ICEYE, a Finnish satellite operator, will begin supplying imaging data to NATO’s Situation Centre in Brussels. ICEYE operates the world’s largest constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, delivering near real-time Earth observation capabilities. These satellites function by emitting radar beams from approximately 550 kilometers above Earth, capturing detailed ground images regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
This collaboration aligns with Europe’s efforts to enhance autonomy in space-based monitoring and communications. The European Commission is advancing plans for a €10.6 billion secure European satellite constellation, aiming to bolster “digital sovereignty” in response to the rapid growth of networks like Starlink.
ICEYE’s CEO Rafal Modrzewski highlighted that observations from the Ukraine conflict underscore the critical role of satellite constellations in national security and that the future security of nations will be massively dependent on satellite constellations.
