Boeing said the technology, the result of an investment spanning the past two years, would help reduce costs in the competitive satellite market.

   The new contract for electric satellites represents a joint procurement by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex), which will give each of the two regional operators two of the new satellites. The first pair of satellites is scheduled for delivery in late 2014 or early 2015. The new satellites will be launched two at a time on commercially provided launch vehicles, including SpaceX’s Falcon 9 vehicles.

   Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems Vice President and General Manager Craig Cooning added that the company was investing its own money to improve its production line and develop new capabilities that would maintain the industrial base in the absence of new government-funded development programs.