European defense forces to receive surveillance capabilities from NanoAvionics' Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite construction

In a strategic move to bolster European Earth Observation (EO) resources, NanoAvionics, a Lithuanian smallsat maker, has partnered with Eycore, a Polish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) developer. This partnership positions NanoAvionics as a key player in the field, particularly amid rising security concerns across Eastern Europe.

Eycore, known for its focus on operational resilience and decades of radar expertise, is also part of a consortium developing a domestic EO program for the Polish government. The satellite, scheduled to launch in early 2026, will provide radar imagery with submeter resolution, capable of revealing ground movements day and night, and in all weather conditions.

The development of this satellite mission comes at a time when there is a rising demand across Europe for domestically controlled EO capabilities. With ICEYE, a Finnish SAR operator, currently owning the world's largest SAR constellation, Europe still has limited resources in this area.

Maciej Klemm, cofounder and CEO of Eycore, stated that their mission is to ensure trusted, sovereign access to earth observation data for defense users. The goal of the NanoAvionics-Eycore partnership is to provide governments with a fast, cost-effective path to sovereign SAR capabilities that strengthen national security and resilience.

The satellite mission aims to reduce Europe's dependence on US intelligence, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. EO satellites, including SAR, have proven to be crucial in monitoring troop movements and evaluating damage caused by attacks, as demonstrated during the war in Ukraine.

Poland, the largest per capita defense spender in NATO, demonstrates its significant investment in defense efforts. The proximity of Poland and Lithuania to the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's borders has increased their interest in defense initiatives.

The goal of the mission is to establish a sovereign, military-grade SAR constellation offering global coverage and frequent revisits for NATO and European state militaries. This could provide European defense forces with more autonomy and control over their intelligence-gathering capabilities.

NanoAvionics, with its extensive experience in delivering missions since its inception in 2014 as a spin-off from Vilnius University, is well-equipped to contribute to this ambitious project. The development of a sovereign, military-grade SAR constellation could be a significant step towards enhancing European defense capabilities and ensuring independence in intelligence gathering.

European defense forces to receive surveillance capabilities from NanoAvionics' Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite construction