Fri, Aug 06, 2010
But... Did They Offer A Quantity Discount?
Boeing has bagged a multi-satellite deal with Inmarsat to build
three Ka-band satellites to add to Inmarsat's current mobile
satellite services fleet. Financial details were not disclosed. The
fixed-price contract, with options, calls for three 702HP
commercial spacecraft with 89 Ka-band beams that will operate in
geosynchronous orbit with flexible global coverage. The new
satellite series, called Inmarsat-5, draws on Boeing's four decades
of experience gained from the production of more than 175
commercial communications satellites and its extensive expertise in
Ka-band satellite communications systems.
"This contract represents a best-value solution that combines
Boeing's unmatched commercial satellite heritage and Ka-band
satellite communications experience to meet Inmarsat's satellite
requirements," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general
manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. "Boeing has
produced more Ka-band satellite communications systems than any
other manufacturer, and we are currently producing the Wideband
Global SATCOM satellite series, which is the primary Ka-band system
for the U.S. government. We are committed to a successful
partnership with Inmarsat for this newest addition to their service
fleet."
The Boeing satellites will provide Inmarsat with the ability
to adapt to shifting subscriber usage patterns of high data rates,
specialized applications and evolving demographics over a projected
15-year lifetime. In a separate arrangement, Boeing has also
entered into a distribution partnership with Inmarsat to provide L-
and Ka-band capacity to key users within the U.S. government.
The Inmarsat-5 spacecraft will be compatible with the Ariane,
Sea Launch, Proton and Atlas launch vehicles. Launch services will
be procured by Inmarsat.
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