MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates sign $706M Radarsat deal

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA),has signed a $706-million deal with the Canadian Space Agency for the Radarsat Constellation Mission.

The company will build, launch and provide initial operations for what is planned to be a constellation of three satellites.

The new program will build on technology that MDA has developed through the Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 missions.

The space agency's website says the satellites will provide complete coverage of Canada's land and oceans with launches planned for 2016 and 2017.

The satellites would be used for maritime surveillance, disaster management and monitoring of environmental change.

MDA has developed space and satellite technology for many missions, including the Canadarm on the space station.