ICEYE, a leader in SAR satellites, has teamed up with IHI Corporation, a top aerospace and defense firm in Japan. They will work together to create a new Earth observation satellite constellation. This will address security, civilian, and commercial needs.
IHI has secured four satellites and their image acquisition system, with the option to acquire up to 20 more. The first satellites will start commissioning and send data by April 2026. This will allow for continuous, high-resolution monitoring from space.
ICEYE’s radar satellites and IHI’s collaboration reach a major milestone with this contract. Our radar satellites take clear images all day, every day. They work no matter the weather, so Earth observation never stops. These capabilities are crucial for defense, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and commercial applications.
“ICEYE has built a trusted partnership with Japan since 2018, grounded in shared values and innovation. This agreement with IHI marks a new milestone in strengthening our partnership and enhancing shared security and resilience. By combining IHI’s engineering excellence with ICEYE’s SAR technology, we’re enabling sovereign access to critical Earth observation data and advancing Japan’s leadership in space-based intelligence,” said Rafal Modrzewski, Co-founder and CEO of ICEYE.
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“At IHI, we are committed to contributing to the realization of a safe and secure society in a rapidly changing world. This initiative represents an investment in IHI’s future. In collaboration with ICEYE, we are taking on the challenge of creating new value through cutting-edge satellite technology. Through the development of an Earth observation satellite constellation, we aim to address not only national and economic security but also a wide range of societal challenges. By harnessing the full strength of the IHI Group’s manufacturing capabilities, we will lead the construction of essential infrastructure that will be indispensable for the society of the future,” said Hiroshi Ide, President and CEO of IHI.
Two of the first four satellites will be built and tested in Japan. Preparations are already in progress. IHI plans to exercise options for 20 more satellites if the demonstration succeeds. This will begin in fiscal year 2026. The goal is to complete the 24-satellite constellation by fiscal year 2029.
This agreement builds on the May 2025 memorandum of understanding. Under that, ICEYE and IHI agreed to develop the constellation together. They will also set up satellite production facilities in Japan. The partnership merges ICEYE’s quick satellite deployment and SAR tech with IHI’s engineering expertise. This partnership boosts Japan’s role in space-based intelligence, manufacturing, and tech innovation.