Russia Develops New Heavy-Class Communications Satellite

A new Blagovest heavy-class communications satellite is being developed by Russia's Information Satellite Systems - Reshetnev Company, the enterprise's corporate newspaper reported Monday.

At present, the satellite is being prepared for the next stage of testing, to check its radio performance. "Work on a new telecommunications satellite is ongoing in the workshops of the Reshetnev Company. It is a Blagovest heavy-class satellite," an article in the publication reads.

The satellite is due to work in a geostationary orbit for at least 15 years. It is based on the Ekspress-2000 satellite platform.

The satellite is designed for high-speed data transmission. It will provide consumers with telephone and video conferencing, as well as granting access to broadband Internet.

Russia, China Discuss Joint Development of Mobile Satellite Communications
RTI Systems Concern and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) discussed possible joint projects on the development of mobile satellite communications at the international MAKS-2015 air show in Russia, Svetlana Afanasyeva, the concern's deputy general director, said Monday.

RTI Systems Concern is a world leader in radar and radar systems development for military and civil applications.

CASIC is a state-owned hi-tech company which is the largest missile weapon designer and manufacturer in China.

"At MAKS, we held negotiations with CASIC, which represented China's aerospace industry... Joint projects on the development of mobile satellite communications and the creation of space segments of broadband internet were discussed," Afanasyeva told RIA Novosti.

The annual air show took place in the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, on August 25-30. About 760 companies from 35 countries took part in the salon.

Source: Sputnik News