The Yahsat Y1A satellite, which was designed and built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, has been fully fuelled and integrated with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle at the European spaceport in French Guiana.

Scheduled for launch on 30 March, Y1A is the first satellite built for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), a pioneer in satellite solutions for the Middle East, Africa, South West Asia and Europe.

It is the first part of a fully integrated satellite communications system, comprising the two Y1A and Y1B satellites and ground segment, developed by an industrial team of Astrium and Thales Alenia Space as co-prime contractors for a turnkey system contract led by Astrium.

The Yahsat system will provide a fully secure telecommunications infrastructure for the UAE military, as well as offering innovative solutions to commercial operators for broadcasting, internet trunking via satellite, corporate data networks and other technologically advanced services.

The Y1A satellite, based on Astrium's highly successful Eurostar E3000 platform, was integrated and tested by Astrium. When launched, Yahsat Y1A will be the 22nd Eurostar E3000 in orbit. Astrium's Eurostar series has accumulated more than 380 years of successful in-obit operations.

Astrium is also the industrial prime contractor for the Ariane 5 launch vehicle that will place Yahsat Y1A in orbit. Thales Alenia Space, which is responsible for the Yahsat Space Segment, supplied the 11.6 kW communications payload operating in C, Ku and Ka bands and is procuring the launcher.