Under the contract, ICEYE will supply a SAR satellite designed to provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging with rapid revisit rates, enabling data collection regardless of cloud cover, darkness or other environmental conditions. These characteristics support persistent monitoring over selected areas and give Portuguese authorities the ability to track changes on land and at sea over time. Direct ownership means the Air Force will control data acquisition plans, tasking priorities and mission scheduling rather than relying solely on commercial service arrangements.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen surveillance, situational awareness and national security, with planned uses that include military operations, maritime domain awareness and environmental monitoring. Mission planners will be able to respond more quickly to emerging events, including defense contingencies, maritime incidents and disasters that affect populations or infrastructure. The satellite is also intended to support monitoring of Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone and nearby maritime areas, contributing to the protection of natural resources and sea lanes.
Jordi Laguarda, VP Missions Spain and Portugal at ICEYE, said: "This agreement represents a major step forward in strengthening Portugal's sovereign space capabilities and demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to innovation and operational excellence. We are proud to support the Portuguese Air Force as they advance their mission in the new space domain." Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force, General Joao Cartaxo Alves, said: "This is a historic moment for Portugal in general and for the Portuguese Air Force in particular. By acquiring its own capabilities to operate in space, the Air Force enters a new dimension, where Space has replaced the sky as the new operational frontier. This technological innovation strengthens the autonomous capacity of the Air Force to ensure permanent surveillance of the national territory - on land, at sea, and in the air - under any weather conditions. It will enhance the Air Force's ability to conduct military operations with greater precision and effectiveness, while also supporting emergency management and the sustainable use of resources."
This spacecraft will be the first satellite fully owned by the Portuguese Air Force and the second operated by the institution. The first satellite was acquired on June 12 when CTI Aeroespacial, a Portuguese technology and innovation center, signed an agreement with ICEYE for a SAR satellite operated by the Air Force. Together, the two spacecraft expand Portugal's access to space-based radar imaging and support both defense missions and broader national resilience objectives.
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