International Launch
Services (ILS) is being recognized for its leadership in the launch
vehicle market with an award from Frost & Sullivan.
In bestowing the Market Engineering Award for Strategic Alliance
Leadership, Frost & Sullivan said ILS “stands out as a remarkably
successful strategic alliance and has created a satellite launch
service company that rivals all market participants.”
ILS markets and manages the missions for the American Atlas and
Russian Proton rockets. ILS, based in McLean, Va., was formed in 1995
as a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. in the United
States and two Russian companies, Khrunichev State Research and
Production Space Center and RSC Energia, both of Moscow.
ILS offers the broadest range of launch services in the world
along with products with the highest reliability in the industry.
Over the last 2 1/2 years, ILS captured the lion’s share of
commercial launch contracts in a highly competitive global market. ILS
announced contracts for several missions this month, and has a total
backlog of 33 launches.
Frost & Sullivan said ILS “has excelled based in the following
criteria: market share advantage; expanded service offering; increased
marketing reach; and strategic positioning vis-a-vis competitors.”
With two independent, highly reliable vehicles and two dedicated
launch sites, ILS created the concept of Mutual Backup. This assures
customers that their satellites will be launched on schedule.
“This is an exciting and unexpected honor,” said ILS President
Mark Albrecht. “It’s very gratifying to be recognized by an
organization with the reputation of Frost & Sullivan, which is not
directly involved in the launch business and therefore is an impartial
observer.”
ILS brings together the best of two worlds, Albrecht said.
Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev together have a combined heritage of
more than 70 years’ experience and more than 860 flights. The Atlas
and Proton rockets are the most reliable in the industry. “Not only do
we have an impressive history, we also have the cream of the crop of
technical and business employees on both sides of the world,” Albrecht
said.
Frost & Sullivan, an international strategic market consulting and
training firm, presents Market Engineering Awards to companies that
demonstrate the diligence, perseverance and dedication required to
develop a successful business plan and excel in the increasingly
competitive global marketplace.
Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to
determine Market Engineering Award recipients in a variety of regional
and global market landscapes. Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is
recognized as a global marketing research and solution leader, with
offices located worldwide: Silicon Valley, New York, San Antonio,
London, Paris, Frankfurt, Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore and Mumbai.
