ILS to Launch Turksat 4A, 4B Satellites on Proton

[Satellite TODAY 04-06-11] Acting as prime contractor for operator Turksat, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. selected International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B satellites, ILS announced April 5.
    ILS will launch Turksat 4A in late 2013 followed by Turksat 4B in early 2014, both on Proton rockets. Mitsubishi Electric is building the satellites based on its DS2000 standard Comsat platform. Turksat 4A will be placed at 42 degrees East to provide telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services throughout Turkey as well as in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Turksat 4B will be operated at 50 degrees East.
    "We selected ILS based on their track record of reliability, precision, launch tempo and experience. ILS and Khrunichev’s reputation for quality assurance and delivery performance will be crucial to our delivery of the Turksat 4A and 4B satellites. We have been preparing mutual compatibility efforts with ILS for many years," Mitsubishi Electric Head of Space Systems Hiroyuki Inahata said in a statement.