Yahsat Contracts Airbus for Al Yah 4 and 5 Satellites

Yahsat has partnered with Airbus Defence and Space to construct two new Geostationary (GEO) satellites, Al Yah 4 (AY4) and Al Yah 5 (AY5), set to be launched in 2027 and 2028 respectively. These satellites will replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2. The satellites will be built on the Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, featuring flexible multi-band payloads that can be reconfigured while in orbit to adjust coverage area, capacity, and frequency. They are designed to provide secure governmental communications over a wide geographical area spanning the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The total cost of the program is estimated to be .1 billion, which includes two Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite platforms based on the Arrow line, serving the OneWeb constellation. Yahsat finalized the contract with Airbus after signing an authorization to proceed in the second quarter of last year. Airbus will handle the design and manufacture of the AY4 and AY5 satellites, as well as provide ground control segment components.

Yahsat Group CEO, Ali Al Hashemi, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating that the new satellites will allow the company to offer advanced solutions to the UAE Government. Furthermore, the addition of the LEO satellite platforms aligns with Yahsat’s strategy to provide multi-orbit satellite solutions to its customers.

Yahsat is also in the process of merging with geospatial solutions provider Bayanat, a move that was approved by shareholders of both companies in April. The collaboration between Yahsat and Airbus signifies a significant advancement in the satellite communication industry, paving the way for enhanced connectivity and services in the future.