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20 Nov 25. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), a leading global provider of advanced space services, today announced they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI). This LOI outlines a plan to leverage their complementary strengths, aiming to enhance sovereign space capabilities for Nordic and NATO security. The LOI, signed at the NATO Arctic Space Forum last week in Helsinki, reflects the growing strategic cooperation between Sweden and Finland and aims to explore expanded collaboration in key space and defense-related areas. It leverages the complementary strengths of both companies to support future mission development, satellite operations, and launch capabilities. The partnership will explore synergies between ICEYE’s world-leading sovereign space-based ISR offering and SSC’s extensive global ground station network, mission operations expertise, and future orbital launch services. Following high-level discussions at the NATO Arctic Space Forum among senior Nordic and NATO leaders on the need for increased cooperation between allied governments and industry, the LOI between ICEYE and SSC represents a tangible step toward rapidly strengthening space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for the Arctic and NATO’s North-Eastern Flank.
Pekka Laurila, CSO and Co-founder of ICEYE, said: “Through this LOI, we’re evaluating how to combine ICEYE’s SAR offering and SSC’s global ground network and future access to orbit. The intent is to explore concepts that strengthen Nordic collaboration for security and resilience and enable dependable ISR for NATO and the Nordics.”
Charlotta Sund, President and CEO at SSC, said: “The LOI between SSC and ICEYE aims to develop cooperation based on our complementary strengths, and is in line with and supports an increasing defense cooperation also in the space domain between Sweden and Finland.”
In September 2025, the Finnish Defence Forces announced the acquisition of SAR satellites and technical systems from ICEYE to establish a sovereign, space-based surveillance capability. The total value of the acquisition is approximately 158 million euros, including the main procurement as well as options to extend the satellites’ lifecycle and expand the system in the future. On November 12th 2025, in an address at the NATO Arctic Space Forum, Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen discussed a plan to create a multinational community with allied countries that use SAR satellites, which will promote compatibility, synergy and best practices related to SAR capabilities. (Source: PR Newswire)
21 Nov 25. UK backs next-generation satellite communications with £6.9m investment. The UK Space Agency is investing £6.9m in satellite technology that will transform connectivity and secure Britain’s place as a European space leader. The funding will support five groundbreaking projects through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme, part of the Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications. These projects showcase British expertise in next-generation satellite technologies and strengthen the UK’s role in advanced communications. This investment underpins the UK’s Industrial Strategy priority capabilities: Satellite Communications, Position, Navigation and Timing, In-orbit Servicing and Manufacturing, Space Domain Awareness, and Space Data for Earth Applications. With European demand for satellites up to 2033 forecasted to be worth £40bn, even 2% of this would bring around £800 million in revenues for the UK economy alone.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said: “Space technology and especially satellites, are essential to our daily lives. From the sat nav in your car to your mobile phone, from weather forecasts to your online banking – space is where it all happens. By backing our UK sector, we’re not only cementing our position as a European space leader – we’re creating high-skilled jobs, attracting investment, and ensuring space technologies can connect communities to the space-enabled services they need. The five UK-led projects span critical areas of innovation in satellite communications, from refuelling satellites to extend their lifespans, to developing 5G networks and optical links that will improve global connectivity. ”
Orbit Fab will deliver the Advancing Satcom Technology with Refuelling and Logistics (ASTRAL) project with a total UK funding of up to £2.9m. The contract for the first stage of the mission, worth £1.3m, has now been awarded by ESA. This mission will prove the capability to refuel electric propulsion satellites using UK-developed technology, ensuring satellites can remain in orbit for longer or can manoeuvre away from threats.
Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall will lead the AGILE: Antenna Ground Interface and LunaNet Equipment project, supported by £1.6m in funding. Amidst the growing number of lunar missions, this project will produce an interface unit that can be installed in global antennas to communicate with spacecraft using the internationally recognised LunaNet specification. This will allow missions to seamlessly connect to ground infrastructure, improving mission success rates.
Vicinity Technologies will receive £1.19m for its 5G NTN-based Satellite Access Networks project. The team will design and develop a versatile 5G Non-Terrestrial Network regenerative payload system and user terminals, including the entire software stack for both space and ground segments. This technology will support uninterrupted and scalable internet services globally, from hard-to-reach areas to smart cities.
