While SpaceX has smashed its way into the commercial launch market, International Launch Services (ILS) made its point that it is not done yet as it announced two new launch assignments.
On 14 January 2014, ILS announced that Intelsat 31 (DLA-2) would be launched by a Russian built Proton M Breeze M (Phase 4) launch vehicle in 2015. As part of this announcement, it was stated that, in addition, a second Intelsat satellite is likely to be launched on another Proton launch as the second of the two original bookings announced in March 2012. There was more to come. On 15 January 2014, it was announced that ILS had also been selected by European satellite operator Eutelsat to launch its Eutelsat 9B. This will also take place on a Proton M Breeze M in 2015.
