(MENAFN) Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, listed on the Abu Dhabi Financial Market, has announced a significant agreement with Airbus for the manufacturing of two communications satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5. This milestone follows Yahsat's decision in the second quarter of 2023 to task Airbus with initiating initial activities related to these satellite programs. Additionally, Yahsat secured a mandate from the UAE government in the third quarter of the same year, amounting to 18.7 billion dirhams, or approximately 5.1 billion dollars, to provide satellite communications services and managed services. These services will primarily be facilitated through the deployment of the Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites.

Airbus is slated to design and manufacture the two satellites using the Eurostar New platform. Each satellite will feature payloads capable of complete reconfiguration while in orbit, enabling flexibility in adjusting coverage area, capacity, and frequency to accommodate evolving usage requirements. This advanced capability ensures adaptability to meet changing communication needs effectively.

The newly contracted satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5, will offer secure communication capabilities to government agencies across extensive geographical regions, encompassing the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. These satellites represent a significant advancement and will eventually replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which were launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 were constructed on an earlier version of the Eurostar platform by Airbus, while the upcoming Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 will leverage the latest Eurostar New platform technology, signifying a leap forward in satellite communication capabilities. 

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