NEC to Supply $186M Satellite to Vietnam in First Such Export for Japan

In Japan's first ever satellite export, electronics major NEC will supply an earth observation satellite plus ground station to Vietnam in a 20 billion yen ($186 million) deal.

“NEC Corporation has received an order from Sumitomo Corporation for the manufacture and launch of the LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite system for the Vietnam National Space Center. This is the first satellite project by a Japanese company using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under its Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) program,” the company said on April 23.

The 580-kilogram LOTUSat-1 satellite will contribute in capturing high-definition earth images, monitoring natural disasters and climate change after its launching in 2023. It will be placed Sun-synchronous sub-recurrent orbit.

The Japanese company will also support the development of local human resources by providing training in technology related to satellite development and operation processes.

The LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite will be equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and developed based on NEXTAR satellite system. The LOTUSat-1 will also feature systems modeled after the ASNARO-2 radar observation satellite that is currently in operation.

NEC will provide a completed ground system, including a 9 meter-diameter parabolic antenna, satellite control center, and mission data utilization center and user interface which is based on NEC's "GroundNEXTAR” software package. The system will be installed at a space center in Hoa Lac being established and operated by the VNSC.