite communications capacity and managed services for 17 years, primarily on AY4 and AY5.
Secure governmental communications
For its part, Airbus will design and build Yahsat’s AY4 and AY5 satellites using the Eurostar Neo platform. Each satellite will have flexible payloads and benefit from the strong heritage of the Eurostar family.
Yahsat will be able to reconfigure the flexible multi-band payloads while in orbit and adjust the coverage area, capacity and frequency spontaneously to meet evolving mission scenarios.
Yahsat’s AY4 and AY5 satellites will offer secure governmental communications over a wide geographical area across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. Eventually, they will replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which Yahsat launched in 2011 and 2012.
“The Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites will enable us to provide the UAE government with new cutting-edge solutions. Additionally, the two new LEO satellite platforms will support Yahsat’s future direction of providing multi-orbit satellite solutions to its customers,” stated Ali Al Hashemi, group CEO of Yahsat.
Read: UAE tightens telemarketing rules, announces fines of up to $41,000
AY4 and AY5 procurement program to cost $1.1 billion
Airbus will design and manufacture both satellites. Moreover, it will provide ground control segment components. Both spacecraft will have a design life of 15 years and are planned to be launched in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
“Sixteen years ago, we signed our first contract with Yahsat, bringing the first sovereign telecommunications satellite to the UAE. And now, our long-standing relationship is moving up a gear with this contract for two Eurostar Neos, further strengthening Yahsat’s in-orbit resources,” commented Alain Fauré, head of Space Systems at Airbus.
Yahsat also revealed that it expects the full cost of the AY4 and AY5 procurement program which encompasses spacecraft, ground segment infrastructure, and launch and insurance to reach close to AED3.9 billion ($1.1 billion). Yahsat will initially fund the program using its resources. Then, the UAE government will provide AED3.7 billion in the form of an advance payment to the program.
In addition to Yahsat’s AY4 and AY5 satellites, Airbus is currently developing the Thuraya 4 satellite (T4) for Yahsat Government Solutions. In addition, it is developing Yahsat’s commercial satellite solutions arm, Thuraya. T4 is also based on the Eurostar Neo platform and is expected to launch during the second half of 2024 and enter service during the second half of 2025.
For more news on telecom, click here.