Archangel Lightworks, working with the support of Eutelsat will advance optical communications through the Space Optical Link Integration Study (SOLIS) project, funded with £356,000. This study, delivered under ESA’s Sunrise programme, will investigate use cases for deploying Free Space Optical Communications technology within Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO global network.
Finally, Inmarsat Navigation Ventures Ltd (Viasat UK) will receive £881,000 for the International Virtual Satellite Operators Network (Phase 2) project. This initiative will develop a service that enables governments to plan, procure, manage and monitor satellite communications services from Viasat and other providers, ensuring secure and coherent management of critical communications.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “Today’s investment shows how the UK’s space ambitions translate into real-world impact. By advancing satellite communications technology, we’re not only building a globally competitive sector but also ensuring that communities – even in the most remote corners of the UK – can access the services they need. This is space delivering for people and powering our future economy. By helping businesses, universities and research institutions commercialise breakthrough technologies, the government is creating high-skilled jobs in the UK’s £18.9bn space sector and delivering tangible benefits – from improved weather forecasting to enhanced national security. ”
Laurent Jaffart, Director of ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications, said: “ESA is committed to supporting a vibrant and striving telecommunications ecosystem in Europe, while achieving a zero-debris environment in space. This milestone, with support from the UK Space Agency, will further strengthen the European autonomy and sovereignty that we are collectively striving for with our Member States.”
Dr Colin Baldwin, Executive Director of the UKspace Trade Association, said: “UKspace’s Satellite Telecommunications Committee, run jointly with techUK, has made a strong case that our industry has the expertise, technology and talent to capture a significant portion of the global satellite communications market over the coming decade. We are delighted to see so many of our member companies benefiting from and taking advantage of the UK Space Agency’s investment in the ARTES programme at the ESA Council of Ministers meeting in 2022 continuing to develop new innovations which will help to achieve this goal.”
This funding comes ahead of the ESA Ministerial Council in Bremen on 26-27 November, where the Government will negotiate the UK’s investment into the future of Europe’s space ambitions, with a focus on economic growth and national security. Evaluation shows that every £1 invested in ESA returns £7.49 in direct benefits to the UK economy.
As well as ESA programmes, the UK space sector has access to a wider range of national space funding than ever before. To support national programmes and the UK’s membership of ESA, the government allocated the UK Space Agency a budget of £2.8 billion up to 2029/30.
From pioneering satellite refuelling to transforming connectivity in remote areas, these projects show how investment in space delivers real benefits for people’s everyday lives. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
19 Nov 25. Rocket Lab launches hypersonic test mission for US defence agencies. Rocket Lab has successfully completed a hypersonic test launch for the US Defence Innovation Unit and the Missile Defense Agency, marking another milestone for the company’s expanding role in defence-related space operations. The suborbital flight, carried out using Rocket Lab’s HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) vehicle, lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at Wallops Island, Virginia, at 13:00 UTC (8:00am local time) on 18 November 2025. The mission was led by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and carried a primary government payload built by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, alongside several secondary experimental payloads from federal and industry partners. All payloads were designed to advance technologies relevant to missile defence. The launch forms part of the Defence Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities program, which seeks to accelerate the testing of emerging hypersonic systems through lower-cost, rapid-turnaround flight opportunities. Rocket Lab delivered the mission just 14 months after signing the contract, a timeline the company said highlights the advantages of using commercially developed launch systems for defence test activities. According to Rocket Lab, the use of commercial, liquid-fuelled launch vehicles offers significant schedule and cost efficiencies for agencies conducting developmental testing, risk-reduction activities and non-traditional target trials. Rocket Lab’s vice-president of global launch services, Brian Rogers, said the mission underlined the value of leveraging commercial innovation for national security needs.
“HASTE is an important platform for accelerating hypersonic technology readiness and we’re proud to be delivering this mission for DIU and MDA,” he said.
DIU’s director of emerging technology, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Estep, said the partnership demonstrated the benefits of tapping into commercial space capabilities.
“Accessing the commercial and non-traditional ecosystem is a key enabler for accelerating progress in the hypersonics community, particularly for closing mission timelines and improving affordability,” he said. “Working with MDA to demonstrate commercially focused suborbital launch services is a great example of that.”
