Portugal has ordered two additional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites from Finnish satellite operator and manufacturer ICEYE.
The procurement was signed by CTI Aeroespacial, a joint venture between the Portuguese Air Force and Portuguese engineering center CEiiA.
Portuguese personnel have already inspected the newly acquired satellites at ICEYE’s production facility in Finland ahead of delivery.
Lisbon’s first sovereign SAR satellite, launched in March, is already supporting national operations.
Once the new spacecraft are delivered, the total number of satellites available to the Portuguese Air Force will increase to four, enabling faster data collection, improved revisit rates, and shorter response times.
The capability is intended to support surveillance of the Atlantic maritime domain and Portugal’s Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as environmental monitoring and disaster response missions.
“Europe cannot defend what it cannot see. Across Europe, space-based intelligence has moved from long-term strategic investment to operational necessity and the window to act is now,” stated ICEYE.
Recent Developments
The contract comes shortly after the Finnish company secured more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in fresh financing through a funding round backed by General Atlantic, Nokia, and the Qatar Investment Authority.
According to the company, the new capital will be used to expand satellite manufacturing capacity, enhance intelligence and data services, and support the development of additional space-based surveillance capabilities.
As part of its expansion plans, ICEYE aims to increase annual satellite production from approximately 50 spacecraft today to 100 by 2028.
