Airbus will build two new telecommunications geostationary satellites for Al Yah Satellite Communications, the United Arab Emirates’ flagship satellite service provider.
The companies have signed a contract for Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5, which will be based on Airbus’ Eurostar Neo.
The upcoming satellites will each carry flexible multiband payloads that can be reconfigured to adjust coverage area, capacity and frequency while in orbit to address a customer’s changing needs.
In a statement, Alain Faure, head of space systems at Airbus Space and Defence, acknowledged the milestone in the two companies’ years-long partnership.
“Sixteen years ago, we signed our first contract with Yahsat, bringing the first sovereign telecommunications satellite to the UAE,” he said. “And now, our long-standing relationship is moving up a gear with this contract for two Eurostar Neos, further strengthening Yahsat’s in-orbit resources.”
The procurement follows Yahsat and Airbus’s signing of an Authorisation-to-Proceed in 2023 regarding the AY4 and AY5 satellite programs.
The upcoming satellites are expected to be launched to orbit in 2027 and 2028, respectively. They will serve government customers in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.
AY4 and AY5 will eventually replace the decade-old Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2.