Poland is strengthening its space-based defense capabilities with the acquisition of three ICEYE synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, satellites under a purchase contract valued at about $224 million. ICEYE said the purchase agreement provides an option for three additional satellites and ground facilities in the next 12 months.
The deal also calls for ICEYE to engage local partners in providing the Polish Armed Forces’ MikroSAR program with a mobile platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
SAR Sharing Capacity
Rafal Modrzewski, ICEYE co-founder and CEO, pointed out the company’s readiness to extend sovereign ISR capabilities. “The ICEYE system is engineered to also enable sharing capacity and cross-tasking with other nations, if so desired, to optimize the use of the combined fleets for enhancing collective space defense capabilities of European and allied nations,” he said.
Currently, 48 ICEYE satellites are in orbit for the company’s use and its customers. According to the company, its SAR satellites offer unlimited global access and the industry’s highest image resolution of 25 centimeters, enabling accurate detection and situational awareness in all weather and light conditions.
Military and Economic Applications
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, expressed confidence that the country is “acquiring the absolute best [SAR] capabilities in the world” for radar ISR and imaging. “Freedom and independence will only be defended by sovereignty and innovation, and the applications of the technology acquired today have military significance, but also economic applications,” the minister said.
In September, ICEYE secured a contract from the European Space Agency to deliver two SAR satellites and radar imagery to the Greek National Satellite Space Project Axis 1.2, focused on maritime awareness and safety and security during natural disasters.