JCSAT-13 will feature an all Ku-band payload incorporating 44 fixed high-power communication channels that will provide uplink and downlink coverage over Japan, Asia, and Oceania. Additionally, two steerable antennas provide coverage for new and emerging markets as well as quick response coverage, spanning the visible Earth from the orbital slot to cover a geographic area upon short notice and, depending on capacity requirements, providing multiple transponders in each steerable beam. Extensive on-board switching allows for payload reconfiguration capability on orbit, allowing efficient use of the frequency plan. The spacecraft will be located at 124 degrees East. JCSAT-13 is required to meet a 15-year service life and will be integrated on the highly reliable A2100AX platform manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), Newtown, Pennsylvania.
JCSAT-13 is the seventh satellite order SKY Perfect JSAT has awarded to Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin successfully built JCSAT-9 through JCSAT-11 and is currently manufacturing JCSAT-12, which is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2009, and JCSAT-110R, which is scheduled to launch in 2011. Lockheed Martin also built and successfully launched N-SAT-110. The Lockheed Martin A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs including Ka-band broadband and broadcast services, fixed satellite services in C-band and Ku-band, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum and mobile satellite services using UHF, L-band, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts, simplified construction, increased on-orbit reliability and reduced weight and cost. The A2100 spacecraft design accommodates a large range of payloads. The A2100 serves as the platform for critical Lockheed Martin government communications programs such as the Advanced Extremely High Frequency program and the Mobile User Objective System, and is the foundation for the company's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R (GOES-R) offering. The A2100 also serves as the spacecraft platform for Lockheed Martin’s GPS III program.