EADS, Thales secure satellite deal for Abu Dhabi's YahSat

A unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. and Thales signed a $1.66 billion contract to build two satellites for a unit of Abu Dhabi's state investment arm Mubadala, an Associated Press report said.

The Associated Press report said EADS unit EADS Astrium and France's Thales will build two satellites for Al Yah Satellite Communications, or YahSat, according to the Thales press service. They will be used for satellite telecoms and data services when they are launched in the second half of 2010, Thales said.

YahSat is the United Arab Emirates' second satellite telecoms provider after Abu Dhabi-based Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications, which plans to launch its third satellite this year, the report said.