SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC) has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for JCSAT-17, a satellite based on the A2100 common design.

"We've built a number of satellites for SJC and we're honored that they have placed their trust in us again," said Carl Marchetto, vice president and general manager of Commercial Space at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "And with the sale of an additional A2100, it adds yet another satellite to our healthy backlog."

JCSAT-17 is an S band satellite that will operate well in excess of 15 years. The satellite will include a flexible processor that will allow SJC to redirect capacity to concentrate on disaster relief efforts or other high-volume events.

JCSAT-17 is the eighth satellite SJC has awarded to Lockheed Martin, beginning with NSAT-110, JCSAT-9 through JCSAT-13 and most recently JCSAT-110R. The satellite will be manufactured in Denver, Colorado and delivered in 2019.

The modernized A2100 is built on a flight-proven bus that is the foundation for more than 40 satellites in orbit today. Through an internally funded, multiyear modernization effort, Lockheed Martin enhanced the spacecraft's power, propulsion and electronics, while also adopting the latest advanced manufacturing techniques to decrease production costs and timelines.