EU Defense Forces to Receive Surveillance Satellite Constructed by NanoAvionics
In a significant move for European military forces, NanoAvionics, a smallsat manufacturer based in Lithuania, has partnered with Eycore, a Polish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) developer, to build and launch a demo SAR satellite in spring 2026. This collaboration aims to create a fully European, military-grade SAR capability with sub-meter, day-night, all-weather imaging tailored for defense and security users.
Since its inception in 2014, NanoAvionics has delivered around 120 missions for customers. The company, now a part of the Norwegian technology group Kongsberg, is set to leverage its expertise in smallsat manufacturing with Eycore's focus on radar expertise and operational resilience. The partnership will see Eycore's X-band radar tested on NanoAvionics' MP42 microsatellite bus.
The mission's goal is to pave the way for a sovereign, military-grade SAR constellation offering global coverage and frequent revisits. This development is significant for NATO and European military forces because it provides rapid, sovereign access to critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data. This enhancement is expected to boost border security, maritime domain awareness, and disaster response capabilities.
Maciej Klemm, cofounder and CEO of Eycore, stated that the mission is to ensure trusted, sovereign access to earth observation data for defense users. The partnership also aligns with a growing trend of defense investment across Europe, particularly in countries like Poland and Lithuania, due to their proximity to the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's borders.
Europe currently has limited EO resources, making Ukraine largely dependent on US intelligence. This partnership aims to address this gap, strengthening national security and resilience by providing governments with a fast, cost-effective path to sovereign SAR capabilities. The satellite, set to launch in early 2026, will deliver radar imagery with submeter resolution, revealing movements on the ground day and night, and in all weather conditions.
Eycore, in addition to its focus on radar expertise, is also developing a domestic EO program for the Polish government. This development underscores the importance of domestic EO capabilities for defense and security purposes, a trend that is likely to continue in the face of worsening relations with the Trump administration and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The collaboration positions NanoAvionics as a key strategic player in the field, given the rising security concerns across Eastern Europe. As the largest per capita defense spender in NATO, Poland's investment in this partnership underscores its commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities and ensuring its sovereignty in the face of geopolitical challenges.
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