The mission was the sixth flight of the HASTE rocket since its debut in 2023. HASTE is a suborbital variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher, the world’s most frequently flown small orbital rocket. It features the same carbon fibre construction and 3D-printed engines as Electron, but with a modified Kick Stage and a larger payload envelope tailored for hypersonic testing. Capable of deploying payloads at speeds above 7.5 kilometres per second, HASTE supports testing of air-breathing, glide and ballistic systems, as well as re-entry technologies. Together, HASTE and Electron have now carried more than 200 payloads for government and commercial operators worldwide. (Source: Space Connect)
19 Nov 25. BAE Systems (LON: BA) has added new capabilities to its next-generation, radiation-hardened 12 nanometer (nm) Storefront. The RH12™ Storefront is an advanced and accessible integrated circuit development capability with a vast technology library to support a wide range of space applications. BAE Systems’ RH12™ Storefront offers one-stop-shop capabilities for the space community to withstand the harsh environment. The Storefront enables the development of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to execute critical missions in the most extreme and challenging conditions in space. Through simplified intellectual property (IP) licensing and proven ASIC design and manufacturing methods, the RH12 Storefront now allows customers to rapidly develop their own system-on-chip (SoC) 12nm designs with new features to meet those demands.
“Our RH12 Storefront provides a turnkey solution for customers requiring radiation-hardened 12 nanometer integrated circuits,” said Joe Dziezynski, director of Space Systems at BAE Systems. “This approach uses commercial foundry technology for space missions, qualifying not only the library components but also the process for how each of those components are designed into customer integrated circuits. Customers now have a one-stop-shop for state-of-the-art microelectronics performance to complete their missions in the harsh space environment.”
The IP cores, ranging from basic logic elements to complex processing and interface functions, comprise a comprehensive library of proven design elements readily available for use by Storefront customers. The smaller, lower power 12nm transistors provide higher function and performance, an important factor in space where resources are limited. BAE Systems applies its radiation-hardening and reliability enhancement techniques to circuit building blocks developed internally and licensed from third-party IP providers. GlobalFoundries provides the commercial 12nm foundry manufacturing for the Storefront. IP based on technology from several providers including BAE Systems, Cadence, Rambus Inc., and Spectral Design and Test Inc. delivers new functionality with robust radiation protection. Advanced data conversion (analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog) capabilities and embedded field programmable gate array IP to program logic function after manufacturing are also being evaluated for Storefront integration. The RH12 technology is already being utilized to develop application-specific standard products, such as radiation-hardened advanced processor SoCs and next-generation memory systems. BAE Systems provides design, qualification, and production services that give customers an accessible and flexible solution to build a competitive edge. As a platform-agnostic supplier, BAE Systems develops and produces high-reliability space electronics, from standard components and single-board computers to complete system payloads. These radiation-hardened solutions have enabled civil, commercial, and national security space missions for more than 50 years. Work on the RH12 technology is performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is a Department of War Category 1A Microelectronics Trusted Source. The initial product development kit has been released, enabling alpha users to leverage the RH12 Storefront capabilities while IP components complete qualification. (Source: PR Newswire)
20 Nov 25. Germany vows to protect its interests in growing global space race. Germany will expand its security infrastructure in space to better protect its interests in a sphere where countries are already competing for dominance, said the foreign and defence ministers in a joint statement published on Wednesday. The two ministries presented their new space security strategy to the cabinet on Wednesday, in which they commit to a peaceful, rules-based use of space while also pledging to build a space infrastructure strong enough to serve as a deterrent. Germany’s defence ministry alone plans to invest 35 bn euros ($40 bn) in space over the next few years, and the German military will form the backbone of the space strategy, said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in the statement. The strategy sets the framework for how Germany can better protect itself, said Pistorius, for example against the GPS signal disruptions by Russia in the Baltic Sea region.
“Space has long been an arena for military conflicts and economic competition, as demonstrated most recently by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the same statement.
