Lockheed Martin has won a contract by Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) of Vietnam to build the VINASAT-2 satellite. In-orbit delivery is slated for the second quarter of 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Based on the highly reliable A2100 spacecraft platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pa., VINASAT-2 will be located at 131.8 degrees east longitude and provide a minimum service life of 15 years.

The VINASAT-2 contract marks the second satellite order VNPT has awarded to Lockheed Martin, which will manage the project in its entirety, including satellite design and manufacturing, launch procurement, and final in-orbit testing before customer acceptance. Lockheed Martin successfully delivered VINASAT-1, the first satellite ever for the nation of Vietnam, in 2008.

VINASAT-2 will feature 24 Ku-band fixed high power communication channels, providing uplink and downlink coverage over Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. Lockheed Martin's low-risk solution utilizes and leverages heritage Ku-band flight-proven equipment from numerous previous A2100 programs to meet the customer's schedule requirements.

LMCSS has delivered 38 A2100 commercial spacecraft, with an average cycle time of 24 months with satellites of similar complexity as VINASAT-2.

"Lockheed Martin is extremely proud that VNPT has again placed its faith in us to provide a low-risk technical solution that will fully satisfy mission needs," said LMCSS Vice-President Joe Rickers. "With a focus on minimizing risk and providing schedule assurance, we look forward to achieving operational excellence and mission success in support of VNPT's business objectives."

"Lockheed Martin's in-depth experience was reflected in Lockheed Martin's feasible solutions to mitigate the risk of the project in the contract signed," said VNPT Chairman of the Board Pham Long Tran.

"From the shared success of the VINASAT-1 project, I do believe that Lockheed Martin will be able to again meet the schedule requirement and jointly cooperate with VNPT for the successful implementation of the VINASAT-2 Project."

In addition to VNPT, Lockheed Martin has delivered 19 spacecraft to Asian customers, including nine A2100 satellites.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads.

The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost.

The A2100 spacecraft's design accommodates a large range of communication payloads. This design modularity enables the A2100 spacecraft to be configured for missions other than communication.

The A2100 design has been adapted for geostationary Earth orbit (GEO)-based earth observing missions and is the baselined platform for Lockheed Martin's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R program.

In addition, the A2100 serves as the platform for critical government communications programs, including the Advanced Extremely High Frequency and Mobile User Objective System satellites. The A2100 also serves as the spacecraft platform for Lockheed Martin's GPS III program.