ILS and SES Announce 3 New Proton Launches

(Reston, Va. / Luxembourg, March 18, 2009) -- International Launch Services (ILS) and SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced three new launch assignments under the Multi Launch Agreement that was signed in June 2007 between ILS and SES Satellite Leasing Limited, SES' satellite procurement and leasing company in the Isle of Man. This innovative agreement was designed to provide SES with increased flexibility in their launch plans and improved schedule assurance.

Two of the primary missions will be NSS-14 for SES NEW SKIES and Sirius 5 for SES SIRIUS. These missions are scheduled respectively for late 2010 and 2011. NSS-14 is poised to be the largest satellite in the SES NEW SKIES fleet and will enhance what is already the largest neighborhood in the Atlantic Ocean region at 338 degrees East. Sirius 5 is a multi-mission satellite for the SES group serving Northern Europe and the Baltic region as well as the African markets with Ku- and C-band from the orbital location of 5 degrees East. Additionally, Proton has been designated to launch the OS-1 mission in early 2010, destined for the U.S. domestic arc.

Frank McKenna, President of ILS said, "SES and ILS have a long-standing partnership. The first ILS commercial Proton launch was SES Astra 1F in 1996. Following the launches of Astra 1M and Ciel 2 late last year, we are pleased to continue to provide the flexibility, schedule assurance and reliability that SES can expect within the framework of our groundbreaking Multi Launch Agreement."

"ILS and Khrunichev proved that they can deliver on demanding schedules," said Martin Halliwell, President of SES ENGINEERING and Chairman of SES Satellite Leasing. "We are confident that ILS and Proton will support the continuous development and replacement of our global satellite fleet with flawless on-schedule launches."

Source : International Launch Services