Posted: Thu, Mar 11, 2010, 6:55 AM ET (1155 GMT)
The British military and the private company that provides it with communications services have agreed to a deal that will involve the launch of a fourth satellite. Paradigm, a subsidiary of Astrium Services, currently provides communications services to the UK Ministry of Defence through three Skynet 5 satellites that are owned and operated by Paradigm. The new deal announced this week will involve the launch of a fourth satellite in the Skynet 5 series and an extension of Paradigm's current contract with the military by two years to 2022. The additional satellite will allow Paradigm to meet the growing communications needs of the UK military, as well as for allied countries that also use the Skynet satellites.

Related Links:

•  BBC article
•  The Independent article
•  Space News article
•  Aviation Week article
•  Paradigm press release