ICEYE is to provide SAR satellite data to NATO ACO [Allied Command Operations] and deliver space-based ISR capability to the RNLAF.
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Press Release, Helsinki and Brussels, 24 June 2025: ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation, announced today that it will be providing satellite data to NATO Allied Command Operations (ACO) as a key element of the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) initiative.
The APSS initiative is a multi-year, multi-domain, multinational initiative that aims to increase space-based intelligence sharing across the Alliance, leading to a more comprehensive cross-domain intelligence picture necessary to inform political decision making and military operations. Managed by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), the initiative will improve NATO’s overall intelligence through a more effective use of both government-owned and commercial space-based assets, technologies, and data, increasing the speed at which space-based data is collected, aggregated and delivered.
Through this collaboration, ACO will be able to access the ICEYE capabilities, which will enhance its capacity to deliver better and faster data-driven assessments to decision-makers. ICEYE SAR data is collected day and night and in all weather conditions. This enables for persistent monitoring of sea, land and hard-to-reach locations. The standard time from image acquisition to data delivery is 8 hours, with the capability to deliver imagery within less than one hour in certain instances.
This partnership established between ACO and ICEYE will broaden NATO’s access to valuable earth observation data through ICEYE’s cutting-edge technology. Earlier in March 2025, ICEYE announced that it will be providing satellite data to the Situation Center at NATO HQ (SITCEN).
“We are very pleased to strengthen our cooperation with NATO and to provide our SAR satellite data to NATO as part of the APSS initiative. Our proven satellites provide actionable intelligence for situational awareness and rapid decision-making for NATO and allied countries,” said Pekka Laurila, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of ICEYE.
ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation, delivering unlimited global access and the highest frequency revisits on the market. ICEYE SAR satellites provide 25cm ground resolution, enabling accurate object detection and situational awareness in all weather and light conditions. To date, ICEYE has launched 54 SAR satellites into orbit for ICEYE’s and its customers’ use.
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Press Release, Helsinki, 23 June 2025: ICEYE, the European space and defence technology company, and global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for high-resolution Earth observation and persistent monitoring, has been selected to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). This agreement marks a significant advancement in the Netherlands’ space-based defence capabilities and its commitment to strengthening national security through sovereign ISR assets.
Under the agreement with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, ICEYE will deliver a full suite of ISR solutions to the RNLAF, including four 25cm resolution SAR satellites, a local ground segment and antenna, and a mobile ground segment featuring an autonomous, AI-driven imagery intelligence hub. The contract also includes the sale of satellite data from ICEYE’s existing constellation.
This collaboration lays the groundwork for the first operational Dutch military satellite mission and was realised in a record timeframe – just four months from contract signing to the delivery of the first system component. The rapid delivery underscores ICEYE’s unique ability to offer sovereign ISR capabilities on an accelerated timeline, aligning with the Netherlands’ defence and space strategies.
By selecting ICEYE, the RNLAF and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence have been able to significantly accelerate the implementation of their national defence and space strategies, which call for sovereign and independent ISR capabilities. Additionally, ICEYE will deepen its collaboration with the Netherlands and its local industry, strengthening and leveraging the local high-tech space and defence industry, as well as related capabilities in the region.
“This agreement is a step in European rearmament efforts for securing the defence of European nations. ICEYE is proud to provide the Netherlands with a sovereign and independent satellite ISR capability with the country’s first operational military satellite mission. By delivering this system at an unprecedented speed, ICEYE is ensuring that the Netherlands has access to objective, reliable, and actionable intelligence. As a European provider, ICEYE is ideally positioned to provide European nations with a common and capable asset for space-based ISR activities,” said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE.
“We are pleased to partner with ICEYE to develop the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s space-based defence capabilities. This collaboration positions the Netherlands at the forefront of European countries investing in this cutting-edge technology. Additionally, this recognises the critical role of the space domain in national defence and underscores the Netherlands’ commitment to securing its interests in this vital new frontier of defence,” said Lieutenant General André Steur, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
ICEYE’s European, sovereign, non-ITAR technology enables the rapid delivery of ISR capabilities to its customers. The ICEYE system is also engineered to enable sharing capacity and cross-tasking with other nations, if desired, to optimise the use of the combined fleets and enhance the collective space defence capabilities of European and allied nations.
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