ARMENIA TO BUY COMMERCIAL TELECOM SATELLITE FROM RUSSIA
Aviation Week
July 9 2012
By Amy Svitak [email protected]
Source: AWIN First
Armenia is planning to order a commercial communications satellite
from Russia under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed
July 9 during the Farnborough air show.
Vladimir Popovkin, director of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said
the satellite – Armenia’s first – is expected to carry 15 transponders,
though details of the satellite’s development and launch are still
being negotiated. Popovkin expects a contract to be signed by year-end.
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan discussed the satellite project
with officials from the Russian Central Research Institute of Machine
Building in April, according to Armenian news reports. Last year, the
U.S. Export-Import Bank agreed to finance development of Azerbaijan’s
first national telecommunications satellite, now slated for launch
later this year atop an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. Armenian groups in the
U.S. voiced opposition to U.S. backing for the satellite, which they
said could be used for military purposes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
