MUMBAI: As part of its fleet expansion program, the Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) has entered into a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) to launch ILS Proton service from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, beginning early 2014.

ILS is a US-Russian joint venture with exclusive rights to the worldwide sale of commercial Proton rocket launch services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The service is contracted for launching one of AsiaSat’s future satellites, AsiaSat 6, AsiaSat 8 or AsiaSat 9, a replacement satellite to be procured for AsiaSat 4. The launch contract includes an option for AsiaSat to order one additional launch service from ILS for any of its upcoming three satellites.

ILS President Frank McKenna said, “The successful launches of AsiaSat 5 in 2009 and AsiaSat 7 in 2011 enabled the timely expansion of AsiaSat’s service offerings across the Asia-Pacific region. We are honored to play a key role in AsiaSat’s growth over the years and fully support AsiaSat’s fleet expansion program.”