Finnish defense contractor ICEYE and Planet Labs in California have signed a deal to provide synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical (EO) capabilities in support of the Swedish Armed Forces’ space operations.
The multi-million, multi-year agreement gives Stockholm sovereign ownership and operational control of space-based assets, including satellites, data, software, and associated ground systems.
The military will task and operate the systems independently to support “long-range combat” and other security missions.
Ten satellites will be delivered to the armed forces this year, with associated works to continue through 2030, according to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
Planet Labs specified that the project is a “low nine-figure” deal.
Creating Space Sensor Network
ICEYE’s SAR satellites use microwave pulses to deliver high-resolution imagery with ground resolution of up to 16 centimeters (6.2 inches) and can operate day and night through cloud cover, rain, snow, and darkness.
Meanwhile, Planet Labs’s constellation uses reflected infrared lights to capture land mass with detailed texture, color, and vegetation. Its latest “Owl” satellite has a ground sampling distance of 1 meter (3.2 feet).
Combining these technologies is critical to NATO operations in the Nordic region, Northern Europe, and the Arctic, where weather and limited daylight hamper imaging using standalone SAR or EO satellites.
“This is a major step for the Swedish Armed Forces’ space capabilities,” said Brig. Gen. Carl-Fredrik Edström, head of FMV’s air and space systems division, noting the rapid timeline from concept to contract.
“FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces have worked closely in an integrated project team to simplify processes and thereby speed up the work, and [the Swedish Defence Research Agency] has contributed as expert support in that work.”
Recent Projects
Before the agreement, ICEYE signed a letter of intent with the Stockholm to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions across NATO’s northeastern flank, including parts of the Arctic.
This collaboration aims to leverage the company’s SAR expertise to enhance the country’s existing ground stations and orbital launch network.
In 2024, Planet Labs secured a contract to aid the US Navy in monitoring ship activities in “key areas of interest” in the Pacific.
Satellites included under this effort have a total coverage of over 200 million square kilometers (77.2 million square miles) per day and operate with an AI platform that can track 30-meter (98-foot) vessels internationally.
