New Space firms may significantly boost defense capablilties of Europe - ICEYE
Thanks to the SAR technology, it is possible to monitor strategic areas as well as land and sea borders, while companies from the New Space or New Defense sector are able to significantly boost Europe's defense capabilities, ICEYE representatives told PAP Biznes.
"Today's agreement supports the Polish Armed Forces in building sovereign satellite reconnaissance capabilities, which have proven to be crucial on the modern battlefield and, in a broader context, in responding to various types of events and crises," Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, told PAP Biznes.
"Companies from the New Space or New Defense sector such as ICEYE may significantly strengthen Europe's defense potential, especially in the context of speed and flexibility of operation and development of advanced technologies," he added.
He indicated that ICEYE can actively participate both in the development of independent, national satellite reconnaissance systems and in joint initiatives at the European level.
On Wednesday, the consortium of the Finnish microsatellite manufacturer and operator ICEYE and the Polish military manufacturer specialising in communication WZL-1 has inked a contract with Poland's Ministry of National Defence (MON) to provide the Polish Armed Forces with the Satellite Earth Observation System SAR, named MikroSAR.
The contract also includes an option to purchase three more satellites and the mobile ground segment within 12 months. The value of the entire purchase stands at ca. PLN 860 million (EUR 203 mln) gross.
ICEYE operates the world's largest Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite constellation.
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