Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite.

Designated BSAT-3a, the 1.8-kW satellite will provide direct broadcast services throughout Japan following its scheduled launch the second quarter of 2007. Contract terms were not disclosed.

B-SAT previously issued an authorization to proceed to Lockheed Martin for start of satellite design and construction.

The BSAT-3a communications payload comprises eight 130-W Ku-band channels and will be located at 110 degrees East longitude.

With a design life of more than 13 years, BSAT-3a is based on the award-winning A2100A platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pa.

BSAT-3a marks the 12th Lockheed Martin satellite contract awarded in the 1- to 4-kW small-class satellite range and the second in 2005.

"We are pleased to offer BSAT a robust, flexible, reliable and cost- effective design based on our flight-proven small-class A2100A," said LMCSS President Ted Gavrilis.

"The A2100's mission versatility, ranging from 1 to 3 kW up to 12 kW, makes it an excellent low-risk platform for most satellite applications, and we look forward to delivering BSAT-3a and working with BSAT, our new customer."

"BSAT-3a is a very important satellite for the direct broadcasting (DBS) program in Japan, which has a large subscriber base of around 17 million," said B-SAT President Tatsuo Gunji.

"B-SAT expects that LMCSS will deliver BSAT-3a on orbit in mid-2007 as scheduled to continue the DBS service."

BSAT-3A is the third satellite award for Lockheed Martin this year based on signed construction contracts.

In January, Nordic Satellite AB (NSAB) awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to build their next geostationary direct broadcast satellite, designated SIRIUS 4.

SES Americom recently awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to build AMC-18, a small-class satellite also based on the A2100A.

The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high- power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads.

The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost.