State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries said on Thursday that it signed a deal with the Israeli government to build the country's next communications satellite.
The satellite, to be called Dror-1, will be designed to operate for 15 years, handling Israel's satellite communication needs, and will be built mostly from locally-developed technology.
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The project's estimated cost is $190-$200 million, most of which will be paid for by the state.
According to the deal, Dror-1, which will be the first of a series of future satellites, will be ready for launch within four years.
"The government's decision was made from the understanding that this is a vital capability of the State of Israel and it requires ensuring complete independence in the field while preserving the knowledge and expertise accumulated over the years in Israel," IAI said in a statement.
The Dror-1 satellite will be developed by IAI's Systems Missiles & Space Group, which developed, among other things, the Arrow 2 and 3 defense systems and the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile system.
