Germany is strengthening its reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities by gaining direct access to SAR satellites allocated for its use.
Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH has reached a significant milestone in the SPOCK 1 satellite programme being carried out for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Under the programme, the Bundeswehr can directly access multiple SAR reconnaissance satellites reserved exclusively for its use. It can also task these satellites independently.
Annual Satellite Production Target at the Neuss Facility
With the start of SAR satellite production at the Neuss facility, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions has moved from the planning and development phase to industrial implementation. Production is carried out by specialists in manufacturing, engineering and quality management. The system is primarily being used to protect the brigade in Lithuania and is also used to monitor NATO’s eastern flank. The company aims to produce and certify several dozen satellites each year at the Neuss facility for launch into Earth orbit.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger stated that, less than a year after the contract was signed, the German Armed Forces had gained direct access to a dedicated SAR reconnaissance capability. Papperger said that the start of production in Neuss demonstrated that the company not only provides innovative space technology but is also capable of producing it at industrial scale in Germany.
ICEYE CEO and Co-Founder Rafal Modrzewski said that the SPOCK 1 satellites benefit from the experience ICEYE has gained while operating a SAR satellite constellation for government customers.
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Source: C4Defence – Rheinmetall
