Russia's Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems (ISS-Reshetnev) company has closed deals to supply 16 satellites for various purposes in 2015, the company said Wednesday.

"Now at ISS-Reshetnev's facilities there are more than 30 satellites at various stages of production. The company has signed new contracts for the production of 16 more satellites," according to a statement on the company's website.

Detailing results for 2015, ISS-Reshetnev said that eight satellites produced by the company had been launched into various orbits throughout the year, while another 12 satellites are currently waiting to be launched. A total of 96 ISS-Reshetnev satellites are orbiting the Earth, which makes up over two-thirds of Russia's orbital fleet, the statement noted.

As part of its contribution to Russia's Federal Space Program, ISS-Reshetnev completed three security-oriented orbital constellations, the statement added. A total of five Russian space-based systems now operate via satellites built by the company.

ISS-Reshetnev was founded in 1959 as part of Sergey Korolev's OKB-1 Special Design Bureau of Research and Development Institute. Named after Korolev's close associate, Mikhail Reshetnev, the company started from supervising ballistic missile designs, and further started to develop launch vehicles and satellites.

earlier report

Russia Successfully Orbits Express-AMU1 Communications Satellite

A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket together with a Briz-M booster rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan have delivered the Express-AMU1 communications satellite into orbit, a spokesman from Roscosmos said Friday.

The carrier rocket with the satellite was launched earlier on Friday.

"The Russian Express-AMU1 has separated from the booster, thus completely concluding the launch program," the source told RIA Novosti.

The Express-AMU1 communications satellite will provide coverage of the European part of Russia and also ensure service continuity and growth for broadcast markets in Africa. It is equipped with 70 transponders.