Spacecom Ditches IAI for New Satellite Build

Rendition of the Amos 8 satellite. Photo: SSL.

Spacecom announced it has chosen SSL to build its Amos 8 communications satellite. The satellite will deliver broadcast, broadband and data services from Spacecom’s 4 degrees West hotspot to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The contract marks the second time Spacecom has snubbed domestic manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in favor of a foreign company — the first being its selection of Boeing to build Amos 17, due to fly into orbit next year. According to Israel’s Globes, Spacecom’s decision was motivated by IAI’s uncompetitive pricing and proposed manufacturing timeline.

The 2000-kg Amos 8 will be co-located with Spacecom’s Amos 3 satellite and will include high power Ku-band and Ka-band payloads with steerable antennas to enable customers to deliver various added value services. Spacecom and SpaceX have signed a contract option for Amos 8’s scheduled launch in the second half of 2020.