Thales Alenia Space has announced the official start of the Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 programs. The tri-partite contract was signed in September 2010 with RSCC (Russian Space Operator) and JSC "ISS - Reshetnev Company and the global financing is now completed.

Thales Alenia Space will be the communications payloads supplier. The satellite will be based on an Express 1000 platform provided by JSC "ISS - Reshetnev Company" and the satellites will be integrated and tested in ISS' premises, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Express AM8 will be launched in 2013 for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about 5.9 kW. AM8 will carry 24 active C-band transponders covering Europe-Africa and America, 16 active Ku-band transponders covering Europe-Asia, Africa, North and South America and 2 active L-band transponders.

Express AT1 will be launched in 2012 for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about 5.6 kW. AT1 will carry 32 active Ku-band transponders over West and East Russia.

Express AT2 will launched in 2012 for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about 3 kW. AT2 will carry 16 active Ku-band transponders.

"This is a very important milestone for our customer RSCC and for our company, and we would like to thanks all the financial institutions, in particular COFACE that have worked on this project," said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "Cooperation with Russia is strategically important for Thales Alenia Space who does plan to continue to involve Russian space industry and expertise on a larger and deeper level".

The partnership with the Russian industry began in 1995 when Thales Alenia Space and ISS started joint marketing of satellites based on ISS' Express- platforms.

The combination of ISS and Thales Alenia Space products and skills to serve this strategic partnership has recently triggered three important projects on the international market, namely Amos 5,Telkom 3 and Yamal 401.

With these tri-partite contracts in full effect, the strategic cooperation between Thales Alenia Space and ISS is further reinforced and once again proven to be a successful one.