It was constructed by NPO PM and Alcatel Space and is based on the MSS-2500-GSO satellite bus.

The launch was contracted by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and used a Proton-K / Blok DM-2M launch vehicle flying from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

[1] Ekspress-A4 is a Russian geosynchronous communications spacecraft that was launched on 10 June 2002 from Baikonur by a Proton-K launch vehicle at 01:14:00 UTC.

[2] The 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) spacecraft carries 12 transponders in C-band and five in Ku-band to provide voice, data, and video communications in Russia.

Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geostationary orbit at 40° West, from where it provides communications services to Russia.