Dauria Aerospace and Aniara executives. Photo: Dauria Aerospace

[Via Satellite 07-16-2014] India-based Aniara has awarded Dauria Aerospace orders for two small geostationary communications satellites. Each is expected to weigh less than one ton and support up to 16 Ku-band transponders. Spain’s Elecnor Deimos and other companies will also assist in building the satellites, which will use electric propulsion.

Aniara purchased the GEO satellites to increase its presence in the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. Dauria Aerospace and Aniara agreed to launch the satellites using an integrated dual stacked configuration. The Export Insurance Agency of Russia (EXIAR) is expected to support to both the procurement and launch.

“The challenge has been to build and launch a small satellite at a cost comparable to that of a larger satellite and our partnership with Dauria is an important and concrete step in achieving this goal,” said Raghu Das, Aniara’s founder and CEO. “This roll-out also represents a terrific opportunity for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to expand its commercialized use of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and build on the recent success of the GSLV Mark 2.”