Globalstar LEO Satellites to be Built by MDA Under New Contract
MDA Ltd. has announced that it has been selected as the prime contractor for 17 new Globalstar LEO satellites. The contract, valued at $327 million (≈$415 million CAD) includes the design, manufacture, assembly and test of the satellites, with options for Globalstar to purchase up to nine additional satellites with flexibility in timing to order such satellites as well as other contractual options. The satellites built by MDA will integrate with Globalstar’s existing constellation, ensuring service continuity for Globalstar customers.
“After running a competitive process with multiple bidders, we are very pleased to announce the selection of MDA in partnership with Rocket Lab for the construction of our new satellites."
David Kagan, Globalstar’s CEO.
MDA also announced that it will partner with Rocket Lab USA on the contract, bringing together two of the space industry’s most innovative satellite companies. MDA will act as prime contractor to manufacture Globalstar’s satellites as well as lead the development of the payload and integration while Rocket Lab will lead the development of the spacecraft bus.
“The expertise and ability of our Satellite Systems team to provide industry-leading innovative and competitive satellite solutions is second to none, and we are honored by Globalstar’s confidence and trust in selecting MDA as the prime contractor for its new satellites,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA. “Combining our deep expertise with new partners like Rocket Lab to bring exciting capability to the rapidly growing LEO constellation market further strengthens our position in the global satellite systems market and demonstrates MDA’s increasing role at the heart of the expanding space economy.”
“After running a competitive process with multiple bidders, we are very pleased to announce the selection of MDA in partnership with Rocket Lab for the construction of our new satellites," said David Kagan, Globalstar’s CEO. "The combination of these vendors offered us the best overall balance of innovation, technical capability, schedule reliability and cost. These new satellites will ensure Globalstar’s ability to provide the highest quality Mobile Satellite Services to its customers over the long-term. We look forward to beginning the process of bending metal and readying the new satellites for launch beginning in approximately three years.”
The Globalstar LEO satellites will be built, assembled and tested at MDA’s new state-of-the art high volume satellite production facility in Montreal. Globalstar expects to launch the satellites by the end of 2025.
The contract will be added to MDA’s backlog in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.
(Source: MDA news release. Image courtesy MDA via Facebook)