Yahsat Chooses SpaceX To Launch Al Yah 4 And Al Yah 5 Satellites

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), listed on Abu Dhabi's ADX, has chosen US spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX to launch its new geostationary satellites Al Yah 4 (AY4) and Al Yah 5 (AY5) using the Falcon 9 rocket.

The deal is a crucial part of the AY4 and AY5 procurement programme, according to a filing by Yahsat on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

The total cost for the spacecraft, ground segment infrastructure, launch, and insurance is anticipated to be around Dh3.9 billion ($1.1 billion).

In June, Airbus and Yahsat signed an agreement to design and construct AY4 and AY5 based on the Eurostar Neo platform. These satellites will offer secure governmental communications over a broad geographical region spanning the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The older Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites are expected to be replaced by AY4 and AY5 by 2027 and 2028, respectively.