“The race for dominance in space is in full swing. It is therefore all the more important that Germany protects its interests,” he added. ($1 = 0.8639 euros) (Source: Reuters)
19 Nov 25. Viasat Secures Renewal Contract with NEXCOM for Managed Connectivity Services Worldwide. Viasat will perform network upgrades at Navy and joint base facilities to improve internet connectivity and enhance daily experiences for Sailors and their families. Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications (SATCOM) and communication services, today announced a five-year contract extension with the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) Telecommunications Program Office. Under this contract extension within the company’s Defense and Advanced Technologies segment, Viasat will continue providing managed connectivity services for the personal-use networks that support multiple programs for the Navy and joint base installations around the globe. This includes internet access for Sailors who live in Unaccompanied Housing (UH) or select Family Housing (FH), those who visit Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities, as well as support for those staying in or visiting lodging or other temporary living facilities, such as Navy Lodge, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites/ Navy Inns, Navy Getaways, Wounded Warrior Program and Fisher House® facilities. The Viasat Government team will provide extensive network upgrades, including new hardware and infrastructure, as well as ISP backhaul, to support significantly higher bandwidth for users across facilities inside the continental U.S. (CONUS) and outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS). Viasat’s work with NEXCOM is directly aligned with the objectives of the recently formed Barracks Task Force, established to address the critical need to improve the living conditions and experiences of service members. By upgrading the networks and services for UH facilities, Viasat will be contributing to the Task Force’s mission to modernize infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for our Sailors living at U.S. military bases around the world.
“For nearly 15 years, Viasat has been honored to serve as a trusted partner to NEXCOM, connecting Sailors and their families across more than 100 bases worldwide,” said Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Viasat Government Services and Solutions. “We understand how vital it is for service members to stay connected—to their loved ones, to their missions, and to the world around them. This extension reflects our shared commitment to continually enhance those experiences through faster, more resilient, and more affordable connectivity. As Viasat evolves its portfolio beyond traditional satellite services, we’re focused on delivering a modern, fiber-like digital experience that keeps pace with how Sailors live, work, and play—whether through streaming, gaming, email, social media or video communication.”
Viasat’s contract with NEXCOM began in 2011. Since then, Viasat has built a long-standing history of delivering essential on-base connectivity services to Sailors and their families across both CONUS and OCONUS facilities worldwide. This extensive work includes performing critical upgrades to facilities across all programs served, such as the cable management transmission system (CMTS) network at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, building a new fiber network backbone and connectivity services for Naval Station Guam and Anderson Air Force Base, and constructing a new network at the Naval Support Facility (NSF) Redzikowo in Poland. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Nov 25. Planet Labs GmbH, the world’s leading provider of daily satellite imagery and Earth intelligence, and Quantum Systems, Germany’s pioneer in AI-powered unmanned systems, are joining forces to bring orbital systems and operators together in one seamless intelligence ecosystem. The partnership aims to fuse Planet’s orbital vantage point – delivering persistent, wide-area change detection and high-resolution tasking – with Quantum Systems’ next-generation drone reconnaissance and MOSAIC UXS mission software. Together, they’re creating a new standard in ‘Tip & Cue’ operations: satellites identifying changes; drones investigate them, enabling operators to act faster and with more precision. The European-made intelligence network will give defence and security customers unmatched situational awareness – from orbit to operator. By integrating orbital insights with real-time tactical data, Planet and Quantum Systems aim to unlock faster decision cycles, automated tasking, and resilient, multi-domain awareness built for the future of European defence.
“This strategic partnership is a significant step toward delivering actionable, near-real-time intelligence to the defense community spanning the Space and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle domains, driven by European innovation,” said Charlie Candy, Chief Revenue Officer at Planet. “By collaborating to bring this joint multi industry solution concept to market, we are exploring a path to move beyond data delivery and provide concrete operational value. Both Planet and Quantum Systems have already been critical supporters of Ukraine’s defense efforts. In creating this partnership, we can maximize impact and help ensure other European nations have the most efficient tools to aid in securing peace and stability across the region.”
Planet’s Broad Area Monitoring satellite data and VHR tasking, combined with Planet’s analytics feeds, enables automated change detection over large areas to identify new points of interest – the critical ‘Tip.’ Working alongside Quantum Systems’ MOSAIC UXS software suite, this alert will trigger a precise ‘Cue’ for the deployment of an assigned Unmanned Vehicle for surveillance with detailed multi-sensor drones. This way, unmanned systems are deployed against confirmed and relevant targets, drastically improving operations precision and resource management, and reducing the cognitive load on analysts.
