EU signs contract with ISISPACE for multi-orbit satellite constellation
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The project will look to launch three satellites capable of moving between orbits.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has signed a contract with Dutch firm ISISPACE to develop and deploy a military satellite constellation, a 30 June announcement from the EDA has revealed.
Jointly funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and the Austrian Armed Forces, the project will design, develop, manufacturer, launch, and manage a constellation of three 16U satellites set to be launched within two years.
The constellation will be capable of moving between low Earth orbit (LEO) and very low Earth orbit (VLEO), the EDA said, hence the first-of-its-kind, EUR10 million project has been dubbed ‘LEO2VLEO’.
The satellites will provide proof of concept and in-orbit demonstration of defence applications, the EDA added, with the VLEO capability in particular offering strategic advantages such as improved communications, and Earth observation, while minimising space debris risk.
The project also “foresees the inclusion” of payloads for Earth observation and navigational warfare.
LEO2VLEO lays the foundation for a fully operational military satellite system in the future and, if successful, will “set the stage” for improved autonomy and resilience in European defence missions, the EDA said.
“It is encouraging to see this project gaining momentum, as it is a crucial step towards developing the space systems necessary for ensuring Europe's safety”, ISISPACE CEO Jeroen Rotteveel said.
“Together with our consortium partners, we are confident in our ability to quickly deliver the functionalities required by the Dutch and Austrian Ministries of Defence”, Rotteveel added.
The project has been supported by the EDA’s Hub for EU Defence Innovation and will bring together innovators from various institutions such as Graz University of Technology and Beyond Gravity Austria GmbH.
DSEI Gateway News is part of DSEI UK and the broader Clarion Defence portfolio.
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