Measat, Malaysia's sole commercial satellite operator, has picked US defence firm Lockheed Martin Corporation to launch its third communications satellite in 2005, local media reported today.

Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Measat Global Berhad, has signed a RM185 milllion contract with Lockheed-Khrunichev-Energia International Inc and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Inc for the satellite's launch services.

The RM504.5-million satellite, ordered from US aerospace giant Boeing in March, will be launched on a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle from Baikonur in Kazakhstan from May to November 2005, the Bernama news agency said.

Regional footprint

Measat-3 would serve Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Australia.

Malaysia has already launched three satellites, two communications satellites known as Measat 1 and Measat 2 and a microsatellite named Tiongsat

Measat 1 and Measat 2 were launched on Jan 13 and Nov 13, 1996 respectively at a cost of RM600 million while Tiongsat 1 was launched on Sept 26, 2000. - AFP