Dauria Aerospace, a multinational aerospace company providing global satellite-based remote sensing information and telecommunication services, has been tapped by India-based satellite communication services provider Aniara to design and build two new generation small Ku-band geostationary satellites.

The state-of-the-art geostationary satellites are specifically being developed to serve small and midsized markets in Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), which are currently not being addressed or are otherwise underserved by larger and more expensive satellite networks.

The satellite procurement agreement, under which the two satellites will be launched on an integrated dual stacked configuration and delivered in-orbit, was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow in London.

Aniara, which is expanding its footprint in the global and regional markets, has selected Dauria's small satellite platform because of its high-performance, low-cost, and streamlined construction schedule advantages. The satellites will each weigh less than one ton and carry up to 16 Ku-band transponders. Spacecraft are expected to be in operation by late 2017.

The small satellite platform is being designed in collaboration with Spanish technology company Elecnor Deimos and other leading manufacturers and suppliers. The platform will make use of flight-proven electric propulsion and several innovative technologies in order to achieve optimal design, high performance, lower cost and longer operating life than any other satellite in its category.

"Working with Aniara is a prime example of Dauria's unwavering commitment to bring low-cost, highly efficient spacecraft to the commercial market," said Mike Kokorich, Dauria's Founder and CEO.

"As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and technological advancements, together with our partners, we are well positioned to revolutionize the way companies receive, monitor and analyze their most critical data."

"Innovative and low-cost small satellite platforms are responding to a critical and rapidly growing need throughout the space industry to efficiently exploit fragmented spectrum gaps in the already congested geostationary orbital arc," said Raghu Das, Aniara's founder and CEO.

"The challenge has been to build and launch a small satellite at a cost comparable to that of a larger satellite and our partnership with Dauria is an important and concrete step in achieving this goal."

"We believe the roll-out of this efficient small satellite platform would be an ideal solution for India and other South-Asian countries in providing made-to-order satellite capacity to bulk users," added Mr. Das.

"This roll-out also represents a terrific opportunity for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to expand its commercialized use of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and build on the recent success of the GSLV Mark II."

Denis Lyskov, Deputy Chief of Roscosmos also commented on the occasion: "Roscosmos supports the emergence of new private players in the field, which can contribute to the increase of export potential in the sector. The execution of the present agreement is an important step for the Russian private space industry. We are ready to support companies like Dauria Aerospace in the national market and beyond. At the present moment, Dauria is performing on a contract with Roscosmos to create two small remote sensing spacecraft MKA-N."

The Export Insurance Agency of Russia (EXIAR) is expected to provide significant financial support to Aniara for the procurement and launch of these two satellites.