ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, and the Portuguese Air Force, a branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces, have announced the acquisition of a SAR satellite, ground segment infrastructure, and an antenna, marking a strategic milestone in Portugal’s growing space ambitions. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony held in Lisbon.
The newly acquired satellite will be delivered to CTI Aerospacial, a joint venture between the Portuguese Air Force and CEiiA, Portugal’s center of engineering and innovation. This deployment represents Portugal’s contribution to the Atlantic Constellation—a collaborative Earth observation satellite initiative led by Spain and Portugal. The constellation aims to deliver high-frequency, high-resolution data for critical applications such as environmental monitoring and disaster response, enhancing existing European programs like Copernicus.
In addition to the satellite purchase, ICEYE and CTI Aerospacial have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a satellite assembly facility in Portugal. This initiative supports the country’s 2030 Space Strategy and reinforces its vision of becoming a key player in sovereign space technology development within Europe.
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“We are very proud to collaborate with Portugal in strengthening Europe’s defense and disaster relief capabilities. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing critical ISR infrastructure and advancing sovereign space technologies within the region,” said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE.
The strategic collaboration marks a significant leap forward in the Portuguese Air Force’s modernization plan, aligning with its multi-domain vision for national security and aerospace operations.
“The Air Force is changing, in accordance with a Flight Plan described as ‘Air Force 5.3’ focused on 5th Generation and the 5th Operational Domain – Space,” said General João Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force. “In addition to the fundamental contribution of the air domain, the success of Portugal’s Security and Defense can only be achieved through the integrated action of multiple operational domains, including Cyberspace and Space.”
“Within the scope of Security and Defense, the Air Force’s vision is to deliver aerospace power enhancing the assigned missions by providing the Air Force with data and information capabilities that guarantee situational awareness and control of the use of space in the areas of national interest and simultaneously, foster the development and integration of new processes, services or products based on scientific and technological knowledge with high added value.”