Florian Seibel, Co-founder & Co-CEO at Quantum Systems, added, “Our collaboration with Planet will provide our operators with real-time maps from orbit. The integration of Earth observation data into our MOSAIC UXS mission software starts a new chapter for ISR missions. This enables operators to plan missions more precisely, make decisions faster and increase the safety of their operations. This partnership underscores how our complementary technologies reinforce each other – and represents our shared commitment to European security and technological sovereignty.”
17 Nov 25. ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications (SATCOM), and Black Cat Systems Pty Ltd, a leading provider of satcom solutions and services, are expanding their partnership to establish an Advanced Satcom Technology Demonstration Lab. This initiative will showcase secure, resilient, and multi-layered satcom solutions tailored to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Central to the demonstration lab is ST Engineering iDirect’s 450 Software Defined Modem (SDM), featuring multi-waveform, multi-orbit capabilities and CSIR™ interference mitigation technology, designed to meet the evolving demands of the defense sector.
Highlighting the 450SDM multi-waveform, multi-orbit modem built for mission-critical communications
Black Cat Systems has procured additional Evolution Defense hubs and 9-Series modems and will showcase the newly introduced 450SDM. Purpose-built for mission-critical communications, the 450SDM delivers unmatched flexibility and performance, supporting multiple orbits—including HEO, GEO, MEO, and LEO—and a variety of waveforms on a single platform. With a 30% reduction in size, weight, and power (SWaP) compared to its earlier modem models, the 450SDM is optimized for both fixed and mobile environments. It offers high data rates, advanced mobility, and robust security features, including TRANSEC and FIPS 140-3 Level 3 compliance.
“Our expanded partnership with Black Cat Systems underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge satcom solutions to the Australian Defence Force,” said Terry Bleakley, Asia Regional Vice President, ST Engineering iDirect. “The 450SDM, combined with our Evolution Defense platform, showcases our ability to meet the ADF’s critical communication needs with unmatched flexibility, reliability, security, and performance.”
“Black Cat Systems has been a trusted Australian provider of satcom solutions and services for the ADF for 18 years, and is investing to strengthen the sovereign industrial base through lab systems, advanced training, and local support to ensure a strong secure supply chain, seamless integration, operational excellence and 100% mission focus,” said Keith Rosario, Managing Director, Black Cat Systems. “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with ST Engineering iDirect. Our Advanced Satcom Technology Demonstration Lab will be used to showcase the 450SDM and other advanced technologies from ST Engineering iDirect that deliver secure, resilient, and mission-critical communication capabilities to empower the ADF in current and future environments.”
Paired with the iDirect Evolution Defense 4.6 platform, the 450SDM delivers enhanced security, resiliency, and mobility ideal for defense applications. Its features, such as flexible key exchange for crypto-agility and real-time CSIR interference removal, ensure secure and reliable communications in the most challenging operational scenarios. The 450SDM introduces advanced capabilities that will be further enhanced in the future by the dual Tx/Rx SDM.
The Advanced Satcom Technology Demonstration Lab represents a significant step forward in delivering secure, mission-critical communication capabilities to the ADF.
ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. With over 40 years of delivering innovation focused on solving satellite’s most critical economic and technology challenges we are committed to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded iDirect, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is a leader in key industries including mobility, broadcast and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information visit www.idirect.net. (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Nov 25. Qorvo delivers wideband SSPAs as reliable TWTA replacement with smaller system footprint. Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has introduced four, wideband, solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) for radar, SATCOM, electronic warfare (EW) and test applications. Qorvo?s newest SSPAs enable up to 50 percent smaller and one-third lighter system-level solutions compared to legacy traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs), supporting mission continuity and long-term reliability in demanding RF environments. As TWTA supply chains contract and program schedules tighten, system designers are increasingly turning to solid-state solutions that boost reliability, shrink size and lower procurement risk. According to Global Growth Insights, 58 percent of SSPA demand now comes from defense and aerospace sectors where wideband Continuous Wave (CW) performance, reduced footprint and reliability are critical. With these new SSPAs, customers can confidently replace TWTAs while improving system-level performance, reliability and long-term lifecycle value,? said Doug Bostrom, general manager of Qorvo?s Defense and Aerospace business. ?These solutions accelerate the industry?s transition to solid-state power with scalable, proven technology.? (Source: Satnews)
10 Nov 25. Ergen returns as CEO at EchoStar + strikes $17bn spectrum deal with SpaceX. Echostar made changes with Hamid Akhavan who served as president and CEO of the company into chief of EchoStar Capital, and co-founder Charlie Ergen as its new CEO following the formation of a new business called EchoStar Capital. EchoStar Capital will be responsible for investing new capital from the recent spectrum transactions to fuel future growth opportunities for EchoStar Corporation. Ergen now assumes the operating responsibility for the pay-TV and wireless business units.
