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Russia’s Gazprom Space Systems forced to revise plans over US ban

Gazprom Space Systems' Igor Kot said that the US’ suspension of granting licenses to export satellite components to Russia has hurt the fulfillment of new projects by the company

MOSCOW, August 29. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Gazprom Space Systems will replace US-made components of its 15 billion ruble satellite Yamal-601 with details produced locally and in Europe because of Washington’s ban on export of dual-use goods, ComNews reported Friday.

Igor Kot, the company’s deputy general director for marketing, said that the US’ suspension of granting licenses to export satellite components to Russia has hurt the fulfillment of new projects by Gazprom Space Systems.

“The project of building and launching the Yamal-601 satellite has suffered. The process of reconfiguration, which comprises the involvement of Russian cooperation and the replacement of components of the US make for those manufactured in Europe and Russia, is under way. We are working on the organizational scheme and the endorsement of revised deals,” Kot said.

The reconfiguration procedure will take several months.

The company’s main subcontractor in the creation of the satellite is French company Thales Alenia Space. Yamal-601 is made on the Spacebus 4000C4 platform and will be equipped with Russia-focused transponders. Its lifespan is more than 15 years.

The satellite is supposed to be put into orbit in early 2016 by the Proton launch vehicle and replace Yamal-202.