SES S.A. and Astrium announced in December 2009 that SES has ordered four multi-mission satellites from Astrium to provide replacement as well as incremental capacity for its SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES divisions.

The new satellites, to be designated Astra 2E, Astra 2F, Astra 2G, and Astra 5B, will allow the release of the existing satellites at two orbital positions (28.2 and 31.5 degrees East) and add new capacity as well as fleet deployment flexibility for the SES group over the coming years. The satellites are scheduled for launch in several steps between 2012 and 2014. The design life of each satellite is 15 years.

The four new satellites will be built on a Eurostar-3000 platform.

Three of the new spacecraft, Astra 2E, Astra 2F, and Astra 2G, will serve to deliver next-generation broadcast, VSAT, and broadband services in Europe and Africa, and will carry Ku-and Ka-band payloads at 28.2 degrees East.