“EchoStar will soon be in the unique position of having substantial available capital, vastly changing its scope of opportunities,” Akhavan stated. “Through EchoStar Capital we will fuel EchoStar’s growth into new and complementary arenas, beyond its successful pay-TV, wireless and enterprise business units.” Charlie Ergen.
The transaction builds on the $17bn agreement the companies entered into in September when Elon Musk-owned SpaceX agreed a $17bn deal to buy EchoStar?s highly sought AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses after pressuring it to sell off the assets earlier this year. The deal will close after receiving customary regulatory approvals. SpaceX’s financials indicate it will pay EchoStar $8.5bn in cash and up to $8.5bn in SpaceX stock. The company also agreed to fund a total of about $2bn in cash interest payments on EchoStar?s debt through to November 2027. EchoStar added 232,000 Boost Mobile wireless subscribers in the quarter compared to a loss of 297,000 a year ago. Revenue for the wireless business came in at $938m, compared to $898m. EchoStar’s 9-month total revenue was $11.21bn. EchoStar’s Hughes division deliver $346m in revenues for Q3 and held 783,000 subscribers. In its Q3 earnings results, the company reported a $16.5bn impairment charge from decommissioning parts of its 5G network that are no longer needed for its Boost Mobile service following spectrum sales to AT&T and SpaceX. After these sales the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ended its investigation into EchoStar’s use of spectrum. EchoStar stated it was moving to a hybrid MNO model after selling off the spectrum licenses. (Source: Satnews)
14 Nov 25. Poland sets up first-ever military satellite launch. In a bid to secure an Earth observation system for the country?s armed forces, Poland is advancing a project to have its first three military satellites launched this month. Developed by a consortium of Finnish manufacturer ICEYE and Wojskowe Zakady cznoci No 1, an offshoot of Poland’s state-run defense group PGZ, the national satellite reconnaissance system will be the first component of the military space capabilities Warsaw aims to field in the coming years, defense officials said. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite is to be deployed into low Earth orbit onboard the next Transporter-15 mission by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was initially scheduled for Nov. 11 in what would mark Poland’s Independence Day. The deployment has been postponed and is currently scheduled for Nov. 19. The initiative is part of Poland’s efforts to ramp up its military reconnaissance capacities amid an ongoing Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Under the contract the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed with the manufacturer consortium last May, the country’s military is to receive at least three satellites under the MikroSAR program, with an option to acquire a further three spacecraft. The initial deal is worth around PLN 860m ($237m). In his remarks, Tomczyk said the war in Ukraine has sparked a major push for Poland to accelerate its military space program. The Finnish company’s partnership with PGZ, the dominant player in Poland’s defense sector, marks another collaboration between ICEYE and a major European industry player. In May 2025, the company teamed up with Germany’s Rheinmetall, setting up a joint venture devoted to satellite manufacturing with an initial focus on SAR satellites. The new entity, named Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions, is jointly owned by Rheinmetall, which holds 60% of the shares, and ICEYE, which owns the remaining 40% stake. With Poland’s military satellite projects moving forward, last year, the country created a new military institution, the Geospatial Intelligence and Satellite Services Agency. The organization will be responsible for processing the data collected by the military satellite fleet and providing related services to the armed forces. The military official stated that, according to Poland’s defense strategy, the designed satellite fleet will serve as the ?eyes? guiding the country’s military in how it strikes enemy forces.
“It is worth emphasizing that satellite technologies are the only ones that enable so-called deep, precise strikes that, in our doctrine, are the main element of the deterrence policy directed against the potential opponent,” he said.
