The Portuguese Air Force has signed a contract with ICEYE to purchase a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, marking the first time the service will directly acquire a satellite.
Under the agreement, ICEYE will deliver a state-of-the-art SAR satellite capable of all-weather, day-and-night imaging with frequent revisit of the same areas for timely and accurate monitoring.
The acquisition is expected to enhance the air force’s surveillance and situational awareness, supporting national security and Portugal’s broader space and defense modernization goals.
Lisbon will gain direct control over data collection and mission planning, enabling faster responses to military and maritime security threats.
The satellite will also support environmental monitoring and the protection of Portugal’s Economic Exclusive Zone and natural resources.
While this is the first satellite to be entirely owned by the Portuguese Air Force, it is the second satellite the force operates, following a previous SAR unit acquired earlier this year through a deal between CTI Aeroespacial and ICEYE.
“This is a historic moment for Portugal in general and for the Portuguese Air Force in particular,” stated General João Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force.
“By acquiring its own capabilities to operate in space, the Air Force enters a new dimension, where Space has replaced the sky as the new operational frontier.”
ICEYE Projects
The Finnish satellite manufacturer is expanding its role in Europe’s space sector and reportedly plans to grow its constellation from around five to 10 satellites to as many as 25 within the next two years.
ICEYE is already providing data to Kyiv as Ukraine’s allies weigh options amid a potential US pause in space intelligence sharing.
Expanding its partnerships, the firm last month signed a letter of intent with the state-owned Swedish Space Corporation to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across the Arctic and NATO’s northeastern flank.
In addition, German defense company Rheinmetall and ICEYE launched a joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, focused on SAR satellite technologies.
