Martin Intersputnik Ltd, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications, announced today that the launch of its first satellite, LMI-1, will take place in the latter half of December,

1998.

Lockheed Martin Intersputnik revealed the details of their launch

at Lockheed Martin's Sunnyvale, California facility during a visit by

Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin

to view an exhibition of successful U.S./Russian joint ventures.

LMI-1, a Lockheed Martin state-of-the-art A2100 model, will be

the first satellite to provide high performance, long life

communications capacity to all of the Commonwealth of Independent

States, in addition to Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Africa.

LMI-1 will be launched on a Proton vehicle by ILS International

Launch Services and will be located at 75 degrees east. This

satellite features 44 high-powered transponders in C and Ku band

frequencies with a designated 15-year service life.

LMI's president and chief executive officer, James Beitchman,

believes LMI's offer is unique in its scope in both the coverage

provided and in the range of services offered.

“LMI answers the communications needs of a wide audience with a

variety of services tailored to differing end users, including newly

established international networks, telecommunications

infrastructures, business networks, and individual homes. Our first

satellite will serve rapidly developing regions such as Russia,''

said Beitchman.

Initially, LMI-1 will provide broadcasting and telecommunications

transmission capacity, VSAT, and video and data distribution to

underserved areas and will expand to provide a full range of services

including direct-to-home TV, direct radio, and mobile communications

on a global scale. LMI will achieve its global coverage through the

15 orbital satellite slots provided by Intersputnik. A second

satellite launch is planned for 1999 and two subsequent launches are

planned for 2000 and 2001.

About Intersputnik

Intersputnik is an international intergovernmental organization

which operates a satellite communications system and provides

international, regional, and domestic communications worldwide. The

organization was established more than 25 years ago and has 23 member

countries. Intersputnik has built long-term relationships with many

broadcasters and telecommunications operators worldwide.

Throughout its history, Intersputnik has provided its customers

in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific regions with a wide range of

telecommunications services including voice, data, television, and

audio broadcasting in international, domestic, and regional public

networks, as well as the establishment of video-conferencing and

business communications networks. Because the service area of LMI-1

is oriented toward Intersputnik markets, Intersputnik is playing a

major role in the marketing and customer service activities of LMI-1,

the first LMI satellite.