HELSINKI - Rheinmetall AG in Duesseldorf, Germany, and ICEYE in Helsinki have received a significant space-sector order from the German Armed Forces to provide space-based reconnaissance data through exclusive access to a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation.
The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, known as BAAINBw, has commissioned Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions to supply the Bundeswehr with SAR-based reconnaissance data. The capability is intended primarily to support the protection of the Bundeswehr’s Lithuania Brigade and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.
Rheinmetall and ICEYE have partnered to establish Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions in Neuss, Germany. The joint venture will provide a high volume of SAR imagery through an exclusive satellite constellation and deliver a full-service offering that includes satellite operations, ground station management, and AI-enabled image analysis. The satellite constellation will remain the property of Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions.
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The contract is valued at approximately 1.7 billion euros gross and includes options for extension. The agreement runs from the end of 2025 through the end of 2030.
Rafal Modrzewski, chief executive officer and co-founder of ICEYE, said, "ICEYE is proud to support Germany and, by extension, the security of Europe through this landmark program. Space-based intelligence is the foundational layer of modern defense, but it is no longer just a strategic backdrop. It is a tactical instrument. We are driving a necessary evolution where single, vulnerable systems are replaced by resilient constellations that deliver timely, actionable insights directly to decision-makers when they are needed most."
Modrzewski added that the agreement reflects ICEYE’s transition from a New Space pioneer to a provider of mission-critical defense capabilities, combining rapid satellite production with advanced analytics.
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According to the companies, the scope of delivery includes a very high number of images per day, generated by a sovereign SAR constellation operated by Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. Production of the first jointly developed SAR satellites is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026 at the Neuss site.
Within the Bundeswehr, the project is titled "SAR Space System for Persistent Operational Tracking Stage 1," known as "SPOCK 1." SAR satellites operate by transmitting radar signals toward the Earth’s surface from orbits of roughly 500 to 600 kilometers and processing the returning echoes to generate detailed ground imagery.
Because SAR systems use radar rather than sunlight, they can collect imagery day or night and in all weather conditions, including through clouds, smoke, ash, rain, and sandstorms. The technology enables more frequent image collection than optical satellites and can detect subtle changes on the ground, with resolutions of up to about 16 centimeters.
