Lockheed Martin Corporation, a leading group in aviation and space industry in the U.S., has signed a contract from Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to build a second telecommunication satellite for the country.
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) will manufacture the satellite based on A2100 spacecraft platform and locate it at 131.8 degrees east longitude after 24 months since the contract takes effect.
The two firms did not disclose the exact value of the contract; however, Bui Quoc Viet, a VNPT spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires that it is nearly $300 million. In-orbit delivery is slated for the second quarter of 2012.
This is the second contract for building satellite given to Lockheed Martin, which will entirely manage the project, including design and manufacturing, launch procurement, and final in-orbit testing.
The U.S. firm successfully delivered the first satellite for Vietnam, VINASAT-1, at a cost of $200 million in 2008, to help improve telecommunication services, Internet and TV broadcasts in the country’s most remote areas.
"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 today," said VNPT Chairman Pham Long Tran in a signing ceremony May 11.
With the second satellite, Vietnam aims to implement the national strategic targets in raising telecom infrastructure capacity and meeting increasingly high satellite service demands of local ad region markets.
So far, 80% of VINASAT-1 capacity has been occupied.
In a meeting with American leading economic groups in Washington April 14, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also called on Lockheed Martin to give assistance and training to local staff to effectively operate VINASAT-1 satellite. (Lockheed Press Release, VNA)
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