Putin, Netanyahu seal deal on satellite launches

Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has approved a plan to continue to contract Russia
for satellite launches.

Officials said Israel has agreed to launch some of its satellites on
Russian launchers. They said the satellites would be commercial platforms
slated for launch from Russia’s cosmodrome in Kazakhstan over the next four
years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem on June 25. /AP/Jim Hollander

“We have agreed to expand our cooperation in space exploration,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “Russian rockets will carry Israeli spacecraft into orbit, and our specialists are developing satellite communications systems for our Israeli partners.”

In an address on June 25 during his visit to Israel, Putin said space
marked one of several areas of technology cooperation with the Jewish state. The president did not provide details of the Russian satellite communications contracts for Israeli satellites.

Since 2008, Israel has launched at least three satellites from the
Baikonour cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. All of the space platforms were identified as the Amos-class communications satellite, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries and meant for commercial operations.

Putin said technology companies were also cooperating and opening
facilities in Israel and Russia. He cited Russia’s Rusnano, which opened a
subsidiary in Israel, as well as an unidentified Israeli firm that began a
production line for circuit boards in Russia.

“We have concrete results in the hi-tech sectors,” Putin said.

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