In the meantime, the Polish military is awaiting the deployment of two observation satellites the government ordered from French company Airbus in December 2022. The spacecraft are to be launched into space by 2027. Under the operational plan, the spy satellites are to increase the capacities of Poland’s armed forces in the field of reconnaissance data, operating as part of a French-Polish constellation. The net value of the contract is about €575m ($669m), according to data from the ministry. (Source: Defense News)
14 Nov 25. Boeing [NYSE: BA] mission controllers confirmed the second ViaSat‑3 satellite, built on the company’s high‑power 702MP+ platform, is healthy on orbit after liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket last night at 10:04 p.m. Eastern Time. The ViaSat-3 F2 satellite is expected to more than double Viasat’s bandwidth capacity, supporting the increasing demand for resilient, global satellite communications from commercial mobility like in-flight connectivity and defense customers. Boeing designed and manufactured the platform to host Viasat’s flexible payload, pairing Boeing’s proven all‑electric propulsion with high‑power Spectrolab solar arrays to support sustained, high‑throughput operations. After separation in geostationary transfer orbit, Boeing teams in El Segundo, Calif., acquired telemetry and established command links to evaluate spacecraft health and begin subsystem initialization. Over the next several days, mission operations will ready the vehicle for deployments and commence orbit raising to its final geostationary orbital slot (approx. 22,000 mi from Earth’s surface), followed by in‑orbit testing and handover to Viasat. The 6‑metric‑ton‑class satellite is designed to deliver over 1 terabit per second of total network capacity, enabling reliable broadband connectivity across land, air, and sea. The Boeing 702 family has supported commercial and government missions for nearly three decades. The enhanced 702MP+ configuration for ViaSat‑3 couples efficient, all‑electric propulsion with advanced power systems to enable the payload?s capacity and dynamic beam forming capabilities.
14 Nov 25. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), a leading provider of advanced imaging solutions, is proud to announce that Engineering Models (EMs) of its newly launched industrial CMOS image sensors upscreened for space applications will be available along with evaluation kits and integration tools by the end of 2025. These sensors, developed and tested in Teledyne’s facilities in Grenoble, France, are tailored for the growing demands of the New Space market. The two variants, Ruby 1.3M USV and Emerald Gen2 12M USV, offer resolutions of 1.3MP and 12MP, respectively, and are qualified by test for applications such as Earth observation, star trackers, monitoring cameras, space suits, rovers, and moon landers. Each sensor undergoes rigorous delta space qualification and radiation testing, including assessments for Single Event Latch-up (SEL), Single Event Effect (SEE), and Single Event Functional Interrupt (SEFI). Depending on mission requirements, they are delivered as flight models with two levels of screening: U1 (ESCC9020-like) and U3 (NASA Class 3 tailored for image sensors).
To support rapid integration and reduce time-to-market, Teledyne e2v provides a comprehensive suite of tools including:
*Engineering Models (EMs)
* Evaluation kits
*Reference designs
These resources, combined with Teledyne’s dedicated support team ensure seamless assistance from design concept to system launch.
Teledyne Space Imaging
Teledyne Space Imaging offers innovative space imaging products, including those from sister companies. This new line of industrial image sensors upscreened for space is from Teledyne e2v in Grenoble. This facility is known for its high-performance, high-reliability semiconductors for the most demanding space applications. Teledyne Space Imaging – Everywhereyoulook! Teledyne Space Imaging is part of Teledyne Technologies, a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne’s operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne’s website at www.teledyne.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.
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For the modern, mobile battlespace, MatrixSpace provides both high performance 4D radar and jam-resistant mesh networked communications engineered to perform in the harshest conditions?day or night, in any weather, and in remote, rugged locations. Designed for flexibility, our radar systems can be integrated with tactical vehicles or mounted on structures like buildings, TOCs, or stanchions. Offering 360° coverage, they provide unmatched field-of-view advantages, while low energy consumption allows for solar/battery-powered operation in off-grid environments at twice the duration and a fraction the cost of alternatives. The MatrixSpace AI platform removes clutter and classifies objects, so operators can act confidently without specialized radar expertise.
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MatrixSpace solutions are designed and developed in the United States, without ITAR export restrictions, manufactured under the highest ISO and IATF standards and rigorously tested for quality, reliability and compliance.
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