SES extends ILS agreement

Satellite operator SES has extended its deal with International Launch Services (ILS) until 2014, and added a sixth ILS Proton mission.

The first launch under the initial agreement was of SES-1 on April 24. Two of the four SES missions scheduled in 2011 and 2012 for the launches of the SES-3, SES-4, QuetzSat-1 and SES-5/ASTRA 4B satellites also form part of the agreement. The remaining three MLA missions will be assigned as needed between 2012 and 2014. In addition, Proton will provide back-up launch capability for SES missions in 2011.

Separately, SES Astra has announced that it has secured an amendment of its revolving credit facility that it signed in April 2009 to €1.2bn from €1bn and extended the maturity of the facility to April 2015.